by Astrid Foss
“Done it!” said Ida. The lines of the drawing shivered and then suddenly they vanished and a real sleigh with green sides and red runners and a seat just big enough for three people was in the snow next to them. The pony jumped in surprise and snorted.
A biting wind blew across the island of Nordovia. It swept from the jagged ice-capped mountains in the north to the snowy plains and dark pinewoods of the south. The sky was iron–grey and seemed to press down on the land. Wolves howled mournfully in the woods while Arctic foxes and hares hid in their dens and people huddled round the fires in their cottages.
Once Nordovia had been a glittering, happy place, lit by the magical purple, pink and blue Everchanging Lights that danced and swirled across the sky. But then Veronika, the Shadow Witch, had returned.
She had come back from the darkness of Svelgast Mountain to steal the Everchanging Lights. She didn’t care that by taking them she would throw Nordovia into darkness and chaos and she didn’t care that, as a member of the Aurora family, it was her duty to protect the Lights and the island. She just wanted to take the Lights’ magic for herself and use their great power for evil.
Her sister, Freya, had tried to stop her. She had managed to contain the Lights in three magical orbs, one purple, one pink and one blue, and hidden them across the land using her own magical powers.
But then Veronika had imprisoned Freya in an ice cave carved into the side of a remote mountain.
Freya lay on the floor of the cave, her face as pale as fresh snow, her long red hair tangled, her once beautiful dress torn and dirty. Over her stood the Shadow Witch, her dark cloak reaching her feet, her raven hair falling around her shoulders. She was strong and powerful, her coal-dark eyes glowing.
“You will tell me where the purple orb is, sister!”
“Never!” Freya panted.
Veronika made a sharp twisting motion with her hands. Freya instantly cried out in pain. Her green eyes clouded over and her head slumped to the ground.
In a corner of the cave Freya’s husband, Magnus, struggled desperately against the invisible magic bonds that held him tight. “You must stop this, Veronika!” he gasped.
“Not until she tells me where the purple orb is!” Veronika snapped. “I must have it before the Day of the Midnight Sun in three days’ time.” She turned back to Freya who was returning to consciousness. “Tell me where it is, sister. It is pointless to try to fight me now that I have taken all of your magic.”
With a huge effort, Freya raised her head. “Not … quite … all. My daughters will find the purple orb before you. Just like they found the pink orb and the blue orb. I will do all I can to help them.”
Veronika’s face turned ice-hard. “Very well. If you wish to put your daughters in danger, then so be it.” She gave a harsh laugh. “Just remember, you could have helped them, Freya. You could have saved them.”
“I do not believe they need saving,” cried Freya, a flame of defiance lighting up her emerald-green eyes as she sat up. “I think they’ll stop you!”
Veronika spun round, her cloak swinging out behind her. Muttering a harsh-sounding spell, she started to change. Her shoulders stooped, her face became covered with deep wrinkles, and her hair turned grey.
“What are you doing?” Magnus demanded
A wolf-like smile caught at the Shadow Witch’s mouth. “I’m going to use my new magic – the magic I have taken from you – to find your precious girls,” she cackled. “They will not recognise me disguised like this and I will learn all they know about the purple orb.” She shuffled to the entrance of the ice cave and moved her hand in a circle.
Moments later an enormous snow-white sabre-toothed lion appeared. Throwing back his head, he opened his mouth and roared, showing off his enormous curved fangs.
Freya and Magnus exchanged horrified looks.
“The purple orb shall be mine, dear sister!” hissed the Shadow Witch. With a triumphant laugh she leapt on to the lion’s back and galloped away.
“Magnus!” cried Freya. “We have to stop her before she gets to our girls.”
“We cannot, my love,” said Magnus despairingly. “All we can do is hope our daughters get the better of her and restore the Everchanging Lights to the island.”
“Before it’s too late,” Freya whispered.
