READ-a-SAMPLE

“Hold your breath, O human,” Glowgold commanded. He speedily encircled his prize student three times while touching the tip of his wand to her cloak. With each delicate contact, specks of light appeared on the plush fabric. The luminous dots began to twinkle and spin, like whirling stars. With closer inspection, Panther realized that the stars were actually tiny wheels, their eight spokes spiraling outward from a central hub. These spokes of light gave the cloak an unearthly appearance. The girl seemed to be wearing the night sky itself, only in miniature. As Panther exhaled deeply, Hannah pulled the hood down over her daughter’s brow. Glowgold gave the cloak a final tap, and a stunning constellation appeared over Panther’s enshrouded face.

“You are wearing the stars of the northern sky as seen from our woodlands during the late fall. The fairies refer to this garment as the Cloak of Wheels, for each star in the fabric represents the eight seasonal transitions in our farming calendar. Two spokes in the little wheels stand for the longest and shortest days of the year. Those days, as you well know, are the summer and winter solstices. Two more spokes represent the spring and autumnal equinoxes, when the hours of night and day, light and dark, are in complete balance. The other four spokes mark the sacred holidays that we celebrate in between the solstices and the equinoxes. These celebrations are the Blessing of the Seeds, the Festival of May Blossoms, the Bread of the Sun, and the Harvest of the Dark,” Hannah informed Panther. “The outermost circle, which binds the eight spokes together, represents the time it takes for the Earth to completely orbit around the Sun. Each wheel on this precious cloak is thus a symbol for the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The fairies call this type of magical calendar the Wheel of the Year.”

Pushing past Volton, the oldest MacKennon daughter burst out of the blacksmith’s shop. Blinding sunlight poured into the structure, driving the Moonlight Prince back inside. The fair had come to life with jugglers, conjurers, vendors, and fairy pilgrims arriving from all four corners of the Fairylands. Knights on fairy steeds and acrobats on donkeys filled the knoll with vivid banners, flags, and pennants. Panther’s heart rose in her throat as she witnessed the arrival of an old cart bedecked with ribbons, pots, pans, flutes, drums, trinkets, and sparkling wands. Pulling the cart, with a delighted expression, was a large, spotted goat, and sitting atop the driver’s seat was a fox. The girl took off running. A bird hopped down from the jolly contraption and strutted about. His tail feathers fluttering in the morning breeze, only one chicken in the world could be so proud.

“Black Bottom!” Panther screamed with joy.

“Cluck! Cluck! Cluck! I did not expect to see you here, milady,” responded the rooster excitedly. “But it is most welcome, indeed. I have had the most marvelous and the most daring adventure. I must crow you all about it!”

Panther got down on her knees and hugged her old friend with tears in her eyes. “It is good to see you as well, my dear bird. Promise me you will never leave Ghost Horse Hollow again, at least not without me. Promise?” The two friends embraced one another as if they were alone in the world. The festivities swirled around them, but they took no notice. Two good hearts shrugged off the turmoil of life, finding comfort in the love they shared.