Panic flared in Buttercup’s eyes. ‘Don’t say a word. You know nothing.’ The shell started to move downstream with the pull of the current.
‘Please be careful Buttercup!’ yelled Goodwin. ‘Once you leave the valley I won’t be able to help you.’
‘Goodbye Goodwin!’
Buttercup sat back and tried to relax. All she could hear was the gurgling sound of the water all around her and the occasional snap of a twig and rustling sounds from the bushes. There was a ripple to the left. She turned to look. A trout jumped, looked with mild curiosity at the strange thing in the shell before it dived back into the water.
Feeling hungry, Buttercup took some nuts out of her satchel and gobbled them. A bunch of red roses, that she had plucked earlier from Brandydook Garden, before she left the kingdom, lay in a heap at the bottom of the bag. She brought them up to her nose and inhaled their scent, finding comfort in their sweet perfume.
It was still dark. She only saw large clumps of reeds and stone everywhere she looked. As Buttercup wondered what adventures lay ahead, she hoped her Mama and Papa would understand why she ran away. And why she couldn’t tell them.
The shell bobbed gently along the stream, coaxing a path in amongst small rocks and pebbles, further and further away from Brandydook until it was out of sight altogether. She started to feel sleepy just as the first rays of light blinked through the trees. Her eyelids felt so heavy she couldn’t keep them open any more. The satchel clutched tightly in her arms, Buttercup curled up against the shell and fell fast asleep.
After some time had passed, Buttercup awoke with a startle. She felt water on her face and on her clothes too. The shell was bouncing up and down speeding along with the rush of the current. The stream had branched off into a river. She stared around her in fright, her hands clenching to the sides, wondering what had happened. The shell was moving very fast now. More water hit her face and hands.
‘Stop, stop!’ she cried, ‘I want to get out.’
She could fly. She didn’t need the shell anymore. But just as she was about to leap into the air, the shell flipped on to its side, and her satchel tumbled overboard. Buttercup reached out to grab it but snagged her tunic on the corner of the shell. She wriggled desperately to get loose but she was stuck. Her eyes widened in horror. A thunderous noise came from further down river and she was heading straight for it.
Buttercup yanked at her tunic. It ripped and finally came free but it was already too late. The shell hurtled over the waterfall. Before Buttercup had time to think, she felt herself being tossed into the air and then plunged in to the icy water. She screamed and everything went black.
Chapter 5
When Buttercup came round, she was racing through the sky. She could feel the air pummelling her body. She looked up and screamed in terror at the huge bird directly above her. It had a cruel beak, brown feathers flecked with black and yellow beady eyes. She was clutched in the iron grip of its talons. The powerful beat of its wings drowned out any sound she made as the bird carved a path through the clouds towards its nest high up in the trees. Buttercup twisted and wriggled in a desperate effort to escape from the beast’s clutches, but she was trapped.
Trees, hills and strange objects raced by in a constant blur beneath her, so fast it was making her dizzy. Wind tore through her clothes. She felt sick and cold. What was going to happen to her now? She should never have left Brandydook. Served her right for defying the prince.
The bird had begun its descent. She could see the tops of the trees, coming closer now. As the bird approached, it made a high pitched screeching sound. Buttercup’s eyes widened in alarm. Two ugly heads reared up out of a large circular hollow, followed by a third, another bird just like the one that had taken her captive. Their mouths were open and they kept making horrid clacking noises with their beaks as they lunged hungrily for her.
The bird lowered its wings and prepared to land. Buttercup’s legs dangled inches away now from the other little terrors. With a thunderous flapping of its huge wings the creature finally came to a stop. Releasing its hold, the pixie tumbled head first into the nest.
Panting for breath, legs feeling like jelly, she wobbled to her feet to see three pairs of hungry eyes staring at her, ready to pounce. The stink of bird droppings and feathers clung to her hair. Heart thumping, Buttercup backed away. Her sandals made crunching noises as she stepped over several small bones and sticks. She reached behind her and touched the prickly thorns and twigs that made up the entire nest. She dared not look down, afraid to take her eyes off the creatures.
‘Is this really the best you can do, Alfred?’ The other large bird asked.
