The Wrong Side of Magic by Janette Rallison Page B

“Hudson, you haven’t committed any crimes, have you?”
    He tilted his head in disbelief. “Yeah, Charlotte. Every once in a while, when the mood strikes me, I hot-wire a car and hold up a few convenience stores.”
    â€œI asked,” she said pointedly, “because revealing powder not only strips away any disguises you have, it also lists any crimes you’ve committed on your forehead.”
    â€œHow does it know what crimes you’ve committed?”
    â€œIt’s magic,” she said in a tone that indicated that the answer was obvious.
    He wanted to say, That wasn’t a stupid question where I come from. Instead he said, “I haven’t committed any crimes, so I can go to the castle courtyard alone. No one will recognize me.”
    â€œTrue,” she said, still hesitant, “but you might mess things up.” She held up a hand to ward off his protest. “Nothing personal. You’re from the Land of Banishment, which means you don’t think clearly.”
    This from Charlotte, the girl who thought you could buy happiness in a soda pop bottle. “I think clearly,” he said.
    â€œHow many times did the compass tell you to beware of trolls?”
    Fortunately, she didn’t actually expect an answer to that question, because he didn’t want to give it.
    A rumble of footsteps sounded in the forest behind them, and Charlotte turned toward the noise. “Oh, good. Unicorns have come.”
    Hudson didn’t turn to them right away. He was afraid they would be the same unicorns he’d seen before. He didn’t want to face those ones, or find out if they remembered him.
    Charlotte waved her hand happily. “Huzzah, noble unicorns!”
    Hudson slowly turned. Two unicorns trotted toward them, manes flowing, horns glinting like crystal in the sunlight. A gray one and a tawny one, like before. Hudson shifted so he stood behind Charlotte.
    The gray unicorn gave his mane a particularly dramatic swish. “Welcome to the Forest of Possibilities, fair purple-lipped maiden. What is your quest?” Both unicorns came to a halt in front of Charlotte. Up close, the unicorns’ coats shone, glimmering silver on the gray unicorn and gold on the tawny one.
    Charlotte curtsied. “We wish to find Princess Nomira and free her.”
    The gray unicorn gave a whinny that almost sounded like laughter. “A valiant, if not foolishly hazardous quest. I can tell you’re pure in heart. We shall gladly carry you through the forest.”
    Charlotte curtsied again, making her brown curls bob up and down. “We would be so grateful for a ride to Grammaria. May I have the honor of your names?”
    â€œI am Cecil the Silver,” the gray unicorn said, and motioned his horn toward the tawny unicorn. “This is my brother, Nigel the Gold.”
    Definitely the same unicorns. Maybe if Hudson didn’t say anything, they wouldn’t remember him.
    The tawny unicorn addressed him. “And what is your name and quest?”
    Hudson bowed so low he nearly tipped his backpack over his shoulders. “I’m Hudson,” he mumbled. “I’m helping Charlotte.”
    Both unicorns lowered their heads, examining him. Cecil sniffed near his shirt. “Say, aren’t you that bloke we saw earlier—the one who took a swing at me?”
    â€œUm, sorry about that.” Hudson hurriedly added, “I’m a lot purer now.”
    The unicorns tilted their heads toward each other, conferring in quiet voices. “A person doesn’t change from impure to pure so rapidly,” Cecil said.
    â€œIt’s possible, but not probable,” Nigel agreed.
    Hudson tried to catch their eye. “I’ve reformed. Really.”
    â€œMark my word,” Cecil said, ignoring him. “If we take the boy, he’ll be nothing but trouble. Human boys are always throwing rocks and setting things on fire.”
    â€œRude behavior