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huge stones and many other things without touching them.
    Alida found a fist-size stone and tried to make it rise into the air. She couldn’t. She tried over and over. The stone didn’t move at all.
    Angry with herself, she rolled up her shawl and tucked it under her arm.
    Then she stood on her toes.
    She took a deep breath and rose into the air.
    She was still afraid.
    But it didn’t matter.
    If Gavin hadn’t been brave, she would still be locked in that little chamber. She would find him. Then she would find a way to help him.
    First she flew in a wide circle around the castle. She counted the towers. There weren’t ten, as shehad thought the night Gavin had helped her escape. There were thirteen.
    Most of them had windows.
    Only four of them were like the one she had been in—barred with iron.
    She flew a little closer.
    There were guards near the main entrances. But they were watching the road, the meadows, and the forest—not the sky.
    None of them was near the barn.
    Alida flew straight up, then leveled out until she was over the stables.
    Coming down, she flew fast, slowing just enough to land running.
    She hid behind one of the fancy carriages. Once she was sure no one had seen her, she put on her shawl to hide her wings.
    She tied the ends in a careful knot.
    Then she walked closer, trying to rememberwhere the door had been. Everything looked very different in the daylight.
    Just like the castle, Lord Dunraven’s barn was much bigger than she had thought.
    When she finally spotted the double doors John had opened to lead the mare out, she tiptoed inside.
    She could hear two men talking in low voices.
    She squeezed between the wall and a stack of hay. She folded her wings tightly against her back beneath the shawl and hid, listening.
    For a long time, she couldn’t quite hear what they were saying.
    Then they turned and walked toward her.
    â€œHow’s the bay mare doing?” one of them asked the other.
    â€œHealing fast,” came the answer, and Alida sighed in relief. It was John’s voice.
    She waited until the second man left, then she peeked out.
    John was looking at her. Somehow he had known she was there. He smiled.
    â€œI came to find Gavin,” she said.
    â€œI knew you would,” he answered. “You are like your mother. Loyal and true.”
    â€œDo you know where Gavin is?” Alida asked.
    John shook his head. “But I don’t think he’s in any of the towers. Lord Dunraven has my stable boys run the food trays up, and there haven’t been any new prisoners for a long time.”
    Alida’s heart sank, but she nodded and thanked him. “Do you know where my family is?” she asked, then held her breath.
    John shook his head sadly. “No. I miss them all.” He sighed. “When you find them, please give them my best wishes.”
    Alida stared at him, questions rushing into her mind. But there was no time. Not now.
    â€œI’ll have the stable boys exercising horses all day long,” he said. “Lots of noise and commotion.”
    Alida understood instantly. “Thank you.”
    He looked into her eyes. “It isn’t my place to explain anything to you,” he said. “Your mother will, when you find her. But I never meant to harm you.”
    There was sorrow in his eyes, and kindness. “I believe you,” she told him.
    He smiled. “If you need my help, I will be in the stables,” he said, and walked away.

Chapter
    10
    John kept his word.
    It wasn’t long before ten stable boys—each of them riding one horse and leading three—were galloping in long circles around the castle.
    The guards posted outside every door were watching the horses pounding past them.
    Thanks to John’s cleverness, they would be less likely to hear any sounds she made or to look
up
.
    Alida started with the towers, just to make sure.
    She landed lightly beside each window and peeked