Journey to the world of magical horses . . .

Meet the beautiful and heroic Fiona—the mare with the glowing red mane—as she helps a young girl discover that things aren’t always what they seem.

Bella Sara #5: Fiery Fiona

By Felicity Brown

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Copyright © 2009 Felicity Brown
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780061673337

Chapter One

And then the fiery red mare, Fiona, galloped off through the forest, her silky mane and tail streaming behind her like flames in the wind." Twelve-year-old Astrid Sundlo closed her eyes, imagining the scene just as she'd pictured it so many times before. "The brave girl with the blond braids sat astride the horse's glossy back, riding as naturally as if she'd been born there. Finally, the glorious fire horse left the forest and galloped into the castle courtyard. Cheering filled the air as the citizens of the land gathered to honor the courage of the pair in saving the Rose Dragons from drowning and returning them safely to their home."

"Is that finally the end?" Astrid's younger brother, Tondy, complained. "Because I'm tired of hearing about Fiona. I want another story about the Nix."

Astrid's eyes flew open. The cheers of the adoring crowd faded. She found herself once more where she always was—in Canter Hollow, the small, sleepy village in the shadow of Rolandsgaard Castle at Trails End, the ancient estate that lay at the center of the land of North of North. She and Tondy were sitting in the hot afternoon sun on the edge of the fountain in the town square. They were waiting for their mother to finish delivering her latest batch of fresh-baked bread and pies to the grocer's shop.

Astrid glanced up at the marble horse statue rising from the center of the fountain, and from there even farther up to the majestic castle that towered over the town in the distance. Its upper terraces seemed to tremble in the thick haze that hung over the valley. For a moment, it had felt as if Astrid were truly that girl in her story, having adventures, living an exciting life like the heroes of the old legends, loved by the horses she so adored. . . .

But now here she was again, back in her regular, boring old life, with hardly a horse around. She glanced over toward the only equine in sight, a stout little Root Pony grazing in a patch of shade. Astrid's gaze lingered on the pony, just as it always did on any equine she encountered, from old Mr. Vibbard's swaybacked dappled-gray mare to the luminescent-green Dynasty horse who lived at the edge of Darkcomb Forest. Whatever shape, size, or color they may be, Astrid loved them all. Her bedroom was papered in sketches of horses, and although she normally had little enthusiasm for helping her mother with her baking business, she always volunteered to grate the carrots and apples when Mrs. Sundlo was asked to make a birthday cake for a horse.

"Astrid?" Tondy leaned closer and splashed her. The water was ice-cold against Astrid's sun-warmed skin. "Hey, wake up and stop dreaming!"

Astrid frowned at her brother. Why was everyone always telling her to stop dreaming? What harm was there in dreams?

"I'm not dreaming," she told him. "I'm just doing what Mother told me to do—keeping you entertained so you don't wander off and fall in the lake."

Tondy scowled back at her. "Then entertain me," he demanded. "Tell me a good story. A Nix story!"

"You really want to hear about the Nix again?" Astrid glanced toward the grocer's shop, wondering when her mother would emerge. "It's way too hot for that! Besides, every time I tell you a Nix story you end up keeping the whole house awake with your nightmares."

"Nix! Nix!" Tondy chanted stubbornly.

Astrid sighed, blowing a strand of straw-blond hair off her sweaty forehead.

"Fine," she said. "Um, there once was a little boy named Tondy. One night he fell asleep in the kitchen when he was supposed to be sifting the flour for his mother's baking. But he awoke when he felt something scampering across his legs. A moment later he screamed, for his clothes were on fire! It was then that he knew the Nix Darkling had been there. He could never sleep in the same room with any sort of fire ever again. The end."

Tondy frowned, not seeming pleased. "That was too short," he said. "Anyway, you left out a bunch of important details, like how you can keep the Nix away by throwing the last bite of your supper into the flames. Don't forget, the Nix is a real creature of fire, not like Fiona."

"Fiona is real," Astrid protested, not bothering to argue the first part. After all, she too had believed in the Nix when she was Tondy's age. Their older brothers, Valto and Kimo, had seen to that. They'd tried to spook her with the legend of the mysterious creature that haunted hearths and fire pits, causing mayhem everywhere it went. "Fiona is one of the four great horses of legend who met as foals at the hundredth anniversary celebration of the forming of the Valkyrie Sisterhood."

"Maybe." Tondy shrugged, little impressed. "But it doesn't matter. You'll never meet her. A legendary horse isn't going to show up in boring old Canter Hollow. But the Nix could be anywhere! Valto says that wherever there is fire, you might find the Nix." He shivered despite the heat, wrapping his small arms around himself. "Tell me a better Nix story!"

"Later." Astrid had just spotted the town's blacksmith striding across the town square toward his forge. "Mr. Smithin!" she called out, waving. "Are you shoeing any horses today?"

The man turned toward them, shading his eyes against the sun. "Well, hello there, Sundlos," he called out in his booming voice, his broad, ruddy face breaking into a smile. "And yes, Astrid. It so happens I'm on my way back to the forge to meet a pair of winged horses from the Skyloft estate." He shook his head. "I only hope I can get the forge hot enough. It hasn't been burning quite as well as it used to, ever since I came back from my vacation."

Continues...

Excerpted from Bella Sara #5: Fiery Fionaby Felicity Brown Copyright © 2009 by Felicity Brown. Excerpted by permission.
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