“Aloysius – useless guard,” Hevva grunted, skirting past him. “Drinks too much rosehip wine.”
She took a crystal key out of her pocket and inserted it into the lock; the door swung open to reveal a tall room with walls coloured the softest hues of green. A hazy mist surrounded the canopied bed, where a sleeping boy lay.
“Otto!”
Octavia started forward but Hevva held her back, her grip surprisingly strong.
“Do not enter the enchanted mist, or you too will fall into a deep sleep,” she warned.
Octavia nodded and approached cautiously, careful to stay out of the mist’s perimeter. She studied her sleeping brother’s peaceful, freckled face as he lay still upon the green, embroidered coverlet, copper curls tumbled messily atop the pillow. If he were to open his eyes, Octavia knew they would be violet-blue like her own.
“I needed you to see him, to know what you are fighting for – but to give you words of warning also.” Hevva lowered herself into a solitary rocking chair, her wings fitting through the gap in the back. “I was nursemaid to Rhosyn and Nesrin when they were girl-fairies. Rhosyn was always fair and wanted what was best for Fairy Land, but Nesrin was always jealous of her older sister. She craves power and will stop at nothing to get what she desires. You need to be careful, and please don’t underestimate her.” Hevva picked up a ball of silvery yarn and some long, twig-like needles and started to knit.
Octavia followed the mesmeric clicking of the twig-needles and took a deep breath. “I will do what I can to save Otto, but I will be careful too.”
Hevva studied her over the rim of her green glasses and nodded. “It was always for you to finish, girlie; your brother needs to be back in the human world with his family. I have done what I can to help him grow and thrive, but this dream-like existence is not good for humans.”
Octavia turned at the sound of rustling on the stairs, and a voice said sternly, “Aloysius, are you sleeping at your post again?”
Hevva gave a husky chuckle and carried on with her knitting. She started singing a haunting lullaby as Octavia took one last look at her sleeping twin and left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Briar fluttered above the steps with her hands on her hips, glaring at the badger, who hung his head abashedly.
“There you are, Key Keeper; the others are waiting for you.” Briar turned and fluttered down the stairs with Octavia following behind her thoughtfully.
Briar led Octavia once again into the throne room, which was now set with a long table. Fairies and creatures from the fairy court all sat together breaking their fast with juicy berries, domed cakes and bread smothered in honey. Watchful eyes followed Octavia as she walked to the head of the table, where Queen Rhosyn sat. Octavia curtsied and was gratified when she didn’t wobble this time. She sat next to Felicity, who gave her an exasperated sigh. Octavia gave her an apologetic look in return for disappearing. Martha and Beatrice sat opposite them, looking most at home amongst the fairy folk with their elfin features and shining hair.
Queen Rhosyn stood and tapped her staff on the table; a rainbow soared from its globe. The chatter died immediately as all eyes focused on the queen.
“We have esteemed guests joining us today from the human world. The Bloom family have kept the door to our realm safe for hundreds of their mortal years,” she began, with a dazzling smile to the girls. “They have come to us for aid on a most important quest. You are all familiar with the tale of how my sister placed a curse on their menfolk many years ago, but now is the time to break that curse. We need the bond between human and fairy to be stronger than ever,” she finished with a determined look. The assembled fairy court broke out into rapturous applause and stamps of hoofed feet.
Queen Rhosyn asked, “Guards, who amongst you will assist our friends in this endeavour?” Every single guard in the room stepped forward. Queen Rhosyn nodded with pride. “You serve your queen well.” She perused the guards in front of her. “Aurus, I choose you.”
A large golden stag stepped forward and bowed his head; his magnificent antlers brushed the floor. Rainbow bands encircled his lower legs.
“Mother.” Evony put her hand on the queen’s arm. “May I put myself forward to accompany them? I have been training hard – I know I am ready.”
Queen Rhosyn turned her intense violet gaze on the princess. “You, daughter? Your aunt in her own domain will be a formidable foe. I cannot risk my heir, my only child, getting hurt.”