He gave a grunt of annoyance. ‘You said you wanted something quick…and well, there it was. Lying on the rock, ready for the taking.’
‘But she’s all skin and bone,’ the other big bird complained. ‘There’s no meat on her. And my boys need meat.’
‘I like her,’ said one of the fledglings, licking his lips.
‘Yeah, she’ll do me fine,’ said another.
His mother gave him a clout on the ear with her wing. ‘You’ll do no such thing Alfonso, this slip of a thing could make you sick.’
‘She….she’s right, you know, I’m far too small and definitely not tasty,’ Buttercup said.
‘See what did I tell – ’
The large bird stopped and turned to stare. All eyes were on her wide in shock.
Oh …oh, thought Buttercup, feeling her wings discreetly with her hands. Her face crumpled. One of them was bent badly. How am I going to fly? How am I going to get away?
‘You can talk!’ Alfred exclaimed. He turned to his wife. ‘This thing can talk, Cilpa.’
‘I’m not hard of hearing,’ Cilpa snapped.
‘What are you then?’ asked Alfonso timidly from behind his mother.
‘I’m a pixie.’
‘Well I’d rather not eat something that can talk,’ said Cilpa, ‘and you are a bit too scrawny for my tastes, but my boys are hungry and small or not, they gotta eat.’
Buttercup gulped. ‘I had berries and nuts in my satchel but I don’t have it with me. If you help me find it – ’
‘You mean this old thing?’ Alfred interrupted, tossing the bag into the nest.
‘You found it.’ Leaves and weeds clung to the little bag, and only three of the roses remained, but other than that it looked okay. She opened it to check that everything was there. Her hands trembled as she peered into the pouch, praying that the berries and nuts hadn’t fallen out in the waterfall. She sighed with relief. There were still a few left, she offered them to Cilpa.
Cilpa, Alfred and their sons devoured them in an instant.
‘Found this as well,’ said Alfred, swinging a pendant to and fro in front of them.
Buttercup put her hands to her neck. She hadn’t even noticed it missing. ‘That’s mine. Must have fallen off when I fell.’
‘Rather thought you might like it, Cilpa,’ he said, ignoring Buttercup’s outstretched hand.
‘And what would I want with that ugly old thing?’ Flashing him a scornful look, she tossed the pendant over to Buttercup who immediately clasped it around her neck.
‘What are you going to do with me?’ she asked, her body trembling like a leaf.
‘Well now, let’s see,’ said Cilpa, thinking about it.
‘She could clean the nest everyday. You always complain that it’s so untidy,’ suggested Alfred.
‘But I do that,’ said Ralph with a scowl, speaking for the first time.
‘And what a good job you do too son.’ Cilpa brushed his head with her wing. She pondered for a moment, said something in a different tongue to Alfred and then decided. ‘This nest is too small for another and as you cannot fly, you really are of no use to us. But seeing you were kind enough to give us your last meal I will deposit you on the ground.’
They aren’t going to eat me! Buttercup nearly fell down with relief. ‘Thank you…thank you! I would really appreciate that.’<
br />
Alfred bid her farewell and then took off in search of more food. Cilpa’s orders.
The fledglings leaned out of the nest as their mother carried the pixie away. ‘Goodbye pixie!’ they said.
‘Wait ‘till I tell the others about this,’ Alfonso squawked to his brother.
Cilpa carried Buttercup through the air for some time then set her gently on the ground.
‘I’m just curious, where do you come from, exactly, little one? Never seen anything like you before.’
‘Brandydook.’
‘Never heard of it. Well, farewell then,’ she said, starting to fly.
‘Wait! Could you tell me where I am?’
‘This is Dixie Wood.’
‘Thank you Cilpa, for sparing my life, I mean.’
‘Yes, well I don’t have any daughters and small or not, I rather liked the look of you. But just be warned, not everyone in Dixie Wood is like me. Goodbye and take care.’
Buttercup watched the falcon return to her fledglings and wished she had asked her friend Goodwin to come with her. Now she was all alone in a strange place. Far, far away from home.
Chapter 6
BRANDYDOOK
‘What do you mean you can’t find her?’ Peblo demanded. ‘She’s getting married today.’
