The Pirate Fairy Read Free Page B

poisoned.”
    Neither man said anything. It was well known that Fortunata frequently cast horrible spells on people and food, just to maintain control. Merritt’s love for his people was the only reason he stayed here. Otherwise he’d have built a raft and gone to look for his lost pirate.
    Denny.
    Just thinking about him pained Merritt’s heart. He took the package of food and squeezed Elvin’s shoulder. “Fear not. I shall return.” And with that, he took off. Outside, when he was certain nobody was looking, he went into the barn. Avery, his favorite stable hand, was brushing down the magnificent quarter horse, Cillian.
    “Who’s been riding?” Merritt asked, surprised.
    “The princess.” Avery had the same glum expression everybody had when they mentioned her.
    “She’s returned?” Merritt panicked.
    “No, sir. She forgot to tie up Cillian and he came running back here.”
    Even the horses hate her .
    “He was shaky and covered in sweat.”
    Merritt sighed. “She rode him hard. As usual. Don’t worry. I’ll take him back to her.”
    “But—”
    “She’ll never know. I can’t have her blaming you when she was clearly distracted.”
    Avery hesitated. “Are you sure?”
    People always said this when Fortunata was the subject of discussion.
    “Yes, I’m sure. I’ll walk him back to wherever she went.”
    “You can ride him, sir. Cillian loves you.”
    “And I love him.” It was true. Merritt was an animal lover and took the care and comfort of all the creatures in his kingdom to heart. Cillian gave a gentle whinny, turned and put his muzzle into the palm of Merritt’s hand.
    Avery smiled as Merritt sighed. Cillian was the most adorable creature. The sensation of the beautiful horse’s soft mouth on his skin always centered and calmed him.
    “I’ll be gentle with him,” Merritt promised.
    “You always are, sir, and he can handle your sister. I suspect he came home because he loathes being away from you.”
    “Thank you.” Merritt saddled the horse and before he could even ask Cillian to take him to the forest, he took off, Merritt hanging on for dear life.
    Cillian was a spirited, joyful creature. His sheer pleasure at running through the trees, along the edge of a rippling brook, then past a field of wild ponies had Merritt laughing as he gripped the reins.
    At last they arrived in the only dark spot in the woods.
    The witch’s house.
    Cillian’s ears twitched as he bent his knees, allowing Merritt to climb from his back. Merritt took a deep breath, then, as his feet touched the ground, he patted the horse’s luxurious mane.
    “Thank you, Cillian,” he whispered.
    Cillian looked at him, his brown eyes alive with warmth and understanding. Merritt studied the house a moment. He could hear a pair of female voices and it didn’t sound like a happy conversation. Oh dear. Fortunata was frustrated.
    “But can you see him?” she yelled.
    “Oh yes. I can see him.” The second voice sounded weary.
    “Well, what’s going on?” Fortunata demanded.
    “Just one moment.” A pause.
    “Well?”
    Merritt reached into his pocket and removed the package of food Elvin had given him. He removed the apple, thrilled when Cillian threw his head up and down. Cillian adored fruit. Merritt rewrapped the package and fumbled for his pocket knife. He quartered the apple and fed each section to Cillian, who expertly ate the flesh and spat out the seeds. Merritt had never seen another horse do that.
    Putting his finger to his lips, as though to shush Cillian, Merritt crept toward the house. He hovered below the witch’s window and was stunned when he raised himself a little and saw her scrying inside a large bowl of inky blue water. Merritt held his breath when a shimmering image emerged of Denny lying on the deck of a ship. He had wings. Oh no . Fortunata had bewitched him. They’d left the ship so fast that Merritt had been unable to speak to him. Fortunata had spiked a tonic she’d given Merritt and