Fairy Debt Read Free Page B

wizards got magic in the first place?) Obviously, Aunt Twill had promised my Wishes to this earth dragon.
    He left, moving awkwardly across the cobbled stone bailey, out the barbican and over the moat. Soon he was out of sight.
    The courtiers heaved a collective sigh, and then everyone, including the king and the princess, stared at me.
    I wasn't paying attention because something very strange was happening to my wings. I took off the jester's hat in order to concentrate. Then I found I had to take off my whole uniform as my wings were starting to push against it. It was a good thing I always wore fairy garb underneath.
    Sure enough, in a very short space of time, there I stood in front of the whole court — with fully grown wings!
    I looked at the king. He was staring at me in wonder.
    "You saved my mother once," I said, "but she died without repayment. So I've been serving your daughter in secret in her stead." I flapped my wings experimentally and they lifted me easily into the air. I was a little wobbly, but I could stay up and that was the important part. It was nice to look down on people for a change. "My cupcakes have saved your daughter from certain death, so my debt to you is fulfilled."
    I looked down at the princess fondly. "Goodbye, Princess Goob."
    She grinned up at me. "Goodbye, Cups."
    "But wait," said the king, "Don't you have to stay? Be her fairy godmother, make her beautiful and graceful and stuff like that?"
    I shook my head. "I could choose to stay if I thought she needed my help. But I think she'll do perfectly fine without me." I thought about all the gatekeeper's daughters Goob and I had met, and the miller's sons we'd laughed with, and the servants who'd helped us in the kitchen, and the goose-girls who'd gossiped with us. "I think there are others who need fairy godmothers far more than princesses," I said. And with one more wave to Princess Goob, I flew out of the castle and away into the forest.
    I sent the earth dragon my Child's Wishes by butterfly post the very next day. I also sent him the recipe for banana puff cupcakes. I understand he grew even fatter.
    I kept in touch with Princess Goob. Right up through the time when she became Queen Goob. She'd married by then. A nice young writer-fellow I found for her, named Adoulphus Grimm. They had two children, both boys. I became a kind of adopted aunt, since I had far too many fairy godmother gigs by then to take on them as well. I did tell them about my exploits though, usually over Sunday tea. Fairy-tales, the boys called them. I had no idea they would write them all down. But that's another story.

About The Author

    New York Times Bestselling author Gail Carriger writes to cope with being raised in obscurity by an expatriate Brit and an incurable curmudgeon. She survived her early years by reading most of her local library and memorizing Greek battles. Eventually she escaped small-town life and inadvertently acquired several degrees in Higher Learning. In pursuit of further finishing, Ms. Carriger traveled the historic cities of Europe; subsisting entirely on biscuits secreted in her handbag. Gail now resides in the Colonies, where she is surrounded by fantastic shoes and insists on tea imported from London. 
    The Parasol Protectorate books are: Soulless , Changeless , Blameless , Heartless , and Timeless . Soulless won the ALA's Alex Award. She is currently writing The Finishing School , a young adult series set in the same universe. Etiquette & Espionage was an immediate New York Times bestseller. Curtsies & Conspiracies is due out November 5, 2013. 

The Parasol Protectorate
    Soulless Changeless Blameless Heartless Timeless
    Finishing School
    Etiquette & Espionage
    Short Stories
    My Sister's Song
Marine Biology