Oh, dear. She’d gone insane.
She felt like a fool doing a provocative dance for no one into her looking glass.
Ceri redressed, putting on her warmer stockings and jumper. “I’m going to have to fly around in my school uniform again,” shemuttered to the looking glass. “And that’s not half as absurd as talking to a damn mirror.”
As Ceri left the bathroom, she swore she saw another glimpse of him smirking in the looking glass.
But by the time she’d turned back to check, there was nothing there.
Ceri flew across the roaring river at least a dozen times, sometimes carrying supplies (‘lectrical equipment, medicine, and several heavy buckets of anchors for the upcoming installation of the temporary bridge) and sometimes carrying people, who were generally terrified by the experience.
The last of the people to leave for the day were Weyland and Lady Sibba. Weyland was so large Ceri nearly dropped him into the rushing waters; he looked thoroughly shaken as Ceri deposited him on the other side. Lady Sibba, on the other hand, was one of the few passengers of the day that had enjoyed the ride.
“I would do that again,” called Lady Sibba over the rushing water. The rest of the group had come out to say their goodbyes. “If you’d have me, of course, Ceri.”
Ceri, still in her dragon form, knelt forward and bowed.
Lady Sibba squealed with delight.
“I hope you find him soon,” said Lady Sibba. “I’m sorry we can’t stay.”
“We’ll send a pigeon when we get to Gwenla,” said Weyland.
Weyland and Lady Sibba were taking with them the latest schematics for the prototype and the power-saver. They still weren’t perfect, but they were close enough to begin production. Hopefully, once the ‘lectrics were restored to High House, they could finish the testing.
Although it would be difficult without Leo.
“Good luck!” said Lady Sibba as they were on their way.
Ceri took off for the final flight over the river for the evening. She soared high up into the air, taking in the damage.
There was a path of destruction through the woods that looked as though a giant had rolled down the mountain, toppling every tree in its path. It had narrowly avoided High House—they’d gotten lucky. A force strong enough to fell that many trees would have done a lot of damage to the school.
The town below had been lucky too, apart from the slowly receding waters of the river.
The breeze up high was cool and dry as Ceri flew, the last of the rain finally having moved on. It was such a beautiful afternoon, she considered making a few laps around the mountain. Maybe she’d stop at the observatory and—
“Ceri! Ceri, it’s Leo. He’s writing!”
The pinprick that was Rinka was shouting far below.
Ceri dove.
She changed back the moment she hit the ground and grabbed the journal from Rinka’s outstretched hands.
“I’m never going to get used to that,” said Rinka.
Ceri didn’t hear her. She was reading.
Saturday? Day 6? of Autumn Term
Apologies for my absence. I hope you weren’t too worried.
I believe I’m still in some trouble, but I have an idea. Let me start with how I got here…
Chapter Twenty-Four
THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
