To Ride A Púca Read Free Page B

didn’t like her. The thought made her lift her hand to her shoulder to touch the tiny scar there. Some part of them sensed that she was different.
    Tears dripped onto the black wool blanket that encased the sword. The sight of them intensified her anger. They made her feel weak. Frustrated, she thrust the sword back into the box, put the lid on, and put the floorboard back in place. She jumped to her feet and dashed to Dubh’s stall. He ceased his pacing and bobbed his head up and down, making his long, black mane and forelock bounce.
    As Neala grabbed his bridle off a hook on the wall she saw something moving in the bucket where they stored the horses’ grain. It was no more than eight inches tall and resembled a tiny human. Unlike fairies, this creature had no wings but it did have a long tail that ended in a puff of brown fur. In its hands was half an acorn shell that it was using it to scoop up the grain.
    “Ye little thief! Get out of there!” Neala said.
    It stuck its tongue out at her before leaping out of the bucket to scurry off with its treasure. The small menaces were always stealing something. She put the lid on the grain, making sure it was good and snug. If her da found out she’d forgotten to put it on he would have her mucking out stalls for a month solid. Given the chance, brownies would steal every bit of the grain.
    Hooves prancing out a rhythm on the wooden floor, Dubh nickered as she entered his stall. He lowered his head the moment she lifted his bridle. When she was finished putting it on he gently pushed his head against her chest. The sadness in his green eyes made her think maybe he knew she was upset.
    “Yer a big help as always me friend. A good run through the woods is exactly what we need.”
    Using her energy, she pushed off from the ground and launched herself onto Dubh’s back. No amount of practice would enable her to mount that way without using her power, Dubh was simply too tall. The display of power was why her da had gotten so mad at her when she’d done it in town yesterday. Such a thing could expose them and that could be disastrous. The invaders killed her kind just because of what they were.
    They shouldn’t have to hide what they are, Neala hated that.
    Sliding into the most secure position on Dubh’s back, she took up the reins and urged him into a trot. Normally she couldn’t care less that she didn’t have a saddle but today even that bothered her. It wasn’t that they couldn’t afford it. Her family had plenty of coin. Her parents wouldn’t buy a saddle because it was a luxury item most people couldn’t afford. They didn’t want to draw attention to themselves.
    Once they were clear of the barn Neala turned Dubh toward the misty forest and urged him into a canter. The moment they stepped into the trees the heady scent of pine and fertile ground enveloped them. The deeper they ran into the woods, the thicker the patchy mist became. It soon covered the ground, reaching up to Dubh’s ankles. While they could see the trees and dodge easily in and out of them, Neala couldn’t see the ground. Soon the mist was up to Dubh’s hocks but by then she was leaning into the damp wind, too immersed in the ride to care. She felt free with the wind whipping through her hair, almost as if she could fly.
    The trees flashed by and the fog curled up around them, teasing her booted feet. Sunlight streamed through the massive pines where it could find an opening between the feathery boughs. The light bounced off the fog, making it harder to see. Just as she started to feel bad for her recklessness and picked up the reins to slow Dubh down, he slipped.
    Time slowed in that terrible way it did when something bad happened. Dubh’s right front leg slid out from under him and he started to go down. Shifting her weight back, Neala pulled on the reins, trying to help him lift his head and regain his balance. For a moment it seemed like it was going to work. Then he toppled over onto his