Page 97 of Midwinter Wiles & Valerian Dreams
Her head jerks up. She locks eyes with me.
With a quick prayer to theDeep, I mouth the one word guaranteed to spark joy in that little chaos-gremlin’s heart.
“Fireball.”
She grins. Then skips in place like she’s winding herself up.
She aims, then—blam!A bright burst of flame erupts, but instead of landing at the mule’s feet, it slams into one of the tin festival lanterns strung above the stage. The lantern crashes to the ground, spraying sparks and igniting into a crackling mini-inferno.
A few spectators near the edge of the audience catch the flicker of fire through my illusions and shout in alarm. Mikael is already sprinting toward it. I have to trust him to handle the flames, because we’ve got bigger problems.
The fire woke up Tahto, all right.
With a startled bray, the mule jerks the lead from Daria’s hands.
Onstage, Katja lifts her arms dramatically, announcing, “A drop upon his eyes, and the next thing he looks upon, he shall pursue with the soul of love. Take these vials, and toss the juice upon Demetri and Lena, that their love might bloom from its sweet nectar. And if you need a demonstration, toss themthus!”
Tahtoexplodesonto the scene.
I barely react fast enough to cast his illusion as he lunges through the image of solid curtains. The audience gasps as a gleaming white stallion bursts forth, hooves flailing, eyes wild. Daria—whom I hastily glamor to resemble a scullery maid—gives chase in a flurry of skirts and undignified muttering.
Katja’s wings beat fast as she leaps out of the way. Her hands fling wide…
The potions go flying.
The one meant for the queen catches her square between the eyes…only she’s no longer looking at Beron. She’s too busy watching the incoming horse.
Beron raises his arms to prevent being trampled. Tahto, spooked by the hiss of fire being doused backstage, careens into Daria, sending her tumbling backward…right into the path of the second potion. It splashes her full in the face.
With a squawk, she topples directly into Beron’s outstretched arms, sputtering wildly.
Chaos explodes like a cork popped from a too-full jug of faerie wine.
The potion meant for Beron drips from Daria’s face as she gazes up at him, eyes wide, lips parted.
“Oh,” she breathes, hands fluttering over her chest. “You…you’re magnificent.”
Beron startles. “Pardon?”
“I’ve never known such a glorious male as you. Never have my eyes feasted on such beauty! Oh, how I hunger for you.” Daria strains her face toward his, trying for a kiss and only failing because Beron drops her like a live beehive.
Across the clearing, Queen Taynia is still blinking through potion-glazed eyes. Her expression is pure rapture as she approaches Tahto with reverence.
“My noble steed,” she coos, stroking his long face. “Such power. Such posture. Such soulful eyes. Have you ever been in love, darling beast? Because I am.”
She pulls an apple from her cloak pocket and offers it like a treasured jewel. Tahto accepts it with a snort and a crunch.
Onstage, Katja tries valiantly to redirect, voice strained. “My lady, the love potion was meant for Demetri, not the livestock!”
Mikael and Johannes finally make their entrance looking singed and confused. Johannes sneezes, then tries to recover by tossing his lopsided wig over one shoulder and looking prim.
“Who has absconded with my noble steed?” he ad-libs, pitching his voice high.
Daria clambers up Beron’s chest to stroke his face. “I’ll rideyoulike a noble steed,” she croons.
He holds her at arm’s length as she makes kissing faces at him. I groan.
Mikael shrugs, completely at a loss, while Hellion rushes out to toss another random fireball in the air, delivering one of Aili’s lines “Tis but a dream, fair ones!”
