“What’s going on?” Logan shouts. “Is this normal?”

I try to lean out of the carriage to talk to the Pegasi, but another bounce sends me flying backward into Heath. The carriage starts to drop rapidly.

“We’re going too fast!” he shouts over the commotion. The Pegasi neighs have grown louder. Raina clings to Heath’s arm while I hang on to the other. Sasha, Tara, and Logan are hanging on to the other side of the carriage for dear life. I look out the window and see the ground approaching at alarming speed. We’re moving so quickly, I can’t get to the carriage window to even try to talk to the Pegasi and help them.

“We’re coming in too fast!” Heath yells. “We’re going to crash!” Raina closes her eyes tight.

I’m about to do the same when I see Tara pull a sterling silver wand out of a pleat in her dress skirt. It’s green and black and has scrollwork I’ve never seen before. She pulls herself up as the carriage picks up speed. “Suspendanair!” she shouts, and there is a sudden flash. The carriage begins to slow down, but we’re still so close to the ground, I don’t know if it will help us avoid a crash.

“Brace yourselves!” Sasha shouts as we hold on to loose vines inside the coach. Logan wraps one around his waist.

BOOM! The coach bumps down onto the ground, tossing us around before coming to a stop in the meadow.

I jump out of the carriage to check on the Pegasi. Thankfully they are standing upright and look unhurt, if not a little rattled. I quickly untie them from the carriage.

“Boxer! Ronald! Are you okay?” I neigh. “What happened?”

It’s Ronald, Devin. I think he has a bit of food poisoning. It made him ill, and he lost control of the carriage. He nudges the other Pegasus. I told you that romaine lettuce looked rancid!

I’m so dizzy! Boxer says. I need to stay still for a bit. Is everyone all right? I’m so sorry, Devinaria.

“We’re okay,” I tell him. “You stay still.” Well, at least it wasn’t Olivina this time. I feel guilty for checking on the animals first, so I run back to the carriage. “Everyone inside all right?”

Logan and Raina untangle themselves from their vines and emerge from the carriage along with Tara. Sasha, however, doesn’t look good.

She’s got a bruise on her forehead, and her eyes look dazed. “I feel dizzy. But I’ll be all right. Let’s go.” She tries to walk and starts to fall. Heath catches her.

“Okay, you’re not going anywhere. You stay here with the Pegasi,” I say.

“But…” Sasha holds her head. “I…”

“No buts,” I tell her.

“Do you think it’s a good idea for her to stay here alone?” Logan sounds worried. “She could be captured.” He thinks for a moment. “I’ll stay with her.”

I raise an eyebrow and look at Heath.

“Are you sure?” Heath asks.