The rest of the evening passed in a cozy and quiet company. Meleri took Jaira’s place in whatever card game she and Miva were now playing. Ivy was watching from Miva’s shoulder. Meanwhile, I took over for Jaira in the cuddling front of Midnight. Soot and Winter were busy preening each other’s feathers. And the only actual noise was the crackling of the magical fire as it adjusted its heat output to make the room comfortable.

  Just as the clock struck ten, I got up and stretched. “Alright you guys, tomorrow is Miva’s last day here, and I have a few plans for it. So off to bed, everyone.” Miva looked up. “You have plans, what plans?” I put down Midnight and stretched again, my tail twitching a bit. “It wouldn’t be much of a surprise if I told you, now, would it?”

  Miva a grumbled but headed off towards the bathroom with Meleri, who looked quite amused by it all, following behind her. Soot landed on my shoulder. “If we are all going on a long trip, we will need some other form of transportation, as there isn’t enough room on the broom.”

  I reached up and scratched his neck. “Indeed, I was planning on trying out the flying carpet idea from way back when, since I need a bunch of people to test it, and this is the perfect occasion. Besides, if it doesn’t work, I can always just levitate us. Sure, it would be a drain on my internal reserves, but it’s not like I have been close to bottoming out in years.” Soot clicked his beak for a bit, before nuzzling his head against my cheek.

  “Well, we have that extra carpet just lying around, so that could work. But didn’t you shelve that idea because it was impractical?” Before I could answer, I felt a small impact on my other shoulder as Ivy landed there. “So, where are we going?” I glanced over at her. “I wouldn’t keep it a secret from Miva if I were going to tell you, Ivy. You’ll find out along with everyone else. Now off to bed you go, as I don’t want naps during tomorrow’s trip.”

  Ivy looked at me in silence for a second. “Aw, come on!” However, seeing that I didn’t budge to her pleading look, she shrugged and took off towards her bed. She knew that continuing to pry would be pointless. I turned my attention back to Soot. “It’s impractical if it’s only me, you three, and someone who’s the size of Miva, or smaller. The broom can handle that many, after all. But if we tried to fit me, you three, Miva, Ivy and Meleri, on the broom? No, we need something bigger for that many. At Least until we can get another broom for Meleri and teach her how to fly it.”

  Soot chirped a few times. “Hmm, you make a good point, and a carpet would be the best solution for mass transport, all things considered.” He chirped a bit more, before he nuzzled my cheek and flew up to his perch for the night. “Well, regardless, Mistress, I am sure you’ll figure it out. See you tomorrow.” His voice was muffled and sleepy-sounding as He ruffled his wings, clicked his beak a few times, then stuffed his beak underneath his left wing.

  The next morning, I was up and about just before dawn. It would take time to enchant a carpet, so I would need to start early if I were going to get it done early enough that we could take the trip I was planning. I grabbed the carpet from next to my wardrobe and rolled it out on the living room floor. “Let’s see… flight fall prevention… vertigo prevention would also be a good idea. What else…”

  My voice trailed off as I pondered what to put into the enchantment itself. I felt something land on my hat. “If I may give a suggestion, Mother, what about flight sickness? You know Miva suffers from that now and then.” I reached up and scratched Winter beneath the beak, earning me a delighted coo.

  “Hmm, not a bad idea at all. Alright then, let’s see.” I put both hands onto the carpet and silently began to channel the magic I needed. The magic reacted to my intent and will as it wove itself into the fabric of the carpet itself. “Carpet of flight, borne on magic might, carry us safe, hearty and hale, from sun and rain, to snow and hail.” As I finished the rhyme, the magic solidified, and I could feel the carpet thrumming with magical power underneath my fingers.

  Now the only question that remained was, did it work? I rolled up the carpet again and carried it out to the landing pad, where I unrolled it once more. Then sat down and grabbed the front end of the carpet and willed it up. The effect was immediate as I shot straight up like an arrow. Winter, who was still on my hat, let out a surprised bark, but remained seated, thanks to the enchantment of the carpet. I flew the carpet a few laps around the house as I looked over the swamp in the gloomy predawn light.

  “It handles worse than the broom, but that’s expected. It has some upsides, however.” Winter gave an inquisitive hoot. “I can fly in reverse. The broom could technically do that, but because of the brooms’ tail it becomes quite difficult to turn when I do, not to mention nigh impossible to get up to speed, but with this thing, easy-peasy.” If I were to compare the carpet and the broom, then the broom was a Harrier Jet, allowing it to hover, while the carpet was a transport helicopter.

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  As I set the carpet down on the landing pad, Winter hopped off my hat and down on the carpet beside me. “Well, at least it works, even if it’s clunky to handle.” I reached down and stroked her feathers, causing her to chirp in delight. “Indeed, and it solves the issue of transporting multiple people. At least small groups. This one could hold all of us, who are here right now, but if I were to add Jaira into it too, it would be a tight fit.”

