Page 26 of The Bookworm and the Pegasus Tamer

My belly hurt last week, Bramble offered, clearly wanting to be helpful.

Your belly is always hurting, the black stallion responded in such a tone of long-suffering that Aurelia hid her smile against Bramble’s neck. They really did sound like a human parent and child. But it is your own fault. You’re too picky and frequently become distracted when you’re supposed to be eating. Is it any wonder you end up feeling ill?

You may think the star leaves are a delicious delicacy, Bramble said mulishly, but I think they taste awful. The only wonder is that you don’t all feel sick from eating them.

“What are star leaves?” Aurelia asked hesitantly.

They are one of the tastier plants to be found in these mountains, the black stallion said with a disapproving look at Bramble.

Aurelia turned that over in her mind.

“Is it truly unusual that Bramble dislikes them so much?”

She is the most difficult foal I have ever encountered, the stallion said, the long-suffering back in his voice.

Aurelia turned to Bramble. “And you’re the only one who gets these frequent stomachaches? What do your elders say when you get them?”

She gave a great sigh. They tell me to mind my elders, to stop complaining, and to eat what I’m told to eat.

“So when your stomach starts to hurt, your herd makes you eat the same things they do—in particular these star leaves?” She met Danton’s eyes, her own full of hope. “That could be it. Bramble’s stomachaches could be the start of the sickness, but she’s always treated it before it goes any further. And the other pegasi eat the star leaves without complaint, so they never get symptoms at all and would have no idea what the plant is doing for them.”

“Those who are sick in the royal herd did start by complaining of stomachaches,” Danton said eagerly. “What do these star leaves look like? Where can I find them?”

Bramble twisted her head around, finally spotting something green on the far side of the ravine. There is one there. Do you see how the leaves grow in the shape of a star?

Bramble appears to be the expert, the black stallion said, still clearly annoyed with the filly now that she had been safely rescued. She can show you where to collect them. He hesitated. We thank you for your assistance, and we hope the city herd are aided by the star leaves. We do not desire for any pegasus to die.

“Thank you for your assistance.” Danton gave him a respectful bow. “I hope we will have the chance to speak again one day.”

The black stallion didn’t respond, merely launching himself into the sky, his two lieutenants behind him.

Bramble pranced on the spot, tossing her head and testing her legs. It is good to be free! Let us go hunting the star leaves.

Aurelia laughed and ran after her, the others streaming behind them. It didn’t take long to stumble on a patch large enough to fill the satchel Danton had brought for the purpose. Bramble didn’t help gather the leaves, instead munching on the extra with an expression of disgust.

They still taste as awful as ever. But if they will keep me from being ill, I suppose I’ll have to keep eating them.

“Maybe you’ll develop a taste for them at some point,” Aurelia offered hopefully, but Bramble merely gave a defeated huff.

“I just hope they can cure the illness in its later stages,” Danton said grimly, and Aurelia frowned. She hadn’t even thought of that issue.

But she shook her head, throwing off the momentary lowering of her spirits. She refused to be downcast. She would believe in the star leaves until they heard otherwise.

“Echo?” Danton asked once the satchel was full, and the chestnut stallion came willingly toward him. “You will carry it straight to the palace?”

With full speed. Even Aurelia heard Echo’s response.

Danton clapped the pegasus on the shoulder and made quick work of attaching a simple harness to him that could securely hold the satchel.

“Fly low,” Danton instructed. “We don’t know what cold will do to the plants.”

They all watched Echo until he was a tiny dot in the distance.

“Will the grooms at the palace question why Echo is willing to run your errand?” Aurelia asked.

Danton shrugged. “I’ve told him to seek out the head groom, but I don’t think they’ll ask too many questions regardless. After my success with the king’s stallion, they know I’ve won respect from some of the unbonded pegasi in the mountains. And you heard that stallion. The pegasi may not care much about us, but they don’t want to see a fellow pegasus die. It’s possible one of them would have taken the leaves for us if we hadn’t had Echo to do it.”

Aurelia nodded, hoping he was right and Echo’s errand wouldn’t lead to Danton’s secret being discovered.