‘I searched her room and down by the gardens, there’s no sign of her, she can’t be far,’ Flora said. ‘I’ll look again.’
‘This is preposterous,’ Peblo fumed, while he paced up and down the room. ‘Wait ‘till I get my hands on her.’ He turned to Melody, who was hovering in the air silently behind him. ‘Well?’ he barked.
‘I asked around. No one has seen her.’
Peblo turned to Flora and said, ‘What are we going to do? The king will be furious.’
‘Stall them,’ she said, ‘tell them Buttercup is sick, tell them anything to give us some time to sort this out.’
‘Yes it might work. Melody come with me, Aluna go with your mother.’
‘But I – ’ Aluna said.
‘Do as you’re told.’
Aluna stomped her foot in temper. ‘This is all a waste of time. Buttercup never wanted to marry the prince anyway. Don’t know why we’re even bothering.’
Peblo stared at her in astonishment. ‘She told you that?’
She hung her head. ‘Not in so many words, no, but I could tell.’
‘Why didn’t you say something?’ Peblo roared.
‘Buttercup tried, but you wouldn’t listen.’
‘Calm yourself dear.’ Flora put her arm around his shoulders. ‘Buttercup will come back. She can’t be far.’
‘Goodwin will know where she is,’ said Aluna stiffly. ‘I’ll go get him.’
‘Hurry! We don’t have much time,’ warned Peblo.
The door burst open suddenly and in flew a very agitated pixie.
‘Forgive me, Peblo and Flora – ’
‘What is the matter, Pickle? Speak up, pixie.’
‘It’s the flowers and leaves everywhere – they’re all dying. I don’t know what’s happening.’
Flora brought Pixie Pickle over to a table, sat him down and poured him some honey.
‘Now drink this up and you’ll feel better.’
Pickle nodded gratefully and guzzled the mixture. ‘I don’t understand what’s happening,’ he repeated in bewilderment.
‘Nature cannot die in Brandydook,’ Flora whispered, taking the cup from his trembling fingers. ‘You must be mistaken.’
Pixie Pickle got to his feet and stared at her, his face white. ‘I assure you there is no mistake. Come see for yourself.’
‘But that’s impossible,’ said Peblo putting his anxiety about Buttercup aside. ‘The gardens of Brandydook will only die if any of the flowers are removed from the kingdom…’
***
Aluna rapped at the door of Goodwin’s mushroom house but got no answer, so she peered in the windows. One of the egg cup stools was turned upside down and mud stains covered all of the rushed floor. A picture of Hank, his grandfather, hung crookedly on the wall. Empty nut shells littered the wooden table next to the rickety stairway but no sign of the pixie. She was about to give up and look elsewhere when a sneeze sounded from the other side of the door.
‘Goodwin, I know you’re in there. Come out right now!’
After a moment, he creaked open the door and stepped out. ‘Must you speak so loud, I’ve a rotten headache.’ He blinked his eyes against the sunlight. His blazer was on backwards and his pants was crumpled.
Aluna put her hands on her hips. ‘Too much time sneaking around no doubt.’
Goodwin stared at her, his face growing hotter by the second then turned away. ‘I – I don’t kno….know what you’re talking about,’ he stammered feeling nervous all of a sudden. ‘Now if you don’t mind I am rather busy.’ He backed into his house.
Aluna caught him by the sleeve and said sharply. ‘Not too busy to find my sister! You know where she is I know you do.’
‘Leave me…me alone,’ he retorted hastily edging towards the door. ‘I’ve work to do.’
‘There’ll be no work if the king and queen find out. You’ve got to tell me the truth.’
Goodwin sighed, he sat down on a branch and rubbed his eyes. Someone was bound to find out sooner or later. ‘Buttercup went away for a while. She needed time to think things through and – ’
‘You helped her. Do you know how much trouble you’re in?’ Aluna screeched. ‘King Rufus will be furious. Goodwin, we have to get her back.’
‘It’s too late. She could be anywhere.’
‘Brandydook isn’t that big, surely—’ Then it slowly began to dawn on Aluna. ‘She’s not in the kingdom, is she?’ she whispered.
He shook his head.
‘Oh, Goodwin, what have you done?!’
