The Hunt for the Hollower by Callie C. Miller

Author:Callie C. Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2023-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

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The adventurers all thought very hard about the Omnivia, and eventually the water around the bubble grew lighter and clearer until it rushed up to the surface and popped into the cheerful morning sunlight near the shore.

“Oh, happy day!” Iggy crowed. He set to sunning himself on top of Merlynda’s head. It had been hard work to keep glowing this entire time, but he was happy to provide light for his friends. His friends and Batu, that was.

They guided the bubble to the shore, then pushed themselves out, relieved. It rolled itself back over the water, descended, and was gone.

The travelers scanned the wide, empty beach, drenched from the water that had leaked into their bubble. Neci had somehow managed to keep her hair dry, but the other two hadn’t fared so well. They jumped and stomped to warm themselves in the sun. “Which way do we go now?” Neci asked.

Before Merlynda could answer, the travelers heard a familiar screech.

“It’s the falcon!” Batu shouted. The bird shot across the sky, then dove straight for Merlynda.

“Run!” she shouted.

The children dashed off along the sand. The falcon swooped close, and Neci slashed at it with her dagger. A chill crept through Merlynda—the bird felt cold, or empty.

A silver flash streaked toward the adventurers from above, forcing the falcon to abort its dive. It screeched, then wheeled and turned, trying to get past the newcomer.

The children gaped as they ran, awed. A magnificent silver horse, dappled with black spots along her flank, twirled and darted after the falcon with flashing silver-and-black wings. A single onyx horn spiraled out from her head.

“Look at those wings!” Iggy marveled from where he was hiding in Merlynda’s collar. “Have you ever seen anything so wondrous? Do you think mine will be like that, Merlynda?” He flapped his little nubs, but they were barely big enough to wiggle.

Merlynda couldn’t answer because of the stitch in her side from running.

The falcon cut to the side, and the horned pegasus—for that is what the new arrival was—overshot it, unable to turn as fast as the smaller creature.

Merlynda didn’t think. She grabbed at the Air around her, then smashed it together. Sand burst out in all directions from the sudden force, and the falcon crashed into the Air wall. It tumbled to the beach, then stood and shook its head. A black void blossomed next to it.

Before anyone could grab it, the falcon hopped up, glided inside the portal, and was gone.

The horned pegasus gracefully landed before the children. “Are you all right?”

The children nodded, but Iggy was so starstruck all he could do was blush.

“I am Dame Illondria, knight of the Air, pledged to serve the Aether.” She stood to her full majestic height and looked at Merlynda. “Are you the Septimum Genus?”

Now Merlynda blushed. “Um—technically, yes. Were you—are you looking for me?”

The horned pegasus knelt on her forelegs and bowed. “Not directly, but I am glad you are found. I am sensitive to the ebb and flow of the Aether in all its elements and sensed the desperate magic used beneath the waters.

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