by Kate Gordon
“Are you sure?” Chloe’s voice quavered. “Maybe Abellona would just kill us so she can go after the unicorns. What if she captured us to try and entrap the unicorns?”
“Stop it!” Lily watched Chloe and Angel stumble down the bank. “You’re making me really scared now. We’ve got to find the herd and see if we can help.”
“But should we even go near the herd, if that’s where she is?”
“Chloe!” Sasha and Tommy pulled up. “How could you say that? How can we leave them now? Don’t you want to make sure Mikaela is alright?”
“Of course, but I’m worried we’ll be more of a hazard than a help,” Chloe replied as they set off along the rutted track in a steady trot. “What if there’s some kind of fight? It’s not like we can fight alongside them.”
Lily had been wondering much the same herself but recalled what Ambrosius had said. “If they decide to move, we can help keep the foals together in groups the way Ambrosius asked us to do. And we know the roads to take if they want to go to the big park.”
“I agree with Lily,” Sasha said, pushing Tommy into a canter as the track suddenly turned onto a dirt road that seemed to take them in the right direction, “and we can’t leave you to turn home by yourself, so you’ll have to come with us.”
Sasha’s words were like her normal bossy self, but Lily could hear her voice tremble with worry.
“It’s not like I don’t want to help, Sash.” Chloe raised her voice to carry over the thud of hooves. “And I didn’t mean we should go home, we have to find the herd, but I don’t want us to be more of a problem for the unicorns than a help.”
“We’ll figure out whether we can help when we find them. But first, let’s find them.” Sasha led the way along the road which bought them to the gate at the end of Sanderson Road from a different direction.
“Good. We know where we are now.” She leaned down to open the gate.
“Wait!” Lily said quietly. “Should we be going this way? We’ll be out in the open going up the drive.”
“Good point.” Sasha looked around. “If we ride along the fence that way, we’ll be nearer the gully paddock where the unicorns are.”
“But how will we get over the fence?” Chloe followed Sasha as Tommy scrambled over a fallen log against the fence.
“We’ll figure it out when we get there.”
“I hate to think how scratched the ponies’ legs are after pushing through all that scrub,” Lily grumbled when they reached a big gully which ran down from the unicorns’ paddock into the forest.
“Do you think the unicorns were somewhere close to the top of this gully?” Sasha stopped Tommy and looked.
“I think so,” said Lily. “That’s where the grass was most crushed when I came this afternoon.”
“Okay, let’s see where we can get over the fence.” Sasha walked Tommy carefully down the darkened slope under overhanging trees.
Angel didn’t want to follow Tommy. “Come on, girl. You’re okay.” Chloe tried to kick her on.
“Hey, guys! The fence is down.” Sasha’s voice was loud in the still night air. “Looks like it’s been trampled by the unicorns.”
“Ssshh!” Lily hissed, pushing Rainbow into Angel to force her to move. “Keep your voice down!”
“Sorry!” Sasha whispered when they reached her. “But look! All the posts are pushed over, and rocks placed on the wires here so the ponies can walk across it safely.”
“Weird.” Lily looked around. No human would leave a paddock fence like this. The unicorns must have done it. But how did they move the rocks?
“Come on.” Sasha walked Tommy over the flattened fence.
Lily hung back in case Angel was spooky about this unexpected obstacle, but she followed Tommy with no problem. “Can you hear something? Hoof beats, maybe?” She pulled Rainbow up beside the others.
“Yes, just up the gully. Come on!”
“Carefully, Sash, carefully!” Lily whispered as her impatient friend trotted off.
Chapter Thirteen
Lily and Rainbow crested the lip of the gully just in time to see Sasha galloping Tommy at Ambrosius and Sigvard.
The unicorns faced each other, heads down, looking like they might charge. The curves of their spikes glinted in the moonlight as the herd around them watched.
“Oh, no!” Lily pushed Rainbow to follow Sasha. “What’s happening?”
Ambrosius looked around as she neared. “He left you alone in the forest. That’s one thing.” He shook his head with a big snort. “And the other thing is we can’t agree whether to move as one group or split up.”
