The butterfly swarm caught up to the group and flew on ahead – a brightly coloured beacon guiding them to Castle Alvarium and Queen Gwenyn. Floriana fluttered by Martha, her sparkling wings gliding effortlessly.
“Thank you, Floriana,” Martha said gratefully as they entered the clearing and were greeted by a mini swarm of Gwenyn’s guard.
Soren caught them up. “We were ambushed by Nesrin, but I believe she has headed back to her castle for now. I’m sure she will be back, though.”
One large bee gave a buzz and headed inside the small castle. After a moment he returned with Gwenyn, who let out a buzz of concern.
“You are welcome to ztay here azzz long azzz you need, but if Nezrin izzz on the warpath then we will need reinforcementzzz.”
Conn and Lysana gave nods of agreement.
“Queen Gwenyn is right, Soren; maybe it is time we summoned the queen,” Conn said, gesturing to the rainbow necklace around Soren’s neck.
Soren put his hand up to the pendant. “You’re right; if we try to make it back to Castle Enfys, Nesrin will be waiting for us. We need assistance.” He undid the clasp on the locket, pressed the stone, and a bright rainbow arced from within. It shot into the sky, where it zoomed off like a ribbon trailing in the wind. He looked around at the faces of the assembled group and said, “Now we wait.” And he clicked the locket closed.
Doran conjured a fairy fire, and everyone gratefully sat around on the soft moss to rest. Floriana settled on Martha’s shoulder, and she gave the butterfly a smile before releasing Bracken and her squirrel friend from her bag. They bounded around the clearing, stretching their legs. The rest of the group took out the other companions from beneath their cloaks and passed a few minutes watching them run about and play chase with the butterflies.
Fenn and Reed sat a little to one side with their parents, who were casting furtive looks at Soren and the Blooms.
Martha smiled over at them and said, “I’m Martha, and this is my sister Beatrice and cousins Felicity, Octavia and Otto. We’re from the human world.”
Fenn and Reed’s mother smiled tentatively back, but their father frowned and said brusquely, “While we thank you for rescuing us and healing our injuries, we don’t want anything to do with Bloomsville folk and their friends.”
Fenn and Reed looked aghast and their mother chastised him, “Birch!”
“I’m sorry, Celyn, but we have endured years of being forgotten about and now they finally want to help us. Well, it’s too late,” Birch said, not meeting his wife’s eyes.
Conn made to answer, but Soren held up his hand and Conn respectfully let him speak. “While it is true that you and many others have been wrongly abandoned at the Middling Grounds, Queen Rhosyn knows nothing about it. I swear she will put this wrong right,” Soren pledged.
Birch let out a derisive sound, but Celyn looked curious. “Let him speak, Birch,” she told him firmly.
Birch looked affronted as his small wife elbowed him in the ribs. After a moment, he gave a jerky nod.
“We have reason to believe that Lord Runar may be behind this; why, we don’t know. But he most certainly would be carrying out his plan behind Queen Rhosyn’s back,” Soren explained, offering the pair cups of elderflower tea from the leaf tray Doran proffered.
Celyn took the cups, nodding her thanks, and passed one to a thoughtful-looking Birch.
“So – if what you are saying is true – if this Lord Runar hadn’t got involved then we could have stayed with our families? All this time we believed that they didn’t want us, that because we didn’t have magic, we weren’t perfect enough to fit in among Queen Rhosyn’s subjects,” Birch said in a subdued voice.
Soren nodded. “Nothing can ever make up for what you have endured but I, we” – he gestured around to everyone else – “vow to make this right and get you reinstated in Bloomsville where you belong.”
Birch looked up and met Soren’s gaze, holding it for a long moment.
“I believe that you will try, and that’s good enough for me right now,” he said, holding out his hand. The two men clasped each other’s wrists, and a mutual respect glimmered between them.
“Now that’s settled, can you tell us how you got locked up at Nesrin’s castle?” Conn asked, liberally slathering a thick slice of bread with yet more honey.