“Please, Mother, let me prove myself. If I am to be a great ruler, I need to show I can indeed protect our people,” Evony pleaded.
A ripple ran through the assembled crowd at Evony’s defiance.
Aurus stepped forward. “If you please, Your Majesty, I have overseen Princess Evony’s training myself – she will make a great warrior,” he boomed, inclining his great head respectfully.
Queen Rhosyn weighed up his words and gave a resigned sigh. “Very well, my daughter, you may go.”
Evony bowed to her mother before turning to smile at the girls. Octavia returned the smile with enthusiasm; the adventure was about to begin.
Sitting, the queen addressed them, “Please eat and drink your fill; your quest begins in a few hours.” All four Bloom girls exchanged looks. Only Octavia’s was filled with excitement.
Chapter Seven
The Journey Begins
After a breakfast of more honey cakes and blackberries, Octavia, Felicity, Martha and Beatrice headed to the royal gardens to meet up with Haf, a flower fairy.
Bright sunlight greeted them as they followed Briar and Sorrel along the winding path that led to Haf’s hut. It looked like an oversized acorn, with the stem as a chimney. Purple smoke billowed from its tip.
Briar knocked the flower-shaped knocker and called out, “Haf! We have visitors for you.”
The door was flung open to reveal a tiny fairy. Her dress resembled petals of differing colours and her wings reminded Octavia of a hummingbird, shimmering and frantic.
“Visitors!” Haf trilled, clapping her hands. “Come in, come in,” she said, ushering them inside. The hut’s appearance was deceptive; inside was a roomy workshop with vials, bottles and seedlings arranged haphazardly on a long workbench which encircled the whole room. A sleeping nook was nestled in the rafters, and a firepit in the centre of the room sat beneath a large copper cauldron, from which the purple smoke was issuing.
“Would you like some violet tea? It is just about brewed.” Haf motioned to the cauldron.
“I’m sorry, Haf, but this is not a social call – these are the Bloom girls from the human world. The queen requests that you tell them all you know about the Arianthe flower,” Briar said.
Haf visibly shrank back, her vibrating wings slowing. “The Arianthe flower?” she said with a gulp. “I have never seen it, nor have any of the other flower fairies. We only know what has been passed down through the generations. Wait – I will get the book!”
She flew over to a bookcase and pulled out a heavy leafbound book.
“Every flower in Fairy Land is in this book; some flowers have pages, but the Arianthe flower has but one paragraph. Here.” She turned to the relevant page and held it out for the girls to see. Ferren jumped from Octavia’s shoulder to sit on the edge of the book to get a closer look.
Arianthe Flower: a violet flower with pearl sheen. Blooms in the beam of the Late Summer Moon from a wyvern egg; must be plucked immediately or will wither and lose its magical properties. Found in the misty marshes of the North.
“What is a wyvern?” Martha asked Haf tremulously.
Haf shuddered. “That is why no living flower fairy has seen the Arianthe flower. None have been brave enough to face a wyvern; they are two-legged dragons that are fiercely protective of their eggs. Arianthe flowers are extremely rare. A wyvern needs to have eaten one of its seeds in order to lay an egg from which the next flower will bloom. And it will only bloom once a year, in the light of the Late Summer’s Night Moon,” s
he explained.
Octavia studied the short sentences and accompanying illustration, which depicted a large flower with pointed purple petals and a thick stalk sprouting from the pearly remains of a large shell.
“We have no choice; we have to collect this flower, and time is running out.” Octavia met Haf’s blue eyes. The fairy gave a squeak of dismay.
“It is not safe! The only fairy to have seen the flower, the one who wrote this description in the book, came back gravely wounded. His warning has been passed down from fairy to fairy.” Haf clasped her hands together, imploring them to change their minds.
“We need it to save my brother,” Octavia told her. Transferring Ferren back to her shoulder, she handed back the book. “Thank you for your help.”
