Martha, clutching the book of illustrated creatures, left the room and headed back to find the others.
Chapter Two
Exciting News
After dinner, the children headed up to their rooms to prepare for their trip to Fairy Land. This time they knew what to expect and dug out their leather leggings and colourful tunics, which had been gifted to them on their last visit.
Martha tucked the velvet-bound book into her bag, next to her own sketchpad and pencils.
“I hope I can do a few sketches of the animals – I’d love to see how they compare to Great-Grandfather’s,” she said to Beatrice, who was inspecting her wand. The blue stone, a fragment of the star crystal Beatrice had restored to its rightful place, winked on its tip in the last of the sunlight.
“Hmm?” Beatrice asked distractedly, looking up quizzically at Martha, who grinned.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “You’re not worried about going back, are you? I know you had a bit of a tough time – what with fighting Riad and helping the unicorn king.”
Beatrice shuddered. “It was hard, but I’m glad I could help. If I hadn’t, Princess Evony would have had to marry Riad instead of Soren, and Caeruleus would have had to become the next unicorn king, so it all worked out as it should.”
“I bet you can’t wait to see Caeruleus. I’m looking forward to seeing Linnea again.” Martha thought fondly of the gentle pink-flower-patterned unicorn that she had been paired with.
“Of course, and Doran too. I’m excited for more magic lessons. Now I know that my magic changes if I work with you or one of our cousins, I’m intrigued to see what we can do together.”
Martha nodded. “He’s a powerful mage; I’m sure he will be able to help you harness your new magic. Hopefully, we can defeat Nesrin once and for all.”
Felicity popped her head around the connecting door. “Time for bed – we have to be up at sunrise. Although I don’t know how I will sleep with Octavia continuously bouncing on her bed!”
“I’m just so excited, Fliss!” Octavia’s voice floated through the doorway. Felicity rolled her eyes and went back into their shared room.
In her pyjamas, Martha walked over to the window seat and sat down. Looking out of the large arched window, she braided her long blonde hair into two plaits on either side of her head.
Beatrice placed her wand inside her bag and slid underneath her blanket. “See you in the morning,” she whispered, closing her eyes.
Martha finished braiding her hair and got into her own bed. Snuggling down, she closed her eyes and thought of the creatures they would meet tomorrow.
Martha was sitting on a fallen log surrounded by gleaming toadstools and glowing flowers. Sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the patch of grass in front of her. A cluster of various woodland creatures sat staring up at her, enthralled. She looked down and saw that she was holding Great-Aunt Clara’s book, showing the drawings to the animals.
With a smile, she pointed to a brown rabbit in the book which exactly matched one sitting in front of her.
“But that’s me,” the little bunny squeaked, hopping up and down with excitement.
Martha laughed. “Yes, Rowan described you very well indeed,” she told the rabbit.
Just as she turned the page, a dark shadow swooped overhead, blocking out the sunlight. Goosebumps rose along Martha’s bare arms; looking up, her worst fears were confirmed. A flock of ravens settled into the tree above, and a black cloud materialised in front of her.
Nesrin stepped from the cloud and the little creatures went wild, scattering and shrieking in terror. Martha stood on trembling legs, the book falling from her lap to land on the mossy ground.
“Beatrice! I need you, Bea!” Martha shouted desperately.
Roughly, she was shaken awake. “What happened, Matty? You were shouting for me.”
Martha, her heart pounding, sat up to see Beatrice’s pale face looming over her.
“N-Nesrin,” she stammered, wiping a hand across her clammy brow. “She came for the animals.”
Beatrice frowned. “It was just a dream; you’re just worried, that’s all,” she said reassuringly.
“Do you think so? I know you and Octavia had dreams about Fairy Land, and they had meaning,” Martha returned, not entirely convinced.
Beatrice bit her lip. “I’m sure Nesrin wouldn’t come for the animals. Why would she want them?” she asked.