“We told Sigvard to go, Ambrosius.” Lily urged Rainbow closer to the silver unicorn. “It was more important that you knew Abellona flew over us.”
“Mikaela reported her arrival some time ago.”
“We thought Mikaela would be on to it, but we wanted to be sure that you definitely knew.”
The unicorn king nodded in acknowledgement and looked back to his lieutenant. “We move now as one group. Get the herd organised.”
“I will say it one more time, Sire, travelling in smaller groups makes it easier to hide. If she tracks us, the other groups may be able to make a surprise attack to help the other.”
“It spreads our resources too thinly,” Ambrosius countered quickly. “We don’t yet have another sensory of Mikaela’s capability. We only have one Brökk. How is he to be split between groups? Your guard is light in number and experience, as you yourself acknowledge.”
“True, Sire, but I speak from bitter experience, as you well know,” the big unicorn said respectfully.
“Yes, Sigvard,” Ambrosius replied with a short sigh. “I recall clearly the day Abellona ambushed us. The day we lost many valued members of your guard and Viveka.”
Lily swallowed. How awful.
“But,” Ambrosius continued, “I lead this herd, and in the interest of speed, we must all leave as one group and now! Mikaela, an update please.”
“She’s someway inland, Sire. Over to the east.”
“Thank you. Let us move! Quickly!”
“Finally,” Sasha whispered to Lily, as Sigvard neighed loudly several times and the herd gathered into a tight group. “I can’t believe they’re arguing when they should be moving. They should have moved ages ago.”
“I know. It doesn’t make any sense,” Lily whispered back.
Chloe leaned in. “I wonder if they would be best to stay here now. She’s more likely to see them on the road, isn’t she?”
Lily looked at Chloe, her eyes wide and worried. “Oh, you’re might be right, Chlo. It’s too late to suggest...”
“Lily!” Ambrosius’s voice rolled out. “I want you in the lead with me. Chloe will ride with Mikaela and Brökk with half the warrior guard at the rear. Sasha will be with Sigvard, Fredek and Isak, and the rest of the guard, helping keep everyone together and moving as fast as the foals can manage. Guilio will maintain his usual overhead guard.”
Everyone moved to their positions.
“Forward!” commanded Ambrosius.
The thunder of hundreds of hooves shook the ground as Lily cantered beside Ambrosius, who seemed to be looking everywhere at once.
“Keep Rainbow to a steady canter,” he instructed. “That’s a good speed for the foals.”
The herd surged across the big paddock and down the drive of the abandoned farm. Lily turned back, trying to see Chloe and Sasha, but they were lost among the flashing unicorn spikes and movement of many bodies.
“Wow...” The sight was amazing.
“Lily!” Ambrosius’ voice brought her attention back. “We turn left onto the road, correct?”
“Yes.” She slowed Rainbow for the turn, an eager foal pushing between them and the gatepost. A sharp nip from Ambrosius sent the foal back to its mother.
“Keep to the side of the road where you can.” The unicorn matched his pace to Rainbow’s. “Use every overhanging tree. The others will follow.”
Sanderson Road wound through hills as it headed towards the highway, almost looping back on itself as it crossed a small river to the south of the farm.
Without warning, Ambrosius swerved left onto the gravel riverbank. Heart thumping in time with the thundering hoof-beats, Lily followed. “Where are you going?” she shouted.
“Mikaela sent me a silent message.” He didn’t slow. “Abellona is close! Aim for those trees on the right.”
“Run, Rainbow, run!” Lily leaned forward, urging her pony over the loose gravel, which seemed to suck his speed with every slithering step.
She glanced behind. Some of the herd were still turning off the road. She saw Sasha and Sigvard standing in the middle of the road to make sure everyone turned. They all had a way to go to reach the trees.
I hope Chloe is okay! She’s right at the back with Brökk.
At last Rainbow plunged into the relative darkness of the trees.
Ambrosius wheeled. “Stand on the edge here to show the others where to head. Tell them to stay close. I’m going back to make sure everyone’s safely off the road.”
