The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue (18 page)

Zalla carefully poured the scarlet potion down Taj's throat, just a little at a time. “Keep his head propped so he doesn't choke.”

Zinnia tilted Taj's head up a little more. Zalla poured the last of the potion into Taj's mouth and stood back. Dodie closed his brother's mouth and stared anxiously at his pale face.

“Why's it not working?” Gamal hollered from the corner.

“Give it a minute,” whispered Zalla.

Gradually, the color came back to Taj's face.

“He's looking better!” exclaimed Binni.

Zinnia gently laid Taj's head back down and stood over by her father to watch.

Dodie knelt by his brother, waiting, barely breathing. “Come on,” he whispered.

Taj's eyelids fluttered open, and he coughed. He looked at Dodie and gave a weak smile.

Dodie laid his head on his brother's chest, and heard a strong heart beat and steady breathing. Gamal and Nadar fell on Taj, not bothering to hold back tears. They helped Taj sit up a little on his bed.

“He will be weak until he gets nourishment,” Zalla told them. “I'll prepare a tonic and a hearty broth for him.”

He and Zinnia left the room to prepare the tonic and broth in the kitchen. Binni followed after them.

“What happened?” Taj asked in a hoarse voice.

“Your little brother just saved your life,” said Nadar.

Taj looked at Dodie with a grin. “How'd you do that, Dodes?”

Dodie beamed. “I won the Grand Flyer.”

Chapter 18

After Taj drank the tonic and broth that Zalla and Zinnia prepared for him, he felt strong enough to hear all about Dodie's adventures. Everyone gathered around Taj's bed to listen to Dodie and Zinnia's recount of the Grand Flyer. They were good story-tellers, painting rich descriptions of the scenery and building suspense at the dangerous moments of their journey. Nadar was thrilled that Dodie had heeded his map of secrets, and Zalla beamed at his daughter for her courage in racing against the boys. Taj never expressed any resentment over not racing, and instead swelled with pride over his little brother for doing so.

Their story ended on a sad note when they considered Binni who was now without his only relative; although knowing about Binni's abuse at home did not make them sorry that Raz was gone. While Binni was still feeling confused and hurt by his uncle, he was thrilled to sign on as Zalla's apprentice. Not only did Binni gain a kind master, but he also had his dreams fulfilled of learning alchemy.

At first Zalla considered taking Zinnia and Binni to live in the Capital where he held a prominent position on Magistrate Obenido's counsel. But Zinnia wouldn't hear of it. She wanted to live in Turah, and Dodie knew it was because of him. Zalla and Zinnia moved into Raz's shop with Binni. Zalla found all his books and tools and ingredients that Raz had stolen from him in addition to all Raz's equipment.

Magistrate Oxard hosted a celebration for Dodie at which Axel joined as the only other racer from Turah, for Atallah was still being held in the Capital. Axel had fully recovered from being poisoned and eagerly listened to Dodie tell him about the parts of the race he had missed.

Atallah was eventually released, but refused to return to Turah. His parents moved away and joined him at the Capital where the larger population made it easy to hide their shame. Dodie and Zinnia joked that her wish for his banishment had come true after all.

Before leaving Turah, Lord Hadi stopped by Rue's Rug Emporium. He did not hold his head nearly as high, and his large nose didn't look as prominent, for his whole demeanor had changed. He slapped a sheet of parchment on the counter. The paper was the written loan agreement both men had signed twelve years ago.

“We have a wager to settle,” said Hadi in a low voice.

“We do,” answered Gamal as he held out his half of the winged amulet.

When both men placed their wings on the counter, the two wings united, glowed blue, then disappeared with a
poof.
Next the loan agreement magically ignited and burned into oblivion. Hadi frowned, and Gamal grinned.

Lord Hadi turned to leave when he spotted Dodie. “By all rights you shouldn't have won.” His face was stoic, and for a moment Dodie wasn't sure what he would say or do next. Hadi grunted. “The universe makes strange calls. Who are we to argue with it?” He walked out of the emporium.

A few days later, race officials from the Capital arrived in Turah and delivered Dodie's winnings to Rue's Rug Emporium. They brought in a small heavy chest and handed over a gilded key. Dodie unlocked the chest to find it full of more gold coins than he had ever seen at one time before.

Taj whooped and ran his hands through the money. “I feel like a sultan!”

“Dad, this is for the shop. For us.” Dodie pushed the chest down the counter to his father.

Gamal didn't reply, and when he looked up there were tears in his eyes. He didn't say anything to Dodie, but for the first time in a long while, he looked at his son without glassy eyes. And that was enough.

Nadar insisted that Dodie keep
Phoenix
as his own carpet now that he was a racer.