No answer came to mind, so Martha shrugged and looked at the clock. “We don’t have to be up for a few hours – maybe we should try to get more sleep. I’m probably just overexcited, like Octavia,” she added, trying a joke to put Beatrice’s mind at rest, as she was now looking very troubled.
Beatrice nodded slowly and gave her a small smile before heading back to bed. Martha watched her sister close her eyes before turning onto her back and staring up at the canopy above. She really didn’t want to sleep – not if more disturbing dreams would be forthcoming…
“Wake up, wake up! It’s time.” Octavia burst through the doorway, followed by Otto, their tousled curls and cheeky grins identical as they beamed down at Martha.
Martha rubbed the sleep from her eyes, surprised that she had managed to fall asleep after that scary dream. Deciding to push it from her mind, she let herself be caught up in her younger cousins’ enthusiasm and laughingly got out of bed.
Beatrice looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but Martha gave her a big, reassuring smile back. “I’m all right,” she mouthed, grabbing her clothes.
Beatrice returned the smile, but slight worry still shone in her turquoise eyes. She let it go, picking up her own clothes and heading out into the cold bathroom.
Octavia didn’t let them dawdle, hurrying them along so that they were all dressed and in the drawing room within ten minutes.
The adults were sitting around the breakfast table, bleary-eyed but fortifying themselves with strong tea and thick slabs of buttered toast.
“Ah, there they all are – come and build up your strength,” Great-Aunt Clara said, waving her piece of toast around and dripping melted butter onto the pristine white tablecloth. Grandmother pursed her lips at the mess, but gestured to the seat beside her.
Otto slid in beside Grandmother and accepted a piece of toast. The others followed suit. Martha decided not to let the dream spoil her excitement at going back to Fairy Land, and ate her fill.
Octavia, once again bouncing in her chair, waited impatiently for everyone to finish their cups of tea. “Can we go now?” she asked, giving Ferren the last bit of her crust.
“As long as everyone has eaten enough, then yes, you can go,” her mother said, sharing an amused look with her husband.
“Woo-hoo!” Octavia whooped. She dragged Otto out of his seat and over to the door. Bronwen barked madly and got under everyone’s feet.
“We’ll say goodbye from here,” Grandmother said. “The attic is getting a bit of a climb for us older Blooms.”
Octavia and Otto spun around and gave swift hugs to Great-Aunt Clara and Grandmother. “We’ll see you soon,” they said in unison, rushing from the room.
The others gave more decorous hugs and laughed off Great-Aunt Clara’s offer of borrowing her flask. Along with their parents, they headed up to the attic, where the copper-headed twin Key Keepers awaited.
“We’ll see you all in three days, and please stick together and stay safe,” Martha and Beatrice’s father said, mock-sternly looking at each of the children in turn.
“Absolutely – and Ferren, Sage, I’m relying on you to keep these two in line,” Octavia and Otto’s father joked, pointing at the pair.
Sage chittered and pointed back mockingly with his tiny paw. Pan, looking sad not to be going, swooped around the children’s heads before settling back on Aunt Genevieve’s shoulder. Martha gave the forlorn sparrow a gentle stroke and smiled at him sympathetically.
Swift hugs and kisses followed, and then the children hoisted their bags onto their shou
lders and clutched each other’s hands.
Martha watched as Octavia ran her hand over the old skirting board; a ripple glittered across the wood before a tiny golden door materialised. It glowed brightly, surrounded by climbing vines and delicate rainbow-coloured flowers.
The sight of the door never failed to amaze Martha, and she held her breath as Octavia inserted the tiny golden key and turned it with an almost imperceptible click. As the door swung open, the familiar scents of a sun-warmed meadow and a fragrant wood mingled with the tiny rainbows and sparkles that shot from the entrance.
The sensation of being enveloped by a thick bubble came over Martha, and she closed her eyes. She heard the faintest pop, and opened her eyes to find them all standing in the fairy circle made up of glossy red toadstools.
A shout hailed them, and they turned as one to see Aurus, the golden stag, and Feargal, the large red fox of Queen Rhosyn’s guard, waiting for them near Rhosyn’s Woods.