Trembling with fright, Lily positioned Rainbow where she was told. The pony sucked in deep breaths as unicorns charged into the trees. “Stay near! Don’t go too far away!” she called again and again.
Anxious whinnies sounded out as mothers called to keep their foals close by in the dense stand of trees. Sweaty unicorns puffed after the frightening dash to the trees.
Straining to see in the silvery haze of moonlight, Lily looked and looked for Chloe’s palomino mare, Brökk’s dark coat or Mikaela’s distinctive silver and black markings.
More foals and their anxious mothers joined the group under the trees.
“There they are!” Lily told Rainbow. “Thank goodness. That means everyone’s off the road now.”
Sigvard and Sasha swung in behind Chloe and the others, Guilio wheeling overhead. Ambrosius moved up and down the river’s edge, urging the mares and foals on.
A bolt of fire suddenly shot from the sky, lighting up the riverbank before sizzling into the river right beside Ambrosius. He screamed a warning neigh, and the herd continued to surge into the trees as Guilio flew backwards and forwards overhead.
“Come on!” Lily shouted to Sasha and Sigvard, who accompanied the last few mares with the smallest foals, darling Lief among them.
Brökk and Ambrosius halted, breathing hard, near Lily. Chloe bought a steaming Angel to stand beside Lily.
Then she saw another mighty pegasus clear against the inky black of the night sky.
It was Galen, Guilio’s brother.
On his back was a dark, robed creature, watching the unicorns gather in the trees.
“Abell...” The sorceress’ name froze in her throat, and all she wanted to do was bury her face in Rainbow’s mane and shut out the sight of the witch who persecuted the unicorns for her own warped reasons. But she felt compelled to watch as the witch directed Galen closer and closer.
Their worst fears had come true.
Abellona had found the herd.
There was nowhere to run.
Snap! Boom! Abellona’s next strike smashed down right in front of them.
Rainbow jumped back as Lily tried not to scream.
The gravel riverbank offered nothing for the fire to burn, and the flames puffed out into smoke.
“Hold your fire,” Ambrosius said to Brökk, who seemed to sparkle with magical energy. “Save your strength until she’s close enough to hurt seriously.”
Lily felt the witch’s gaze pass over her. Then their eyes met. The witch’s dark eyes were compelling, holding hers captive for a long moment while the witch probed...
“Yuck, no!” Lily snapped her eyes shut. It felt like Abellona was searching her mind via her eyes. Horrible! She shuddered. Never, ever look at her directly again, she told herself.
Abellona pointed her long staff at the last group racing for the trees.
Bang!
The fire bolt touched down, and a foal squealed. Flames flared from its back briefly before it crumpled to the ground.
Sigvard neighed frantically as he and Tommy stood over the foal, its fearful mother not leaving its side.
Sasha shook her fist at the witch and shouted, “We’ll get you for that!”
“Sasha looks angry,” Lily said to Chloe. “No witch is going to hurt her precious Sigvard.”
“I’d be terrified out there,” Chloe whispered. “I am terrified anyway.”
“Me too. How are the unicorns going to stop her now?”
The girls clutched hands as Abellona fired again, striking the ground close to Tommy, driving him back from the foal.
Another strike. Sigvard stepped back.
Bang! The mare retreated briefly.
The fire bolts kept coming, fast.
Ambrosius spoke with Brökk, their words barely audible to Lily over the crack of each bolt. She caught “not close enough” and “only just strong enough”. She hadn’t had the chance to ask today if Brökk felt back to full strength. How were they going to fight Abellona without him?
Sasha edged Tommy closer to the foal huddled on the ground. It didn’t look like she or any of the others would abandon it. She stood in her stirrups and yelled, “Help!”
Lily shouted at Ambrosius. “We have to get the foal back here.” She looked back at the sky. Abellona had wheeled Galen even closer, fire crackling down around the foal as Sigvard and Tommy frantically dodged each attack.
“Oh, God,” Chloe sobbed. “How can we help?”