Haf resignedly took the aged tome. “If you won’t change your minds, let me see if I have something that will help you.” Placing the book back on its shelf, she rummaged through an array of bottles. “Aha! This might work; sprinkle it over yourselves when you enter the marsh to disguise your scent and conceal yourselves. It will give you time to get near without alerting the wyvern to your presence. But be aware that it will not last long.”
Beatrice took the bottle and placed it in her tunic pocket. After they had taken their leave of Haf, who watched them worriedly from her doorstep, the girls decided to go and find Evony.
Briar and Sorrel took them to the training yard, where they watched the warriors train from an observation balcony above. Evony was guiding a crystal arrow into her bow when she saw the girls on the balcony.
“Please come and join me!” she shouted up.
The girls made their way down the balcony’s staircase into the circular yard, where various creatures and fairies were partaking in combat training. All wore the rainbow tabards or bands of the queen’s guard.
Evony passed her gaze over the girls. After a moment’s deliberation, she settled upon Felicity.
“Would you like to have a try?” Evony held out the bow, and Felicity looked at the golden curve. Octavia saw something stir in her sister’s eyes and knew that Felicity was intrigued.
“Go on, Fliss,” she encouraged.
Felicity grasped the bow with a nervous smile and said, “All right.”
Evony took her to one side and gave her a few instructions. Felicity licked her lips nervously but inhaled slowly, holding her breath as Evony had said, and let loose the arrow, which missed the target. Felicity let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Good. Again,” Evony commanded, re-nocking the arrow. Octavia, Martha and Beatrice took a seat on a wooden bench and watched as the princess instructed Felicity for the next half-hour, each time the arrow getting nearer to the target. Various creatures and fairies stopped to observe, intrigued by the human girl and her mounting skill.
Finally, the girls held their breath as Felicity released another arrow. It shot through the air, the sunlight refracting through the crystal shaft as it hit its mark dead centre. Felicity let out a jubilant whoop, which made Octavia start in surprise; it felt like she was seeing her sister, the real her, for the first time.
But then again it had been there all along; during the lonely days spent missing Mum and Dad, Felicity had always been a constant, comforting presence. Always strong and focused while Octavia struggled. Now it was time for Felicity to have her moment to shine, and Octavia felt nothing but awe for her clever older sister.
“I got it that time!” Felicity said to Evony with a smile which lit up her face.
“I do believe you are a natural,” Evony remarked with an answering smile, retrieving the arrow.
The assembled crowd of warriors broke into a smattering of applause, and, blushing, Felicity gave a quirky little bow. Ferren squeaked in celebration from Octavia’s pocket.
“Well done, Fliss,” Octavia said, pride colouring her voice. Felicity turned her soft green eyes on Octavia, and a shared moment of understanding passed between the sisters.
“That’s enough training for now,” said Evony. “I suggest a light meal and some rest. We have an arduous journey ahead of us.”
Back in the Amethyst room, the girls sat around a crystal table and ate sweet bread and strawberries.
“I could get used to this,” Beatrice mumbled through a mouthful of berries, which were being rolled over to her by a round Ferren.
“I want this quest over with so we can go back home,” Martha answered, frowning at her sister, who had berry stains on her fingertips.
Octavia watched Felicity, who was daydreaming, which was most out of character. “Are you all right, Fliss?” she asked.
Felicity jumped. “Oh, yes. I was thinking about Mum and how she must be feeling.”
Octavia suppressed a brief pang of guilt. “We need to get the flower, and everything will be better.” She took her sister’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
“I know, but it isn’t going to be that easy, Tavi,” Felicity said sensibly, and she got up to pace in a way reminiscent of their mother.
A knock at the door had all four girls turning in anticipation. Briar stood in the doorway. “It’s time,” she told them solemnly.
Sorrel entered the room and handed out leather bags and pearly water bottles to each of the girls. “Your supplies are in there.”
Octavia had the tingling in her fingers again, but the mood was sombre as the girls followed the two forest fairies out into the courtyard, where the whole castle court had congregated. The queen stood on a raised dais and spoke to the girls.