“Hello, Aurus, hello, Feargal!” the children all shouted, and raced over to join them.
Aurus bowed, his one remaining magnificent antler sweeping the ground. He had lost the other in a battle with one of Nesrin’s stags that had taken place the first time the children came through the door.
“Welcome, Blooms; it is good to see you again,” he said in his deep, booming voice.
“Indeed, young Blooms, welcome,” Feargal said in his sardonic tone.
Sage was running in happy circles around them. “Hello! It’s good to be back,” he said.
Martha gave a start and then laughed; it was always a shock to hear the creatures talking again.
“Isn’t it just, Sage!” Ferren squeaked, poking her head out from Octavia’s pocket.
“Queen Rhosyn has asked us not to linger; there are rumours that Nesrin and her guard are on the move. There has been activity at Castle Astra, and the queen believes Nesrin is planning something,” Feargal said, ushering them deeper into the woods.
“But I thought Castle Astra was destroyed?” Beatrice said in confusion as they all made their way along the now-familiar paths, taking care not to inhale the scents coming from the Stream of Dreams.
“It was, but Queen Rhosyn’s lookouts have seen it being rebuilt by some of the guards that have returned to Nesrin,” Aurus interjected with a shake of his great head.
The children all exchanged worried looks, but conversation was halted as they emerged from the woods and saw the large pink transportation bubble waiting for them. Up on a cliffside was the welcome sight of Castle Enfys, its pearly walls shining in the early spring sunlight.
Martha felt warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the sun now creeping across her bare arms. She exchanged a smile with Beatrice and boarded the bubble after her younger cousins.
Aurus waited until everyone was on board and the bubble had lifted gently into the sky before trotting off down the valley towards the castle’s guards’ entrance.
“I can’t wait to see Evony and show her how far I’ve progressed with my archery. Those lessons Mum and Dad bought me for my birthday have really paid off,” Felicity said, her face lit with a wide smile as she watched the landing platform come into view.
“I can’t wait to see everyone!” Octavia announced, bouncing on the small velvet bench.
“Bloom child, please do not rock the transport,” Feargal admonished with one foxy eyebrow raised.
Octavia stopped abruptly and giggled as Feargal turned back around to guide the bubble onto the platform. It landed gently, and everyone disembarked.
Two forest fairies in hues of green and brown waited for them, flowers entwined in their nut-brown hair, shimmering wings fluttering gently in the breeze.
“Briar! Sorrel! It’s so lovely to see you,” Martha exclaimed, rushing forwards to greet the two fairies, who caught her up in a hug. The magic of Fairy Land shrank humans to fairy size once they had come through the door.
“I see you have come prepared,” Briar said, looking at their clothes. “If you need a change, you can always ask us.” She waved her twig-like wand, the green stone on the tip shining.
“Oh yes, it’s so much fun when you transform our clothes,” Otto piped up, placing Sage on the ground.
“I’ll leave you in the capable hands of these two,” Feargal said with a nod, and he slunk off.
The children shouted goodbye after the fox and happily followed Briar and Sorrel down the wide shining steps, through the entrance hall, and into the throne room.
Sitting on two crystal thrones were the queen and king of Fairy Land. They rose as the children were brought in. A snow-white hare sat at the queen’s feet, watching them with lavender eyes.
Queen Rhosyn fluttered across the room on her magnificent rainbow wings, her gown billowing around her. She stretched her hands towards them in welcome.
“My dear Bloom daughters and son, welcome back to Fairy Land,” she said in her musical, lilting voice. “Oh, and of course young Ferren and Sage – you have important work to do on this visit.” She smiled down at the little creatures.
“We do?” Sage asked, his whiskers twitching.
“Oh yes; you will be telling our new class of companions all about life in the human world,” Queen Rhosyn replied.
Sage and Ferren exchanged excited looks with Otto and Octavia.
The king joined Queen Rhosyn, his splendid, speckled wings settling behind him as he turned to wink at Octavia. “It is good to see you again, Octavia Bloom.”