Celyn gave a shudder and took a sip of tea, while Fenn and Reed moved closer to their mother in support.
Birch ran a hand over his face before answering. “Well, Nesrin’s guard came looking for workers to help finish building the castle and to work in it once it was completed. We left the boys and Callia with Ivy and took up posts in order to earn coin. Life is hard in the Middling Grounds,” he told them. “We hadn’t been there long when we decided we weren’t comfortable there. No coin was worth what we had to endure under her highness, so we tried to collect what we were owed and leave. But no one leaves Castle Astra of their own accord. Nesrin was affronted that we had even contemplated such a thing. She forced Celyn to be her maid and beat her mercilessly if she spilled anything or didn’t do things in a prompt manner.” Birch paused to rub his wife’s trembling shoulders.
The companions had stopped bounding about and were listening, rapt, to the tale, their large eyes bugging out in horror. Ferren ran up Octavia’s arm and burrowed into the crook of her neck as Octavia patted her comfortingly.
“One night we made a plan to escape, but when we put it into action we got caught and locked in that cage. It wasn’t long before the creatures here joined us,” Birch finished.
“Nesrin threatened Callia. We had to become spies for her in order to guarantee Callia’s and your safety. I caught these folks here and was going to trade them for you.” Fenn hung his head in shame as he spoke.
Celyn looked at her son, tears streaming down her pointed features. “Oh, my boy, we should never have left you. Our safety should not have fallen on your shoulders,” she said through her sobs.
Birch pulled his wife and sons into a hug, and everyone was silent for a few moments; the only sounds were the soft crackling of the fairy fire and the gentle buzzing of the bees.
Breaking away, Celyn asked, “Where is Callia – is she safe?”
Reed wiped his nose on the arm of his tunic and nodded. “She and Ivy went to Grover’s hut in the woods. They will be fine.”
“Grover?” Birch asked in disbelief. “I cannot believe he would aid you.”
“Well, he had a change of heart when he saw Callia flying around on her mended wings,” Fenn told them with a smile at Beatrice and Felicity, who smiled back happily.
“Callia… can fly? How is that possible?” Celyn exclaimed, tears threatening to fall once again.
“Beatrice, Felicity and Doran healed her broken wings,” Fenn explained.
Birch and Celyn stared at the trio, then at each other in wonder.
The mood suddenly lifted again with that happy thought, and everyone busied themselves with sharing out the food and getting to know each other.
A few minutes later, a small rainbow arced through the trees and landed in Soren’s hand, transforming into a piece of shimmering golden parchment. Soren read the note then looked up and said, “Queen Rhosyn, King Llyffant and her guard are on the move; they will meet us at the edge of Misty Marsh near the mountains at dawn.”
Martha felt that inexplicable thrill of relief she felt whenever she knew the queen and king were coming to their aid. She caught her sister’s eye and could see the relief mirrored in Beatrice’s gaze too.
“Maybe you zhould rezt now – dawn will be here zoon enough,” Gwenyn said as she buzzed around the flagging creatures.
Martha, Beatrice, and Felicity picked up the furry and feathered companions and took them over to the butterfly bower, laying them down with Octavia and Otto, who beamed happily as they snuggled up with Ferren and Sage. Martha was happy to see the mischievous sparkle back in her cousins’ eyes and their cheeks full of healthy colour once more. She kissed their copp
er curls and watched them for a moment, hoping they would all be home soon.
Chapter Thirteen
A Picture Paints a Thousand Words
Martha awoke slowly with something gently tickling her face. She opened her eyes to see Floriana fluttering nearby.
“Good morning,” Martha murmured as she sat up.
The beautiful butterfly landed on her hand and said, “Good morning, Martha. The others are already breaking their fast.”
Martha looked across the clearing to where the others sat, cheerfully chatting and sharing food. Beatrice saw her sister and beckoned her over. With a smile, Martha stood and joined the group, thinking as she walked over the slightly damp ground that it must have rained in the night.
