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“I can’t keep it all,” Tempest told her. “You have to tell Zara to take half.”

“I’ll do no such thing. You won this fair and square, and trust me, we have no use for that money.” She said it so matter-of-factly it was impossible to argue with her. “So… Chicago next?”

“Looks like it,” Tempest said.

“We can’t decide whether to head east or west next,” Asha admitted. “We were in Portland, Oregon, not too long ago,” she continued. “There was a signing at Owl’s Bookstore for Dan Wilder’s trivia book, The Most Important Question.” She paused. “Have you read it?”

Tempest went very still.

Nell was watching her from the floor with a look on her face like she knew where this was going. She lowered the book in her hand. Zara stopped browsing.

“You three were at the book signing?” Tempest repeated the statement as a question. “At Owl’s?”

“Hmm-mmm,” Asha said. “We spent a couple of weeks in the area. Shame about the sale of that bookstore. It was crazy the way they wanted to get rid of all the old books.” She raised a brow and looked pointedly around the bus. “We had our fingers crossed that someone would come along and rescue them all.”

Tempest stared wide-eyed at the three of them. Then at the prize envelope on the console. Then at the three small skeleton charms swinging from the rearview mirror. She was starting to get the feeling that her new friends were a lot older and more magical than she’d initially suspected.

“How much did you see?” she asked.

None of them answered, which was an answer of its own. Fortune flapped down to Zara’s shoulder then, and Zara petted her affectionately. “Good Fortune,” she said. “You’re not fooling me with this grumpy parrot act.”

“We’d love to hear your story from you, Tempest.” Zara laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “If you’re willing to trust us, that is.”

“A burden shared is a burden halved,” Fortune announced, to the room. “Out with it,” she added, with some firmness.

Then, apparently satisfied with her own advice, she ruffled her feathers and flew back to Tempest’s side before declaring, “One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready and⁠—”

She stopped. Looked at Tempest. Looked at the Belles.

“Go!” she finished.

“Settle in,” Tempest said. “I’m going to need some tea before I share this story.”

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURAL MAGIC

Office of Practitioner Wellbeing and Staff Welfare

[DATE REDACTED]

RE: K-Bike Training Initiative Fundraiser—Follow-up

Dear Director Berman,

I wrote to you three days ago regarding the K-Bike Training Initiative Gala Fundraiser and have not yet received a personal response. I understand you are a busy person, which is why I wanted to write again promptly so that this does not slip further down your list.

The Gala date is fixed and the auction catalogue goes to print on [DATE REDACTED]. I would hate for the Society’s contribution to be absent from the catalogue.

Have you had a chance to discuss this event with Minerva Lathrop yet?

I am sure your office will agree that the K-Bike Initiative reflects extremely well on the Society’s commitment to intergenerational magical development, and that director-level engagement would send a powerful message to the wider community.

I remain available at any time.

With continued excitement and gratitude,

Katinka Voss

Junior Coordinator, Kinetic Bike Training Initiative Society for the Protection of Natural Magic