“And you, King Llyffant,” she replied with a cheeky grin.
“Your majesties, is Princess Evony here?” Felicity asked, looking around the otherwise empty room.
Queen Rhosyn and King Llyffant exchanged a smile. “She will be down soon; she has some news to share with you all,” the queen said.
At these words, a soft voice from behind exclaimed, “You are here!”
Martha, who was closest to the door, was enveloped in a soft hug and surrounded by the aroma of smoky woodland and spring blossoms. “Princess Evony,” she said happily, returning the hug.
Evony released her and greeted the others with more hugs, and Martha took a moment to study their friend; where one streak of copper used to sit amongst her long teal hair, more had appeared.
“Your hair…” Martha murmured.
Evony smiled and ran a hand along her braid. “You noticed! My hair will become completely copper, like my mother’s, when it is time for me to rule,” she explained.
Octavia and Otto’s mouths dropped open at that statement. Evony laughed and placed her hands on top of their identical copper heads.
“Just like yours – it’s a sign of Fairy Royalty.” She winked. “But in your case, a sign of human Key Keepers.”
She dropped her hands from their hair and rested them on her stomach. Martha’s eyes followed the gesture and narrowed.
Evony met her eyes and smiled. “I have some incredibly happy news,” she said. “Soren and I are expecting a baby!”
Chapter Three
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Squeals and exclamations echoed around the throne room as the children congratulated Evony.
“That’s wonderful news.” Martha smiled.
Queen Rhosyn nodded. “Indeed. Whilst it is most unusual for a royal fairy to have children before they are crowned, Evony and Soren decided not to wait, as they want a large family,” she said, smiling with affection at Evony, before continuing. “We need something bright and happy to boost the spirits of the folk of Fairy Land. With Nesrin lurking in the shadows, a dark cloud has settled over everyone. But this news has brought cheer.”
King Llyffant drew Evony under his arm, shielding her with a wing. “We have doubled our guard to protect the castle. No dark magic can penetrate its walls now that we have Doran as our mage; he has been working tirelessly to see to that.”
At the mention of Doran’s name, Beatrice perked up in interest. “Doran is staying with you?” she asked.
“Yes – he has reconciled with his mother, Cegin, and has taken up residence here,” the king replied.
Martha smiled, remembering Cegin, the bustling food fairy who worked in the castle’s kitchen.
“Doran is looking forward to continuing his magic lessons with you, Beatrice, after we have been to the new school. We never found out the depth of your new familial magic before you left,” Queen Rhosyn reminded Beatrice, referring to the fact that when one of the Bloom children linked with Beatrice, her magic changed depending on which child it was.
Martha was excited to find out what would happen when she helped Beatrice, but there would be plenty of time for that later. Right now, she couldn’t wait to visit the new fairy school.
A fairy guard entered the room, wearing a rainbow-emblazoned tabard. “Your majesties, the unicorns have arrived.” He bowed.
“Thank you,” the queen said, before turning to address the children. “Shall we?”
Martha brought up the rear with King Llyffant and Evony as Queen Rhosyn preceded the others from the room.
“Come, Eira,” the queen called over her shoulder to the hare, who had been watching Sage’s excited antics with a look of disapproval on her face. Eira bounded after the queen, her snowy tail a flash of white as it disappeared around the corner.
They all emerged into the bright courtyard, where six colourful flower-patterned unicorns awaited.
“Caeruleus!” Beatrice shouted, running towards the enormous blue unicorn – the only one with wings. It had been revealed the last time the children were here that Caeruleus was the unicorn king’s son, his wings denoting his royal status.
Caeruleus bowed his great head. “Beatrice, I am so happy to see you,” he neighed. His royal stature enabled him to speak, unlike the other unicorns.
Martha smiled mistily at her sister’s happy reunion – the bond between the pair was so strong. She then turned her attention to a small, gentle mare covered in pink blooms, who waited patiently for Martha to approach her.
Martha Bloom and the Glass Compass Page 2
