“What?” I look at the others. “She’s taking us back to Royal Academy!”

Sasha looks at her sister. “Rose? You turned us in?”

Rose falters. “It was the only way. The fairy godmother feels you’re all causing too much of a commotion. If you’d just accepted your banishment quietly, maybe you could have been redeemed in the future, but clearly that’s not an option now. She needs to speak to you directly, and I’m the one she’ll find favor with for bringing you there.”

“You really are evil,” Sasha spits out.

Heath pulls back the curtain and looks out. We’re above the treetops of the village now. “It’s too high to jump.”

Rose sits back calmly. “You might as well accept it.”

“The odds of surviving a jump from this high are slim,” Kira says grimly.

My heart is racing as I stick my face out the window. The wind whips at my cheeks. We need to get out of here, but how? My eyes land on the four Pegasi flying the carriage. If I could just get their attention… I look back. Sasha is still arguing with Rose so I give a whistle.

The driver doesn’t seem to notice the Pegasus make eye contact with me. All he hears is a neigh. Yes, miss! How can I help you?

I’m hoping the wind covers my voice. “Can this fly with only two Pegasi?” I say in neighs. “We need to get out of this carriage right away! We’re being held captive!”

Of course, miss! We could fly this thing with one Pegasus, but you know how the royals are. Four Pegasi look better than two, two look better than one… Just climb on up here, and we’ll break two Pegasi free.

“Be right there!” I shout, and this time the driver looks back and stares at me strangely. “Sasha, Heath, we’re going. Princess…nice meeting you?” I add awkwardly.

“Going? We’re in the air,” Rose reminds me with a laugh.

“Going?” Kira is shrill. “If you fall from this height, you’ll be a pancake! There must be another way.”

“There’s not.” I climb onto the carriage window ledge. Why do I always look down? Instantly, I freeze. It’s like I’m back on the tree house plank, sure I’m going to fall, except this time there’s no trampoline to catch me.

You can do it! the Pegasi neigh. Go slowly and hold on to the carriage rails.

There is a railing that I can hold onto as I shimmy to the driver’s seat, and I just need to hold on tight. I hear a commotion in the carriage, but I try not to pay attention.

Heath sticks his head and his arm out and hands me a rope. “Prue gave me this lasso. It will tie itself onto anything you throw it at. The other end will stick magically to your hand. Lasso it onto the driver’s seat, and it should keep you from falling off. I’ll be right behind you.”