to Paley that a single city block in LA could swallow all of dinky old Quartz Creek Colorado After just a few more minutes her dad turned onto a dirt road and they were passing under a metal arch that read QUARTZ CREEK RANCH Paley wished she could teleport back to LA Still she couldn’t help plastering her face against the car window A stream tumbled alongside the dirt road Velvety-green horse pastures rolled away into the hills on either side And oh the horses Even a cave troll could get excited about animals like these White ones like cloud fluff A gray one spotted with stars Brown ones that looked like cinnamon and caramel and chocolate and every thing good Her dad parked the car next to a big ranch house with a wide front porch and huge windows facing the mountains to the west That felt right to Paley When she played Dragonfyre she always remembered to face west when spell-casting Ignoring the cardinal directions on the game map always caused magic to backfire Paley got out of the car and stretched The smell of newly cut grass and the sound of birds enveloped her The heavy horrible weight of the last year at school 7
felt a little lighter Maybe she could stop being a cave troll after all Paley frowned It was a classic Dragonfyre trap Just when you thought that you were home free the goblins always came roaring down on you No one was going to catch her with her guard down Paley squinted against the sun and scrutinized the ranch Near the big house were two little cabins with porches A split-rail fence ran along the edge of the gravel parking area Horses dotted the pasture On the other side of the creek was a big barn and an outdoor riding arena filled with kids and horses Paley had almost forgotten that there would be other kids here She couldn’t believe her parents thought she belonged with a bunch of troublemakers Being a gamer wasn’t a problem No it’s not her mom had said But being online every waking moment is Paley kicked her toes in the gravel Up on the porch her parents were talking in that super-serious worried-parent way with an older couple Paley ignored them and climbed up one rung of the fence to look at the horses Three of them grazed placidly They were lovely but definitely not fierce If she was going to learn how to joust this summer she needed a much bigger mount 8
The thundering of hooves brought her back to reality From far off in the pasture came a huge horse in full gallop It raced across the field scattering the other horses Its coat was black as midnight and its muscles rippled sleek as a panther At the top of a small rise it stopped surveying its realm before sauntering toward her A hundred feet from Paley it tossed its head and neighed Paley almost jumped out of her skin with excitement This was a storybook horse The perfect steed to carry the Blue Elf into battle All around the horse the sunlight gleamed and sparkled It was so dazzling Paley wouldn’t have been surprised if it had unfurled wings Well Paley what do you think The older woman who had been talking to her parents leaned over the fence and tilted her head toward the huge black horse She had curly gray hair and was wearing Wranglers and a T-shirt that said My Other Car Is a Horse Magnificent Paley said mesmerized by the way the horse’s coat shone blue-black in the sun The older man joined them at the fence Don’t 9
let Prince hear you call him magnificent He’s already got a big head he said chuckling His name is Prince asked Paley looking up at the tall stern-faced man with dark coppery skin Yes indeed little lady He tipped his cowboy hat revealing short salt-and-pepper hair And I’m Willard Bridle This here is Ma Etty We’re glad to have you at the ranch His voice was low and slow and he smelled like bacon and coffee Paley squinted up at him Mr Bridle reminded her of the Elder Mage Minus the long silver hair of course Switch out the jeans and flannel for some robes and presto It was easy to imagine Mr Bridle sitting around a fire practicing spells I never get tired of horses said Ma Etty leaning over the fence I could watch them forever In-game Ma Etty would be a healer with a bag full of herbs and maybe a dried newt or two I can’t wait to ride said Paley unable to contain the dazzling feeling Prince had sparked in her Ma Etty laughed and the wrinkles around her eyes crinkled up in a happy way This one’s perfect for us isn’t she Mr Bridle Indeed he said After lunch I’ll have Fletch 10