The difference in Octavia and Otto was apparent; they beamed as they watched Ferren and Sage sitting with their companion friends. Colour bloomed in their cheeks as they greeted Martha, making room for her on a fallen log.
Taking the slice of honey-slathered bread Felicity offered, Martha felt a momentary contentedness as she munched silently, observing Soren, Doran, Conn and Lysana in discussion.
Soren looked up and noticed her. “Good, you are awake. I hope you rested well. We will be setting off to meet Queen Rhosyn soon,” he told her.
“I slept very well, thank you,” Martha said after she had swallowed the last of her bread. She took a cup of chamomile tea and inhaled the calming scent, trying to settle her swooping stomach. The thought of encountering Nesrin again filled her with dread, for she knew that this was not the end of it. Nesrin would want retaliation over them rescuing the companions.
The stillness was broken as the sky erupted with a loud cawing. The cloud of ravens passed by overhead, apparently released from their sticky prison thanks to the rain. Soren, Conn and Lysana immediately stood and reached for weapons and Beatrice pointed her wand, but the ravens continued flying as if being called.
Martha took out her compass and murmured, “Where is Castle Astra?”
The tiny golden arrow pointed in the direction the ravens had flown.
“They are heading back to their mistress,” she told the others grimly.
Soren exchanged a look with Conn. “Then we need to go now.”
The next few minutes were spent hastily packing up the camp and saying their goodbyes to Gwenyn and Floriana.
“If you need us, send a message and we will come,” Floriana told Martha in her tiny voice, and sent another flat flower message sailing into her hand.
Martha took the flower gratefully. “Thank you, Floriana,” she said to the butterfly with a smile.
“Yezzz, we will come. Zhould you need uzzz,” Gwenyn echoed.
“Thank you, Queen Gwenyn, for all of your help and for your hospitality,” Soren said formally, bowing to the bee.
Fenn appeared at Martha’s side. “My parents are eager to go home to Callia. We want to stay, but we need to go back to the Middling Grounds and protect our people. My father is afraid that Nesrin will come for them now that they have escaped.”
Martha looked at the boy-fairy’s serious expression and smiled reassuringly. “I understand, but Queen Rhosyn will protect your people – I know it,” she told him.
Disbelief flared momentarily in his eyes before he quelled it. “I know you believe she will do the right thing, but she will protect her own people first, and we cannot risk Nesrin taking her vengeance out on our people.” Fenn shook his head helplessly.
Conn joined them. “Go; do what you have to do, but we will not forget our promise,” he told Fenn, clasping the boy’s shoulder.
With one last look at Martha, Fenn joined Reed and his parents. Giving a final wave, they left, making their way through the forest.
“Don’t worry, Matty, Queen Rhosyn will make everything right,” Beatrice said from Caeruleus’ back.
Martha gave her sister a smile. “I know. I’m just worried about what Nesrin will do.” She tried to put it to the back of her mind as she picked up Bracken and the squirrel, settling them into her bag before climbing onto Linnea. She followed the others from the clearing and watched as the butterflies settled on the bower once more, the bees buzzing back inside Castle Alvarium.
All was still as the group made their way through the dense trees; it was if the forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Martha clasped the compass tightly in her hand and kept thinking of Queen Rhosyn every few minutes, terrified that if she allowed her fearful thoughts to wander again it might lead them off course and towards Nesrin instead of away.
“How much further?” Octavia asked Soren curiously as they stopped at the treeline.
Soren scouted the landscape. “There are the mountains,” he said, pointing, before turning to Martha. “Which direction is the queen?”
Glancing down, Martha noted the direction and gestured to the right, where a waterfall could be just seen, the sunlight reflecting off its tumbling water.
“Stick together and ride fast,” Soren commanded, taking up position at the front with Doran. Conn, Lysana and Aurus slotted in behind the children and Beatrice took out her wand, scanning the skies.
Soren set off and the others followed, the unicorns making good time. The bright blue sky remained clear: no sign of any ravens or of an ominous dark cloud. Soon the rainbow banners of Queen Rhosyn’s guard came into view, and Martha felt relief course through her whole body.