***
Leaves fluttered to the ground in their hundreds covering the earth in a carpet of dull, lifeless black and brown. All around them, roses, violets, daffodils and daisies began to wilt and crumple one after the other. The pixies stared in horror, mumbling in bewilderment amongst themselves. They didn’t understand what was happening.
Everyone, including the royal family, congregated together on the branches of a hawthorn tree. Most of the shrubs were bare as were the trees that protected the pixies’ homes. The earth had turned a chocolate brown. Gusts of wind rattled the branches and the first flakes of snow had begun to fall.
‘What are we going to do?’ asked Pixie Pickle his eyes wide in worry.
‘Without honey and berries the kingdom will not survive,’ exclaimed Pixie Cookinpot, thinking of his belly.
‘But without nature we are doomed,’ echoed Elga.
‘She’s right,’ moaned another pixie.
‘And don’t forget our wings,’ wailed Pixie Pickle, ‘soon we won’t be able to fly.’
A ball of light suddenly appeared above their heads. It grew larger and larger but it was so bright the pixies had to shield their eyes until finally the light faded a little showing a beautiful figure in its place. The figure was tall with a glowing heart-shaped face and long golden hair that dazzled in the light. A blue gown of shimmering silk fell in waves to her feet and her two splendid golden wings beat ever so slightly in the soft breeze.
‘It’s Mother Brandydook,’ gasped Elga in awe.
‘My powers are weak,’ said Mother Brandydook in a faint voice. The light surrounding her was fading as she spoke. ‘There isn’t much time. You have until the last petal falls from the royal garden to restore nature and harmony to this land or Brandydook Kingdom will cease to exist.’
‘But what can we do?’ cried Queen Tulip, her eyes wide open aghast.
‘The answer lies in the stone.’
The light around Mother Brandydook was growing weaker and weaker. ‘Please hurry,’ she whispered before she vanished.
‘Wait! Come back,’ cried Prince Morgan.
King Rufus turned to his wife. ‘What the devil does she
mean? Which stone?’
Queen Tulip shook her head. ‘I’ve no idea. Oh, Rufus, the entire Kingdom is depending on us. What are we going to do?’
‘She must be referring to the crystal stones surrounding this tree,’ said the prince. ‘According to the Ancient Scrolls of Brandydook, one of these crystals contains the life source of Brandydook. All we have to do is find out which one.’
‘But there must be hundreds of them,’ said the queen. ‘We don’t have time.’
‘We have to try something,’ Prince Morgan replied, running his hand through his hair. ‘You there,’ he said, snapping his fingers to one of the pixies, ‘come and help me break these stones. Quickly now.’
‘Yes sire,’ replied Pixie Pickle flying over to his side.
They were joined by several others. Agitated pixies smashed crystals around the tree and some more across the valley, examining every last one of them until blisters rose in their fingers.
‘Anything?’ asked the king anxiously.
‘Nothing, Father,’ said Prince Morgan. ‘We’ve broken every crystal stone we can find. There’s nothing unusual or special about any of them, I don’t know where else to look. Can’t we get Mother Brandydook back and ask her what she meant?’
‘Doesn’t work like that, son,’ whispered Queen Tulip. ‘Mother Brandydook’s life source is linked to the trees and flowers of Brandydook. She cannot be summoned.’
‘Peblo, as my advisor, what do you suggest?’ said the king, turning to him desperately.
Peblo didn’t have the foggiest idea but then something occurred to him. ‘Maybe it’s not a crystal at all, perhaps it means something else, your majesty,’ he said with a shrug, ‘the stone could be a jewel.’
‘I don’t think so, Peblo, Mother Brandydook would have said so,’ the king looked over at the queen and saw her face scrunched in concentration. ‘What is it, dear?’
She held up a finger to tell him be quiet. ‘Wait I’m thinking.’
The answer lies in the stone. ‘What could she have meant?’ thought the queen. Mother Brandydook must have meant something obvious. She glanced over at Elga to get her opinion just as sunlight winked from a ring on Elga’s left hand. The queen jumped to her feet. ‘Of course, Peblo is right! I know what Mother Brandydook was talking about.’
Escaping the Prince (Bedlam in Brandydook Book 1) Page 3
