Free The Magical Flight of Dodie Rue by F.C. Shaw Page B

anything less. This isn’t my thing.”
    â€œYeah, I kinda got that.” Zinnia glanced at him. “Do you know who poisoned Taj?”
    â€œNo, but I hope whoever did will hang for it. Pretty sure it was someone at the Magistrate’s Banquet. Were you there?”
    â€œNo, I couldn’t wear a mask to the party!” Zinnia exclaimed, sounding like a girl again. “Do you think another racer poisoned Taj?”
    â€œOr a sponsor. Taj was the favorite to win. But who’d go to the extreme of poisoning him?” Dodie muttered more to himself as he started going through the guests at the banquet. “And not just to keep him from racing, but to actually kill him? Why wasn’t it enough to just make him sick and unable to compete?” He suddenly gasped.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Zinnia started.
    Dodie looked at her, weighing whether to tell her or not. “The Seer made a prophecy over Taj. It was a powerful one. It would be a good motive for taking Taj outta the race.”
    â€œDid anyone else overhear it?” Zinnia asked, very interested.
    â€œRaz the alchemist and Atallah Hadi might have. They were waiting right outside her tent,” replied Dodie, his voice dropping in suspicion. “If Taj were to die, there’s no way that prophecy could come true now or even later through the years in future Grand Flyers.”
    â€œGood point.” Zinnia lay down on her rug. “Which poison was used?”
    â€œTaj was poisoned by Devil’s Kiss. Raz said it’s extremely rare and he doesn’t sell any.”
    â€œBetter keep your eyes and ears open.”
    â€œYou okay to be camp buddies tonight?” Dodie asked Zinnia.
    â€œSure,” she replied, sounding sleepy. “Can I trust you not to steal my racer rug or stab me in my sleep?” She said this last part with humor in her voice.
    â€œYou can trust me,” Dodie said sincerely. “Let’s take shifts on guard duty. I’ve got my hour glass. You sleep first. I’ll wake you in two hours.”
    Zinnia rolled over onto her side facing away from Dodie.
    He soon heard her breathing deeply. He knew Zinnia was his competition, and he knew he had to beat her. But in the meantime, he was liking her company, and strongly felt he could trust her. He especially appreciated her sympathy about Taj.
    As the hours crept by, Dodie found his eyelids growing very heavy, and decided to stretch his legs and get his blood circulating again. He paced around a little, keeping Zinnia in his sights. As he paced closer to a nearby campfire, he heard someone coughing violently. Axel was writhing on the ground and gagging. Dodie rushed over to him.
    â€œAxel! You okay?” Dodie patted him on the back.
    â€œI  . . .  can’t  . . . ” Cough-cough! “. . . breathe  . . .  get . . . ” Cough-cough! “. . . help!” Blood was oozing down his chin.
    Randi and Bae woke up, and huddled around Axel.
    â€œHang on!” Dodie dashed for the officials’ yurt. “Help! I need help!”
    Several officials darted out.
    â€œIt’s Axel! He can’t breathe!” Dodie scrambled back to the campsite, the officials right behind him.
    Axel was on his hands and knees, still coughing hoarsely. Randi smacked his back while Bae ran off to fetch water. Oban grabbed Axel’s face in his hands and studied him.
    â€œBitter-root poison!” he announced. “I have an antidote in my case!”
    Oban raced off to the yurt and returned with a wooden box. Dodie stood by and watched as the yellow liquid was poured down Axel’s throat. He found himself holding his breath until the antidote started to take effect. Axel’s breathing slowed and soon his coughing subsided.
    â€œWhat did you eat?” questioned Oban.
    Axel shook his head. “Only what you gave me.”
    â€œDid the food ever leave your