Hanna, Magda and Ida Aurora were kneeling on the cosy red rug on the floor of their bedchamber in the castle. Oskar, their pet Nordovian polar bear cub, was lying beside Magda, wuffling happily as she stroked his fluffy white fur. Ida was braiding her dark blonde hair into a single plait as Hanna talked.
“I can’t wait to go to the Rainbow Pools,” Hanna said to her sisters. “Apparently some are so hot they can boil you alive!”
Ida looked worried. “But we haven’t worked out a proper plan yet. I’m really not sure about going to the Rainbow Pools today.”
“We haven’t got time to wait!” Hanna protested. “It’s just three days until the Day of the Midnight Sun. If we don’t find the last orb by then, we won’t be able to unite the Lights and get back Mother’s magic. If evil Aunt Veronika gets the orb before us we’ll never free Mother and Father and save Nordovia.”
“I think Hanna’s right. We have to go today,” said Magda, pushing her long dark–brown hair back behind her ears. The triplets all had emerald-green eyes, just like their mother, but their hair was very different. Magda’s long hair was the colour of dark chocolate, Hanna’s hair was short and the red of autumn leaves, and Ida’s was honey blonde.
“Are you sure the purple orb is hidden near the Rainbow Pools, Ida?” Magda went on.
Ida nodded. “As sure as I can be. Mother told us to use the tapestry – that it would give us clues about where to look.” The tapestry was a huge wall hanging showing the Nordovian flag, which hung in the hallway of the castle. It displayed the three ancient symbols of Nordovia – a snow hawk, a crystal rose and a perfect rainbow.
“We found the first orb near the snow hawk’s nest,” Ida said. “And the second orb in the petals of a crystal rose—”
“Those adventures were so much fun!” Hanna interrupted.
Magda grinned. Hanna was right. The trips to find the first two orbs had been scary and dangerous … but exciting and fun too!
“We did almost get killed,” Ida pointed out.
“We got back safely in the end so it was fine,” said Hanna airily.
Magda saw Ida start to frown. “So, you think the third orb will be hidden near a rainbow then, Ida?” she said quickly, wanting to head off the argument she could tell was brewing. Her two sisters were just so different!
Ida nodded. “There’s a book in the library that says the best place to see rainbows is by the Rainbow Pools that lie to the east. That’s where rainbows form in the mists of the hot springs. But it will be dangerous – the springs are heated by bubbling lava!”
“So, we travel to the east today.” Hanna’s eyes glowed at the thought as she jumped to her feet. “I can’t wait!”
“I’ve told you, I don’t think we should.” Ida faced her sister. “Not only is it dangerous, which you don’t seem to care about, but the only plan you’ve come up with is that when Madame Olga takes us into town this morning we run away when she’s not looking and somehow travel miles and miles to the east of the kingdom.”
“Yes,” said Hanna. “So?”
“That’s not a plan!” Ida exclaimed. “We need to work out how we’re going to get away from Madame Olga and how we’re going to travel east when we do. And anyway, what about poor Madame Olga? If we do run off without telling her where we’re going, she’ll be beside herself with worry. I think it’s stupid to rush into this.”
Oskar whimpered. He didn’t like it when the sisters disagr
eed.
“Please don’t argue,” Magda pleaded. “Ida, I think Hanna’s right, we haven’t got time to sit around and plan. Today’s the only day when we will get a chance to leave the castle because of Madame Olga wanting to take us shopping for this silly ball. I agree we should plan it more but we’ll just have to do that on the journey into town.”
Ida bit her lip. She didn’t want to argue with both her sisters. Oskar pushed his head against her leg. “OK,” she said reluctantly.
“We’ll all keep thinking and by the time we get there maybe we will have a proper plan,” said Magda, squeezing her hand comfortingly.
“And if we haven’t, we’ll just think of something when we’re there,” said Hanna. “Maybe I can use my magic to make a cart fall over in front of Madame Olga or make a washing line snap when she’s walking underneath it and that will give us a chance to run away.” She chuckled. “Just imagine Madame Olga with some big bloomers on her head!”