A large eagle perched on a tall rock screeched, “Prince Soren approaches!” as the party rounded the waterfall. They were greeted by the welcome sight of many fairies and creatures dressed in the brightly coloured rainbow tabards of Queen Rhosyn’s guard.
The queen herself rushed over to meet them. She hugged the children as they dismounted and smiled at Octavia’s exuberant cry of, “We got them all back safely!”
“I see that – many congratulations!” Queen Rhosyn exclaimed as Ferren scurried up Octavia’s arm and twitched her whiskers in greeting.
Martha grinned at the exchange and helped unload the companions into the safekeeping of a large guard and the watchful lavender eyes of the queen’s white hare, Eira. They ushered them over to a covered cart laden with moss and straw. Martha gave Bracken a hug and told her, “You’ll be safe now.”
“What are you doing here?” Soren demanded as a slight figure with a teal-and-copper-coloured braid threaded her way through the throng and stood in front of the children, grinning widely.
King Llyffant came up behind and gestured to his daughter. “We couldn’t stop her; she is strong-minded – like her mother,” he said with a quick smile at the queen.
Evony tightly hugged the children in turn before turning to Soren, whose face was a mask of disbelief. “It’s not safe for you or our fairy-ling to be here,” he chided, worry evident in his eyes as he pulled her close to him.
Felicity gestured for them all to move away and the others obeyed, leaving Soren and Evony to have some privacy. Conn gave a chuckle as he and Lysana followed the children, but it was cut off abruptly when his eyes fell on a tall, thin fairy in a crimson robe, with mottled white hair brushed back from his high forehead.
“What is it?” Otto piped up, seeing the look on Conn’s face.
Lysana followed his gaze and said in a quiet voice, “That is Lord Runar.”
As if hearing his name, the fairy turned in their direction. His dark blue eyes narrowed briefly before turning back to his conversation with a member of the guard, a particularly large eagle owl.
“We need to speak to the queen,” Octavia said, her strong sense of justice showing itself in her tone.
“About what, my child?” Queen Rhosyn’s musical voice preceded her arrival.
Conn and Lysana exchanged a look and paused, and Martha could sense their reluctance to accuse a member of the queen’s council of such a horrific crime.
Soren and Evony joined the group, and Soren placed a hand upon Conn’s arm. “Let me,” he said.
Conn nodded respectfully, and the queen’s ey
es grew curious.
“Your majesty, we have reason to believe that Lord Runar has been depositing young fairies and creatures into the Middling Grounds,” Soren told her gravely.
Queen Rhosyn’s eyes narrowed before briefly flicking in Lord Runar’s direction. Martha couldn’t be sure, but she thought that his back had stiffened slightly. But he couldn’t possibly have heard them, could he?
“Prince Soren, that is a serious accusation. What proof do you have of this?” the queen asked, a frown creasing her luminous face.
“We encountered a family of fairies and creatures who at first captured us—” Evony made a noise of worry at this, but Soren gave her a brief reassuring smile before continuing. “They told us how they had all come to be there, and it wasn’t because they had committed a crime like most in the Middling Grounds. They had been told that because they didn’t have magic and weren’t ‘perfect’, their families did not want them. They thought they had been abandoned.”
Queen Rhosyn’s face fell in shock. “But that is impossible. Why would any of my subjects be told that? All are loved and special,” she said, her voice ringing with conviction.
“Then why are they there, Mother?” Evony asked in confusion.
“I have no notion,” the queen replied. Her eyes turned turbulent as she processed the many thoughts obviously flitting through her mind.
King Llyffant had silently joined the group and listened to the interchange.
“Maybe it’s time we had an audience with Lord Runar; I would be most interested to learn his side of this intriguing mystery.” He spoke thoughtfully, but his green-and-gold eyes were gleaming. His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his crystal sword.
“Where did he go?” Lysana asked, looking at the spot where Lord Runar had been.
“He was talking to that owl.” Martha pointed.
Martha Bloom and the Glass Compass Page 11
