“You can’t,” Dee said, her tone full of anguish. “They’re spelled together so we can’t fly. No one but a witch can undo it.”
“Not even an aether-blessed fae?” I asked.
“Well . . . maybe, but you’re so new.” An uncomfortable expression crossed Dee’s face. “Sorry to say this, Alice, but you might mess them up. Then what would we do? Our wings could be ruined forever.”
I bit my bottom lip. She wasn’t being cruel, she was simply right. I was still learning my magic, and why would I even want to try it on this, if there was a chance I might injure my friends? It was inconvenient, but they could live without flying.
“We’ll get it figured out. Even if we have to make another trip to the human world—eventually,” Henri said, his unspoken words louder than the ones he’d voiced.
The girls’ ability to fly again depended on me winning the Trial by Aether. If I didn’t, it wouldn’t matter that their wings were stuck together. Like the rest of us, they’d be executed.
“Looks like you’re joining my detail tomorrow,” I said.
“We could use their help, anyway,” Henri added. “The crowds at tomorrow’s challenge will be larger.”
“What does that have to do with the pixies?” I asked.
“They can work the masses,” he answered. “After all, they’re the most charismatic of our group.”
Dee brightened at Hatter’s compliment. “We want to help Alice! We can encourage people to cheer for you!”
“As long as they aren’t in swarms, pixies are almost universally liked,” Sansu pointed out.
I exhaled a resigned sigh. “I don’t want them to get hurt. What if someone is offended that you’re supporting me and steps on you or something?”
“We’re fast. They won’t be able to catch us,” Dum assured me. “Don’t worry about us. We should be worrying about you and helping you study!”
“Okay, as long as you’re careful.”
I tried to appear as assured as everyone else, even though that was impossible. Until I’d won the Trial by Aether, I wouldn’t be able to stop worrying.
Chapter 28
That night, Hatter drilled the theory and particulars of dozens of magical creatures into my head until my eyelids grew too heavy to lift. In the morning, the session continued the moment I emerged from my private room into the common space.
It helped a bit, but I couldn’t deny that, after my loss, my confidence was at an all-time low. I doubted any amount of studying could fix that.
As midday neared, I geared up in my black uniform, and prayed to the old gods.Please let this be the combat trial. I need to give others the hope and strength to speak out against the queen. I need a win . . .
A knock came at my bedroom door.
“Yeah?”
“The escort is here,” Hatter replied.
“I’ll be right out,” I called back.
When I finished getting ready, I met my team in the living area. “Any last words of advice?”
“Remember who you are,” Henri said, repeating the wisdom he’d given me yesterday—a lot of good that had done.
I sighed at the seemingly worthless sentiment, and opened my door to find an entourage of a dozen Diamond battalion soldiers waiting.
My eyebrows arched. Yesterday, our entourage had comprised only two soldiers.
“The pixies heard a few things before they were caught. Things they didn’t want to worry you about, and told me once you went to bed,” Hatter whispered in my ear as the guards led us through the corridors. “Word has it, the queen tried calling her jabberwocky after the conjuring trial. It didn’t come, which angered her. Considering the larger escort, I’d say things aren’t going her way. I bet she believes throwing you off your game is the best course of action.”
“How unnecessary,” I muttered.
