Page 192 of Sigils & Spells

I let out a breath, and followed Alice’s gaze to the window. I crossed the room, and pulled aside the curtain. It was a bird. Well, two birds. Two sparrows sat on the window sill. One was tapping on the glass insistently. Instead of flying away when I moved the curtain. The little bird just fluttered its wings and tapped harder.

Somehow, I knew. I reached down and unlocked the window, pulling it open with a grunt.

“Wait, Julian, what if–” Alice stood, but the window was already open and the two little birds fluttered in. I shut the window as they landed on the marble floor. One made a little trilling sound, and suddenly, with an explosion of the sparkly fog that was magic, Minho and Ruby stood in the center of my room.

“How the hell…”

“Minho!” Before I knew what I was doing I rushed Minho, and grabbed him into a tight hug. “Oh thank god.”

I could have cried. But I didn’t get the chance because I realized that Minho was completely naked.

“Woah, man.”

Minho rolled his eyes at me. “Good to see you too man.”

“Why are you naked?” Alice asked, not really sounding shocked, just curious.

“Why is that what we’re focusing on?” Minho grumbled and covered himself, his face reddening. “We were just birds.”

Ruby was standing with her hands on her hips, breathing hard like she’d just run a mile. She sank to the ground, and sat with her hand on her chest.

Minho crouched by her side, and put a hand on her shoulder. “You did good, baby. Just breathe.”

She gave him a breathless thumbs up.

“I’ve used a lot of magic today.” she gasped. “I think magic works differently here. I keep using more magic than I mean to. It’s stronger, but… takes more out of me.”

While she talked Alice had ripped one of the hangings off of the bed frame. She shook out the swath of red fabric and handed it to Minho.

“Thanks.” he took it and started wrapping it around himself like a toga. “Are you guys ok?”

“We are alive.” I said, not sure how else to answer the question. “How are you guys here? What happened to you?”

“Well,” Minho sat on the ground beside Ruby, rubbing her back gently as she caught her breath. “They took us to these dungeons, like they said they would but after that we didn’t hear anything. They put a plate of food in our cell and just kind of left us there. I changed back, naked, because my clothes got destroyed when I wolfed out earlier.”

“And I lost my hat. Again.” Minho put a sad hand on his head. “Ruby, I lose my hat every time I go on an adventure with you.”

“I’ll get you a new one.” she muttered and leaned against his shoulder.

“Anyway,” Minho continued. “Ruby figured out what had happened to Alice, and why her magic had gone so wrong, and she said it was because her magic works differently in Elfhame. It’s way stronger, but less predictable. So, once she knew her magic was stronger here, she was able to turn us both into birds, and we were able to fly through the barred window.”

“They know I’m a witch,” Ruby said, “but I don’t think they know I’m that witch.”

“Been that witch, still that witch.” Alice muttered to herself. “Will forever be that witch.”

Despite how exhausted she looked, Ruby cackled. Minho and I exchanged confused looks. “What?”

“If you get it you get it.” Ruby laughed and put her hand up for a lazy high five with Alice.

“Anyway,” Minho prompted. “Ruby was able to find her magic in the tree, but it took a long time, and a lot of magic.”

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Alice smiled. “We were coming up with bad plans.”

“I’m sure they weren’t that bad.”

Alice and I exchanged glances. I said, “They were ok.”

“I’m glad I was able to find you before I passed out.” Ruby sat up and rubbed her forehead. “But hopefully we don’t need any magic for a bit because I am tapped out.”

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