Fairies and Felicitations (Scholars and Sorcery) by Eleanor Beresford Read Free Book Online

younger girls. "Don't tell me that he'll be sleeping in the classrooms."
    "It's more likely that she'll be sneaking him up the back stairs to sleep in the dorm. We shall spend all term hiding him under our covers and pretending to Matron that his whinnies and sudden outbreaks of fire are just an unfortunate reaction to school cooking," drawls Esther, reaching up to stroke Ember's nose. He flares his nostrils at her, and I send a calming thought his way.
    "I wouldn't put it past her," says Cecily, clapping me fondly on the back.
    I grin back at them, a little shamefacedly. "I just thought that Ember should see the school at last, so he'd understand better what I am thinking about." I realise how odd that sounds as soon as it comes out of my mouth, so I add hastily: "It's our last year, after all."
    "Don't remind me!" Cecily grimaces.
    Esther is still admiringly stroking Ember's shining neck. It makes me happy. Ember is—well, he's spectacular, but people don't always properly appreciate that. He's so large, and the glowing red flickering that sometimes flames up in his bay coat can be a little alarming, especially if your clothes start to smoulder a little. "I can't bear to think we have only three more terms left here."  
    The younger girls are gaining confidence and moving closer. One girl, a fourth former at a guess, but not one I recognise, with long pale hair in two thick plaits and even thicker spectacles, summons the courage to approach Ember. She strokes him well, a good, firm touch, not the nervous tickling a lot of youngsters inflict on magical steeds, afraid of being bitten or flamed. I can feel pleasure and appreciation coming from Ember in response.
    It makes me look at the girl more closely. Pointed ears show through her hair, and her eyes are large and round behind her spectacles. Interesting, that. The good families, the ones with heavy streaks of blue elfin blood, often share an affinity with beast magic. The thought crosses my mind that perhaps I can help her out a bit. We're always supposed to be encouraging the youngsters in their talents, and apart from a bit of cricket coaching, I haven't done much in that line.
    I spring back into the saddle. So far, the mistresses have yet to interfere with me, but if Ember makes a mess in the school courtyard, my time will be up. Especially if what he leaves behind him sets fire to Miss Carroll's precious roses. "Well, we can't stay at Fernleigh forever, Cissy," I say, just as if it doesn't matter to me whether I go or stay. "Everyone grows up eventually."  
    "I don't feel particularly grown up," Cecily says slowly. "I can't think that, in a year, I'll be at university. And then back to Australia, or a job, or married. . . " Her voice trails off, her eyes focused on something past Ember's mane, which is beginning to flare a bit as if he's picking up her feelings. He turns from her and pushes his nose at the girl with the plaits, as if she can comfort him. Yes, definitely some talent there.
    Esther laughs, her black eyes sparkling. "I, for one, can't wait." She turns on the group of lower formers. "Hi, you lot, back off! Show some respect and give your seniors some room!"
    The girls move reluctantly back, the bespectacled girl a little after the others. She looks back over her shoulder at me and I give her a reassuring grin. No good squashing the kids too much, especially not the ones who are picked out for special favour by Ember. She sort of gives me a shy half-smile back and then turns quickly on her heel, as if she's done something disgraceful. Funny kid. If she's new, some well-meaning sage has probably rubbed into her that you're barely seen and never heard on your first days at school.
    I make a note to ask Cecily about her at some point. Cecily doesn't gossip, as such, yet she always seems to know, in the kindliest fashion, about everybody. Part of this is her own magical gift, and part of it is just being Cecily. Lost little new girls are right up her