Even Ida had to smile at that image.
The three sisters all had their own individual magic power that had appeared on their twelfth birthday. It was because they had been born into the Aurora family – the family who were the Keepers of the Everchanging Lights. Each member of the family had their own unique power, but as they got older they could learn to use other types of magic just like Freya and Veronika had done. Hanna’s magic let her move objects around with her mind. Ida could draw an object and make it come to life, and Magda could turn into any animal she saw.
“Madame Olga will be calling us soon,” said Hanna. “Have we got everything we talked about? Have you got the map of Nordovia, Ida?”
“Yes, it’s in the pocket of my travelling cloak,” said Ida. “And I’ve got my sketchbook and pencils too.”
“I’ve got some food,” said Magda, going over to her bed and pulling a leather bag out from underneath it. “I disguised myself as a butterfly and flew into the kitchen this morning. I waited until Cook was out of the way then I turned back into myself and filled this bag with bread, cheese, apples and dried fruit.”
“That was really good thinking,” said Ida. “Well done.”
“Well, yesterday, I used my magic to make a compass fly off the shelf in Madame Olga’s room and come to my hand,” said Hanna quickly. She pulled the compass out of her pocket. “This will help us find the way and I’ll put it back as soon we get home. It’ll be really useful, won’t it?”
“It will,” Ida agreed. She hid a small smile. Her sisters could be very competitive!
Magda walked over to a delicate wooden table in the centre of the room where a large and beautiful snow globe stood. Inside the globe soft snowflakes fell around a waterfall that tumbled down a tall cliff into an icy sea. Pink and blue lights swirled through the snowflakes. When the sisters had found the blue and pink orbs they had taken them to the snow globe and the Lights had been absorbed inside. They were safe there – at least until the Day of the Midnight Sun, the most magical day of the year, when the sun never set.
Looking at the pink and blue lights, Magda felt determination rush through her. “We must find the purple orb today,” she said.
“And then we can free Mother and Father and defeat Aunt Veronika!” said Hanna.
Sensing their excitement, Oskar gave a yip and gambolled around their legs. He tumbled on to his back asking for his tummy to be tickled. Magda and Hanna giggled and bent to stroke him but Ida was distracted by the globe.
“Look at the snowflakes!” she exclaimed. “They’re doing something strange.”
The snowflakes were swirling faster inside the glass.
“Do you think Mother’s trying to talk to us?” Magda breathed.
A couple of times, their mother had been able to use what remained of her powers to talk to the girls through the snow globe.
“Oh, I hope she is!” said Ida longingly. They all missed their mother and father so much.
Hanna searched the snowflakes, hoping to see their mother’s face and loving green eyes, but no image appeared. “There’s nothing there,” she said in disappointment.
“Listen,” said Magda. She put her finger to her lips and they all listened hard. A weak voice whispered through the room.
“My darling girls… Can you hear me?”
“Mother!” the triplets cried.
Freya’s words came in short bursts. “I am weak. Your aunt has taken most of my magic now and I’m using the last of my powers to send this message. Find the frozen rainbow…”
“The frozen rainbow?” echoed Hanna. “How can a rainbow be frozen?”
“Hanna! Shush!” said Ida.
There was a pause and then they heard their mother take a rasping breath. “You must go to the Rainbow Pools. But watch out for a stranger. Beware…” Her faint words faded.
“Mother!” said Ida desperately.
But there was no reply.
The girls looked at each other.
“What did she mean?” Magda said, breaking the tense silence.
“I’ve no idea,” said Hanna slowly. “Who’s this stranger we have to beware of? And what was she saying about a frozen rainbow?” She looked at Ida. “Can rainbows freeze?”
