“Are you doing anything right now?” Maxine asks. “Want me to show you around? I mean, I’m sure you have loads of people who want to show you around, but I would if you wanted. I’ve been here a year, so I know every room in the joint.”
I want to work the “So what are you in for?” question into our conversation, but I can’t figure out how to do it without offending her. For some reason, I suspect it has something to do with jewelry. She’s wearing at least a half a dozen shiny necklaces.
Jocelyn walks by Maxine with a friend and whispers something. The two burst out laughing and Maxine looks down, embarrassed.
“I mean, if you don’t mind being seen with me.” Maxine’s eye droops again.
I stare defiantly at Jocelyn. There’s nothing I hate more than bullies (and royals, but bullies more so). “Of course I want to hang out with you. Let’s go.” I brush past Jocelyn, taking Maxine by the hand. “Any suggestions on what to do?”
The two of us leave the dungeon-classroom behind, and the light shining through the hallway windows makes me feel brighter. Painters are painting the trim along the windows while cleaners wipe down the statues and gargoyles. A tarp is being hung in the central hallway that says “Fairy Tale Reform School” in large, gold script. Fresh flowers are in vases everywhere I look. Anna would love all this preparation for the princesses. I know it’s only been a day, but I thought she’d write right away.
“Have you tried Pegasus flying yet?” Maxine asks. “There’s free time right now.”
I’ve never flown before. Now is as good a time as any to start. A paper for the Evil Queen can definitely wait. I smile. “That sounds up my alley. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 7
Flying Lessons
Thanks to a new hallway that appears when we leave class, we make it to the stables in no time.
“You guys here for a ride?” asks a stable boy who’s raking hay. “I’ll tell you what I told the girl that just left—the woods are off-limits to students and Pegasi. The last thing we need is to lose another Pegasus to a giant. Pegasi are their favorite snack.”
Eww.
“Should I suit up two beauties for you?” The boy heads to the stalls. I can hear the Pegasi munching on hay and neighing. I’ve never been this close to them before—other than the time I snuck into the stables in the village to steal a gold harness some foolish stable boy left hanging on a wall. “You’ve got an hour ’til the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting Club comes for their afternoon fly over the princesses’ castle.”
Double eww. I read about this school club. Their sole purpose is to dote on the princesses. No thank you!
“Yes, we’d like a ride,” I say, getting excited.
He looks at me skeptically. “You’re new here. You’ve ridden before, right?”
“Of course,” I lie. I mean, how hard can it be?
The boy heads off to grab me some gear.
“Gilly? I think I’ve changed my mind about the flying.” Maxine sounds jittery. Her good eye stares at the stalls. “I was trying to impress you by asking, but to be honest, when I get in the air, I feel dizzy. It’s hard to fly with just one good eye.” Her bad one spins in its socket.
Poor girl. “It’s okay,” I say, trying not to sound disappointed. I can’t just ditch her. Can I? “We can do something else.”
Maxine twirls her green gem necklace. “No, you go! You can tell me about your flight at dinner. I could sit at your table. I mean, if you have room?” she asks hopefully.
I smile. “Of course, there’s room. I’ll see you tonight.”
Maxine heads off, leaving me alone to explore the gleaming white-and-gold stables. Photos of students in the Pegasus Flying Club at championship races line the walls near the entrance, along with various ribbons and trophies in a shiny, silver case. Beyond me are the stalls and gear, which are much nicer than at the dwarf squad stables. (I’ve, um, seen those a few times when I’ve been hauled in.) Those stables have a roof, but the Pegasus stables don’t. When I look up, I can see Pegasi flying high above, never veering far from sight.
“If you don’t have a roof, how do you keep the Pegasi from flying away?” I ask as the stable boy comes back with two helmets and saddles.
“Magic,” he says, looking at me like this should be obvious. “The roof closes at night, but during the day, we like these beauties to have their freedom when they’re not needed for lessons.” He hands me a helmet. “This should fit. Hey, where’s your friend?”
“She bailed,” I say.
The stable boy sighs. “I already told Mighty and Macho you were taking them.”
I laugh. “Like they understand you!”
He doesn’t look amused. “Of course they do! Pegasi can’t talk, but they can understand human thoughts. You should know that if you’ve ridden before.” He takes the helmet from me suspiciously, and I start to protest.
“I’ll go up with her.”
I turn around. Jax is leaning on the open stable doors.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him.