  Winter hopped along the carpet for a bit before she flew over to the railing of the porch. “Hmm, I would agree with that assessment, Mother. By the way, it’s about time for breakfast.” I got off the carpet and rolled it back up. “Sounds about right. Let’s get a simple one done.”

  I entered the kitchen and grabbed some eggs to make scrambled eggs, toast with ham and some hot milk with honey in it for breakfast. I wanted to make some hot cocoa, but there wasn’t enough for everyone. “Winter you want some meat with your egg?” She gave a soft hoot from the table where she was sitting. “Alright then, ground meat’s coming up. Would you be so kind as to wake the others?” A few moments later, I heard a soft series of chirps and hoots from the living room, followed by a tired growl from Midnight.

  As I walked over to the cooling cabinet to fetch some fish for Midnight, I popped my head through the door. “Morning sleepyheads, breakfast is almost ready.” Soot and Midnight were quick to get their bearings, shortly followed by Ivy when Soot poked her with his beak a few times.

  Soon after, I could hear a loud knocking sound from the hallway, Winter was no doubt pecking on the doors to wake Meleri and Miva. I could hear voices from the hallway, but I couldn’t identify who was talking, as it was too muffled. Though, soon after, Meleri entered the room. “Got any coffee?” I shook my head. “Afraid not. It’s one plant I have been unable to source at all during my time here. And since I do not know what it looks like… Yeah, no, that’s complete luck if I ever find it. I do have some warm honeyed milk, though. I could add some sugar to yours to give you a pep. However, I can’t guarantee the taste if you do, though.”

  Meleri pinched her nose. “Naah, it’s fine. I’ll handle it. So what’s on the menu?” I pointed to the oven. "Scrambled eggs, toast with butter and ham, warm milk with honey, and some meats and fish for those with more of a carnivorous leaning." Meleri nodded as she sat down at the table. “That sounds nice.” She rubbed her eyes a bit as Miva entered. She looked far more alert than Meleri, which made sense, since she was used to waking this early.

  “Oh, honeyed milk nice!” She sat down in her usual chair. Soot, Winter and Midnight joined us a few moments later. All three of them were looking spotless and had a sheen to their feathers and fur that wasn’t there the night before. “I see the three of you made use of Midnight’s cleaning circle.”

  Midnight jumped up on the table and sat down at her plate. “They wanted to try it out, since they didn’t want to be wet while eating breakfast. I’d say the results are worth it.” Both Soot and Winter seemed pleased as well. I filled some diced fish onto Midnight’s plate, earning me an approving purr. “As long as the bath still sees some use, that’s nice. Soot, what do you want?”

  Soot eyed the various offerings. “Egg and meat, please.” I nodded. “Coming right up. Meleri, Miva, help yourselves. Winter, same combo for you as with Soot?” Winter turned her head towards me. “Hmm, just the meat, please.” I nodded. “Can do.” Just then, Ivy finally arrived. “Sorry about the delay, I…” her voice trailed off into a light trilling noise as her mouth watered from the food.

  “It's fine, Ivy, get to your plate, and I’ll fill her up for ya, any preferences?” Ivy looked at the different things on offer. “Everything, please.” The expected request. “I’ll space it out then. Adding everything at once would just create a mess.” A small series of trilling sounds akin to a small bell was all the response I got. Ivy was that eager, huh? I filled her plate with scrambled egg, two toasts with ham, and a bit of meat on the side. It wouldn’t last that long, but I’d hopefully at least get a few mouthfuls in before I needed to add seconds.

  The reminder of the breakfast passed in a noisy, if relaxed manner as everyone bantered over the food. The topic, was the destination for today’s trip. Everyone was eager to figure out what I was planning. Even more so when it became clear no one but me knew where I was planning of taking us.

  With breakfast done and the cutlery and plates cleaning themselves, I grabbed the carpet. “Shall we?” The others followed along. Meleri looked at the carpet. “So flying carpet, eh?” I nodded. “Could you imagine trying to fit all of us on a single broom?” Meleri blinked for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, I can see why you’re using a carpet.”

  I rolled it out and everyone got on. This was the actual test. I knew it could fly, now I would see if it could do so, fully loaded. Everyone got comfortable, and I willed it up and slowly but surely, it lifted off the ground. It was even more clunky now, but at least it worked. “Well then, off we go, a small stop at Apple Ridge first, however.” I said as I turned the carpet towards the farm and sped forward, the wind forcing me to squint until I could put up a wind shielding charm. Meleri scooted up next to me. “So, when are you going to tell us where we are going?” I looked at her and grinned. “In due time, sis, in due time. I am certain you will all enjoy it, however. That I am certain of.”