Brökk stepped forward, swung his head, and wham...! A brilliant flash of light shot from his ivory spike. It hit Abellona’s shoulder in a shower of sparks. The witch screamed angrily, obviously hurt, but wheeled Galen higher.
“She’s out of reach again, Sire.” Brökk shook his head, frustrated. “Her firepower is stronger than mine. It always has been.”
The witch’s fire bolts continued, making Sigvard and Tommy leap and dodge.
Lily didn’t know whether to be more worried about Sasha and Tommy or the unicorns.
“Can we lift the foal between us?” She looked at Chloe.
“I don’t know!” Chloe’s eyes were wide with fear. “The three of us probably could.”
Lily turned to Ambrosius and Brökk. “We have to get to the foal and carry him back!” It didn’t matter how frightened she was, she couldn’t leave the foal to be killed.
“I can’t let you do that, Lily,” Ambrosius shook his head. “If we give little Cosme enough time and protect him from more injuries, I hope he can get up himself very soon.”
“Why are you saying that?” Lily stifled a sob. Surely Ambrosius wouldn’t sacrifice the foal. “He’s hurt! How can you expect him to run?”
“Sometimes it’s the way of the world.” The unicorn king spoke with great sadness. “We can’t always rescue our injured.”
“Can’t Brökk magic him back?” Lily asked, desperate for a solution.
Cosme gave a shrill whinny, fearful and frightened, while neither senior unicorn answered.
“You can create a great chasm through the earth, but you can’t move a little foal from just over there?” Lily raged at Brökk, who looked at Ambrosius, his eyes bleak.
Then, from above, came the heart-stopping sound of Abellona’s voice. “I shall take this youngster, Ambrosius, and teach him to respect his betters.”
The sorceress’ voice was creepily quiet yet cut like a sharp blade.
Lily whipped her hands over her ears, but it was still distressingly audible when Abellona added, “Yes, teach him to respect me. That’s what I’ll do. Just like I did with Isak and Ragnor, and of course dear Galen here who carries me tonight.”
Ambrosius flinched as the witch said each name.
Fear of what Abellona had done to those poor captured unicorns made Lily’s stomach heave as she watched Sigvard and others constantly circling the stricken foal, dodging to draw Abellona’s fire bolts away from him.
>
How one of them hadn’t been hit, Lily couldn’t imagine.
“Lily! Chloe!” Sasha yelled. “We have to do something!”
Lily swallowed down that fear. They did have to do something if the unicorns couldn’t. Even if she didn’t know how they could get to Cosme and back without being hurt – or worse.
“We’re coming!” she yelled. To Chloe she said, “Do we ride the ponies out and risk them getting hurt while we carry the foal back? Or run out? Which will be slower?”
“We ride.” Chloe looked determined as she shoved her riding helmet tightly on her head. “As fast as we can.”
“Wait!” Brökk commanded. “I will try a protective spell. It may work.”
“No,” snapped Ambrosius. “Think of the greater good. Conserve your powers. Look! Cosme is trying to stand.”
The foal struggled, his legs flailing. Then he slumped down.
“No, Ambrosius,” said Brökk. “Lily is right. Every foal is precious.”
“Of course they are,” Ambrosius spoke quickly. “But I must think of the herd, and we need you as strong as possible. We have the battle of our lives ahead tonight. You know that.”
“I do,” Brökk agreed. “But think of morale. To save Cosme from enslavement would boost the herd, to show them it is possible to succeed over Abellona.”
A mare standing near the girls whispered, “We’ve never, ever managed to get anyone back once they’ve been captured.”
“Oh, God!” Lily breathed, hoping Ambrosius would agree to the rescue attempt. She swallowed hard against the cold fear that crept up her throat.
The unicorn king nodded.
“Girls, come here.” Brökk spoke urgently.
Lily and Chloe turned their ponies to the mage. Brökk touched his horn to Rainbow’s nose and then Angel’s. A milky cloud encompassed the ponies and the girls. “Go!”
They galloped straight for Cosme, the ponies straining across the shifting gravel. The eerie glow stretched from the tip of Brökk’s horn around them both as they ran.