“We really took to each other,” Dodie told his grandfather as they sat on the roof stargazing.

“I figured you would,” croaked Nadar.

“She did things that other carpets don't normally do.”

Nadar nodded his balding head. “Magic.”

“I love flying, Grandpapa,” said Dodie. “And I feel like a Rue now.”

“You've always been a Rue. Flying a carpet was never meant to define you, and it shouldn't. There are more valuable things that make you who you are.”

“Like what?”

“Well, you did a very noble thing by wishing for Zinnia's father. You did it to save Taj of course, but I think you did it also for her.”

“I did.”

Nadar nodded.

Dodie was quiet a minute before asking, “You never told me what you wished for from your last race.”

Nadar smiled. “When I raced in my last Grand Flyer and won, Taj was a few years old. Your parents wanted more children, but your mother couldn't conceive again.” He looked down at his grandson. “So I wished for you.”

Dodie swallowed.

“To my great sadness, that wish came with an unforeseen price, and your mother left us when you were born.” Nadar rested a wrinkled hand on top of Dodie's head. “I always told you that you were special.”

Dodie did not say anything as a shooting star streaked overhead.

“So tell me again about the Grand Renegade,” he said after a few moments.

Nadar chuckled. “Only racers who've come in first, second, and third in the Grand Flyers can compete. It usually takes place the year following the Grand Flyer. I expect you'll get an invitation within the month.”

“Really?” Dodie exclaimed, his heartbeat quickening. “Should I do it?”

“You should consider it.”

“Is it more dangerous? Are there different rules? What's the grand prize?”

Nadar chuckled again. “Don't worry, I will tell you all about it some other time. Right now, I want to hear another story. Tell me more about your Grand Flyer.”

“So you'll give me proper flying lessons?” Dodie asked as he chased his brother up to the roof.

“You don't need flying lessons,” Taj called back as he bounded up the stairs two at a time. “You won the Grand Flyer!”

“But I had help,” argued Dodie. “From
Phoenix
, from Grandpapa's map, from Zinnia. My flying isn't that great. I could improve some skills.”

“Yeah, you could,” said Zinnia as she landed
Amethyst
on their roof patio. With a grin, she hopped off her rug. “Your threading is weak.”

“Hey!” Dodie frowned. “You said it wasn't bad!”

Zinnia giggled. “I was being nice. Actually we
both
could use some threading lessons. I haven't figured it out yet either.”

“Alright,” consented Taj as he mounted
Sand Surfer
. “Lesson one: Threading. Now pay attention or you'll both be kicked out of Taj's Flying Academy.”

Dodie rolled his eyes and Zinnia giggled again. They climbed onto their racer rugs and followed Taj down into the alley behind the emporium. Taj gave good instructions and helped them with their form. By the end of the hour, Dodie and Zinnia were able to thread the alley wall. They returned to the roof for a little breather before practicing more. Taj entertained them with some fancy flying maneuvers.

“I got an invitation to race in the Grand Renegade,” said Dodie as he plopped down on a straw mat. He absent-mindedly fiddled with the good luck charm strung around his neck.

Zinnia sat down. “Are you gonna do it?”

“I don't know.” Dodie watched Taj do an upside-down loop in the air. “It's supposed to be more intense than the Grand Flyer. I only raced the Grand Flyer for Taj. What would I be racing the Renegade for?”

“For yourself,” said Zinnia. “I think with some training from Taj you could do it.”

Dodie looked at her. “Really?”

Zinnia smiled and her eyes looked fondly at him. “If you do it, you have to promise me something.”

Dodie's heartbeat quickened, as usually happened when he was around her. “Anything.”

“Promise you'll come back alive,” she said, her pretty face looking solemn.

They locked eyes for a moment, and Dodie felt lost in the fire in her eyes.

She cleared her throat and said in a lighter tone, “I don't wanna have to beat a bunch of boys again and win the Grand Flyer to wish you back to me.”

Dodie grinned. “Yeah, I like your hair growing out. You shouldn't have to cut it again.”

Zinnia blushed slightly as she tucked a strand behind one ear.

Taj skidded to a landing next to them. “Lesson two—”

“Will you coach me for the Grand Renegade?” Dodie interrupted.

Taj gave a lop-sided smile. “If you split the prize with me fifty-fifty.”

“Thirty-seventy,” Zinnia piped up as she crossed her arms.

Taj chuckled. “What are you, his manager? Forty-sixty.”

Dodie stuck out his hand. “Deal.”

Taj pulled Dodie into an affectionate headlock. “Let's get started!”

If you love

The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue,

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Sherlock Academy
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An Invitation

The letter arrived by courier during breakfast.

“Go on, Rollie, read it aloud to us.” Mrs. Wilson, his mother, nudged his shoulder.