Page 45 of With the Potion in the Courtyard

"Night, Cendi," Robbie said, his voice low and warm.

"Goodnight," I whispered back, my heart skipping as I scooted closer to him.

We all laid down under the warm blankets, food in our bellies, and a plan to find Jaylyn. Tomorrow wouldn’t be easy, but I told myself that we could do it. As long as the three of us stuck together.

Jessie's breathing evened out, her spell-practicing efforts clearly taking their toll. She was out cold, snuggled in her sleeping bag like a cocoon. With her asleep, I allowed myself to edge even closer to Robbie until our sides touched. He didn't pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into an embrace that felt as natural as it did surprising. My head rested against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heart. It wasn't long before sleep claimed me too, safe in Robbie's hold.

Morning came too soon, with the Peregarnians' camp already alive with activity. We trudged, bleary-eyed, toward the transport they had promised us, a bird so ridiculously large and pink it couldonly exist in Doodle.

"This is how we’re going to get to Wizard Lizard?" I asked.

A neon green Peregarnian smiled. "It’s how we travel over long distances quickly. It’s quite safe."

"Her name is Gertie," another one of the Peregarnians informed us with a grin. "Best flyer we've got."

"Looks sturdy," Robbie eyed the long-necked fowl dubiously.

"Sturdy and... unique," I added, because what else could you call a poorly-drawn chicken.

Luna and a group of Peregarnians met us before we left. She rubbed her forehead against each of ours, wished us luck, and warned us to simply slip in and slip out with our friend. We wouldn’t be powerful enough to face the wizard. We agreed easily. Simple and safe is exactly what we wanted.

Mounting Gertie was an awkward dance of hopping and scrambling, with Jessie getting a boost from Robbie before he hoisted himself up behind me. The giant bird shifted, sending us grabbing for anything that resembled a handhold.

"Okay, everyone just... hold on tight," Jessie said, a nervous laugh betraying her usual confidence.

Gertie let out a sound that was part squawk, part foghorn, and we were airborne. The ground fell away rapidly, leaving my stomach somewhere far below. I gripped the makeshift reins made from twisted pipe cleaners, and tried not to think about the height.

"Is she supposed to make that noise?" I shouted over the din.

"Let's hope so," Robbie yelled back, his arms circling my waist to keep us secure.

Without warning, Gertie dove, swooping toward something invisible to us. My scream was lost in the wind as we plummeted, then leveled off as abruptly. Below, a smaller bird disappeared into Gertie's beak, and I realized this was breakfast on the fly, literally.

"Watch those insects, Gertie," Jessie said up to the bird, pointing at the oversized bugs that buzzed dangerously close.

"Does she understand us?" I asked, doubting the intelligence reflected in Gertie'sgoogly eyes.

"Better than you'd think," Robbie said, though I suspected he was guessing as much as I was.

The flight continued, a mix of terror and awe as we traversed the skies of Doodle on the back of a creature that defied logic. When we finally landed, it was with a mixture of relief and regret; Gertie had been an adventure unto herself.

As soon as our feet touched the ground, Gertie, the pink monstrosity of a bird, gave one last squawk and left us in a cloud of dust. I spat out a mouthful of grit and turned to see it, the lair of Zorand. It loomed before us, a hulking mass of chalk-drawn rock.

"Okay, everyone, robes on. Remember, they’ll be enchanted to make you blend in with your surroundings, but they can’t hide your noises, and if you move too quickly, you’ll be easy to see," Jessie said, her voice all business now. We draped the fabric over our heads, and I immediately felt the heat trap around me, my skin prickling uncomfortably.

"Stay sharp," Robbie said as he scanned the horizon. "Jessie, do your thing."

With a flick of her wrist and a murmur I couldn't make out, Jessie cast her spell using her wand. Theworld took on a mirage-like shimmer, and we blended into the desert landscape, becoming part of its vast canvas.

"Move fast, but quiet," she led the way.

We did just that, cutting across the sand with as much speed as we could muster. It wasn't long before we spotted one, a cricket guard, tall and angular, sketched out in bold ink strokes. Its antennae twitched in our direction. We froze, not even daring to breathe too loudly, until it moved on, its legs making soft scratching sounds against the sand.

"Close call," I whispered once it was safe.

"Too close," Robbie said, wiping his brow. Under the robes, the air was stale and sweltering, but Jessie handed each of us a small, enchanted bag. Inside, ice cubes clinked together, still solid despite the blistering heat. I pressed mine to my neck, grateful for the brief respite.

"Let's keep going," Jessie said, eyes fixed on the dark space beneath Zorand's crude mountain. "We've got a friend to save."