“Bloom daughters, I have gifts for you that will assist you in your quest. Key Keeper, you will need this dagger and transportation box. Use the dagger to cut the Arianthe flower’s stem when you find it and place it inside the box. I have enchanted it to transport the flower to your Fairy Door. Your mother will know what to do with it.” Octavia accepted the short crystal dagger, decorated with a rainbow of jewels along its hilt. The glass box was shaped like a miniature treasure chest.
“To you, Guardian, I give bow and arrows. You will help protect and guard your sister. Princess Evony has told me of your natural affinity with archery; she will be your mentor.”
Felicity looked stunned as she took the golden bow and rainbow-coloured quiver, which was full of crystal arrows.
“Secret Keepers, I give to you a compass to guide you to the North” – a glass compass was passed to Martha – “and revealing dust which will clear you a path through the marshes.” Queen Rhosyn placed a glass bottle full of shimmering dust in Beatrice’s hands.
“Thank you,” the girls murmured to the queen, who inclined her head.
“And lastly, to my precious daughter, who has made me proud this day, I give one rainbow; it will transport you all here safely if needed. But use it wisely.” The queen passed Evony a cloud-shaped hinged box. Evony curtsied low to her mother and placed the rainbow into her satchel.
“I wish you fairy blessings and safe passage. We will celebrate your return at the Late Summer Night Ball.” She raised her hands, and a large rainbow appeared from her staff. “Step upon it; it will take you to Bloomsville Village.”
The four girls took one last look around the fairy court. Led by Aurus, his magnificent golden coat gleaming in the sunlight, they stepped onto the rainbow, Evony following.
Wind rushed past Octavia’s ears, and her stomach swooped as if she was on a slide; she closed her eyes tightly against the sensations. Ferren buried her head into the crook of Octavia’s neck and squeaked softly as Octavia held her safely. After a few seconds, Octavia’s feet touched solid ground and she slowly opened her eyes to find that they had arrived in a village square. Fairies and woodland creatures bustled about carrying baskets of flowers, bread and fruit.
“Princess Evony!” A squat fairy with long white hair hurried over, his moth-like wings fluttering furiously in his haste. “What brings you to Bloomsville?” he enquired.
“Good afternoon, Finnian. We are on a quest to the North: the Bloom girls here need to procure
an Arianthe flower,” Evony told him.
Finnian eyed the girls with interest. “Brave human girls,” he murmured. “How can we be of assistance?”
“We require five of your best unicorns, if you would be so kind,” Evony said. “We will pay you, of course,” she added, holding up a leather bag full of clinking coins.
As Finnian and Evony stepped to one side to negotiate a price, the girls looked at each with excitement. Unicorns!
Evony rejoined the group and noted the girls’ excitement. “You do ride?” she enquired. They all nodded mutely in anticipation, though Octavia frowned in confusion,
“But do you not fly everywhere?” she blurted out, then flushed as Felicity threw her a look that told Octavia she had spoken without thinking again.
Evony let out a musical laugh. “We can fly, of course, but certainly not for long distances. Some wings are stronger than others, but our usual mode of transportation is by unicorn for long distances or bubble for short travels; or on rare occasions my mother will send us by rainbow, as you have just experienced.”
Octavia studied Evony’s wings with interest. Suddenly Aurus nodded his great head to the girls’ left, and they watched in rising wonder as Finnian walked ahead of a fairy who was leading five of the most breathtaking creatures they had ever seen. Unlike the unicorns in Octavia’s books, these were not pure white; their white coats were overlaid with a pattern of various blooming flowers and vines, their manes and tails perfectly matching the colour of the flowers. Each had a twisted rainbow horn on top of its head. Glittering rainbows sparked from their hooves where they struck the ground.
“Ohhhh!” breathed Octavia, and with rounded eyes the girls walked toward them.
“These are special Bloomsville unicorns,” Evony explained. “They have an affinity with the realm.”
Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key (Through The Fairy Door Book 1) Page 6