Ida looked confused. “I don’t know. I’ve never read about frozen rainbows.” She felt her eyes fill with tears. It had been so hard to hear their mother’s voice and know that the Shadow Witch was hurting her. She swallowed hard. Crying wouldn’t help. “We have to go,” she said suddenly. “You’re right, Hanna. We must head east today. We have to stop Aunt Veronika.”
Hanna reached out and took her sisters’ hands. “We can do this,” she said. “We can find the purple orb and save Mother and Father – and Nordovia!”
Shining white snow crystals flew up from the four ponies’ hooves as they pulled the sleigh towards the nearby town with the driver, Lars, urging them on. The girls huddled together under thick woollen blankets, their bags for the journey ahead hidden by their feet, their cheeks stinging. It was always cold in Nordovia but since the Everchanging Lights had faded the air had seemed even icier. Oskar was curled up under the blankets with them, like a furry hot-water bottle. Nordovian polar bears were magical and they could change size, growing really big when they wanted to. At that moment Oskar was cub-sized.
Madame Olga, their governess, sat opposite them, a notebook in her hand as she went through her list of things to do in town. Her hair was pulled back in a tidy roll at the base of her neck, her scarf arranged neatly and her coat buttoned up to the top.
The jingle of the bells on the harness and the swish of the sleigh’s runners through the thick snow broke the silence. All the birds and animals seemed to have gone into hiding. The grey sky looked heavy with an occasional faint hint of pale blue, purple and pink flickering across it.
Magda looked around anxiously. Nordovia was usually such a beautiful place, full of life and light, but now it seemed so dull and sad. They had to help save the land – she couldn’t bear it if they failed.
Madame Olga looked up. “We’ll be in town very soon, girls. When we are there, may I remind you that it is of the utmost importance that you appear to be in good spirits. The people are unhappy and afraid and they will look to you. If they see you looking miserable, then it will not help morale. While we are in town we will shop for items that are needed for the forthcoming ball on the Day of the Midnight Sun.”
“I can’t believe people are still planning for the ball to go ahead!” Hanna burst out. “We shouldn’t be having a ball when Mother and Father are missing. It’s wrong, Madame Olga!”
Madame Olga gave her a sharp look. “Hanna Aurora, that is not the way young ladies should speak to their elders. Have I taught you nothing?” Hanna’s face fell and Madame Olga’s expression softened. “I do understand your feelings, my dear,” she said, leaning forward, “but we must be brave. We must carry on as normal and you must uphold the Aurora family’s responsibilities. You will have to stand in for your parents and host the ball.”
“You do,” said Madame Olga firmly. She looked at the three girls’ glum faces. “Come, my dears, the guards are scouring the country. There may yet be good news – your parents may be rescued by the time of the celebrations. We are all hoping that that will be the case.”
Hanna, Magda and Ida exchanged looks. The adults might think they were going to be able to find and free Freya and Magnus but the girls knew that the only chance they had of rescuing them was to find the orb and fight the Shadow Witch with magic. The guards could not do that – only they could.
It’s all down to us, Magda thought.
She put her hand on Oskar’s head and he licked her with his rough tongue and wuffled. “And me,” he seemed to be saying.
Magda smiled. Oskar had definitely helped in their first two adventures; maybe he would help them again this time too.
The ponies cantered out of the trees and the girls saw the town ahead of them with its wooden buildings and narrow streets.
“Here we are,” said Madame Olga. “Smile please, girls, and be on your best behaviour.”
Once in town, the girls got out of the sleigh, carefully hiding their bags under their cloaks, and headed down the main street with Madame Olga and Oskar. People were bustling about with shopping baskets, hurrying in and out of the brightly lit shops and stopping at the market stalls to buy food and to chat to the traders. The smell of frying sausages and roasting chestnuts filled the air. There were carts laden with mountains of fresh fruit and vegetables, tables groaning with large round cheeses and stalls selling woollen scarves and socks and pretty jewellery.
The girls kept their heads high and smiled at everyone they passed. The people smiled back but Ida saw them whispering behind their hands.
