The owl gave a screech and took off and King Llyffant propelled himself forwards, shouting, “By the order of your queen, come back!” But the owl kept flapping upwards on his powerful wings.
Hearing the king’s shout, an enormous eagle guard soared up and followed the owl; he swiftly gained on him and pushed him down until the owl was forced to land or else be knocked from the sky. On the ground, the owl snapped his beak and looked angrily at the eagle, who prevented him from leaving.
“Why did you flee, and where is Lord Runar?” King Llyffant demanded when he had reached the pair. The others hastily caught up, intrigued to hear the answers.
“I will tell you nothing,” the owl spat.
“Tyllian, you have been a member of my guard for many years. Your loyalty has never been brought into question. What secret are you guarding that is enough to make you try to leave?” Queen Rhosyn asked, confusion etched across her now-pale face.
Tyllian sighed, his large feathered chest heaving as he seemed to gather his words.
“If I tell you what I know, will you grant me leniency?” he finally asked.
The king and queen exchanged a glance. “Let him up, Talon,” Queen Rhosyn said to the eagle at a nod from the king. “Tell me, and I will take your cooperation into account.”
The eagle stepped back, and Tyllian ruffled his feathers; he looked furtively around at the growing number of guards joining the group, who were eyeing him with distaste. Martha didn’t want to judge this sorry figure too harshly, but if he was working with Lord Runar then she felt that he didn’t deserve sympathy.
“Lord Runar has betrayed you, my queen. He has been working with Nesrin – growing an army from your own people,” Tyllian said quietly.
Queen Rhosyn paled even further. “What do you mean – my own people?” she asked in a voice that would have sparked fear into Martha’s heart if it had been directed at her.
The owl cowered. “H-he has been taking some of the young fairies and creatures from the village and placing them in the Middling Grounds to be raised by the criminals there. He told them you had banished them, that they weren’t good enough, that their own families did not want them.” He paused, his beak working silently as he caught his breath, before continuing, “Lord Runar convinced the parents that he was acting on your behalf and told them he knew a way of giving their young magic – that they wouldn’t be a valuable member of fairy society without it. He persuaded them to pay into the royal coffers, because the magic involved complicated spells and cost a lot of coin. Later, he told them that their young had perished during the magic transfer, when in fact they all lived.”
Martha’s mouth was suddenly dry at Tyllian’s revelation; she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Queen Rhosyn looked devastated, and King Llyffant ran a worried hand along her arm as she gathered her words.
“But… how could this happen? And right under my nose?” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
“Well, my queen,” Tyllian began, “You trusted Runar, as your parents did before you, and then you were grieving for your lost husband and did not see what was continuing to happen. Runar carried on with Nesrin’s agenda while you were preoccupied.”
King Llyffant thundered, “How dare you! The queen did the best she could under the circumstances – which, once again, Nesrin was responsible for.”
It was Queen Rhosyn’s turn to place a placating hand on the king’s arm. “No. He’s right; I should have been a better queen during that time. In my grief, I lost sight of my people, and look what has happened,” she said sadly.
“You are not to blame!” the king insisted furiously.
“I know that, but if only I had kept a closer eye on the day-to-day running of our realm and not trusted Runar implicitly to take over some of my duties, maybe I could have understood what was happening before it came to this.”
Martha felt so sorry for the queen. Running a kingdom, and a magical one at that, was certainly a lot to navigate.
Colour suddenly bloomed in the queen’s cheeks and she rose to her full height, extending her multi-coloured wings. “How are you involved in all this?” she asked Tyllian.
Tyllian paused, before admitting quietly, “I came across him in the woods, talking to a stag family and convincing them that because their sons had unusual antlers they would struggle with everyday life. He was encouraging them to hand their children over to him, so he could magically adjust their antlers. I confronted him, but I am ashamed to say that he talked me around with offers of coin and property once your sister had taken over. I’m sorry. I should have come to you.”
Queen Rhosyn’s mouth tightened into a grim line. “You should have indeed. Your betrayal wounds me deeply, but let us deal with the problem at hand – where has Lord Runar gone now?”
“Nesrin gave him a spell to use should he need to escape quickly. He has gone to be with her – he would do anything for her.” The owl sniggered, despite the grave situation he found himself in.
Queen Rhosyn looked around at the children. “I am sorry that my inaction inadvertently caused you to be caught up in this. Why did the Middling Grounds family allow you to go free?”
Martha rifled in her bag and pulled out her sketchbook. She flipped it open and showed the queen the sketch she had done of Callia zipping around the rafters in the barn as Beatrice explained, “We mended the little girl-fairy’s broken wings. She had had an accident and was unable to use them. We helped her to fly, and we also promised that those who didn’t belong there would be reinstated back in Bloomsville. We told them that you knew nothing of this and would put things right. I hope that was all right?” she finished nervously.
The queen closed her eyes and touched her staff to the drawing. Immediately, the picture came to life and the little fairy’s giggles could be heard as she did loops of joy. The queen’s eyes filled with tears as she saw the result of Beatrice and Felicity’s healing skills.
“Bloom daughter, that was very all right.” The queen smiled benevolently. “I am thankful for your belief in me that I indeed knew nothing of this and that you were able to bring such happiness into that little fairy’s life.”
Martha and the others let out relieved grins and Octavia nudged Otto in the ribs, saying loudly, “See, we knew Queen Rhosyn didn’t know about it.”
As Otto nodded back, the queen scooped them up into a hug, kissing the top of their copper-haired heads.
Chapter Fourteen
Magic Merge
Tyllian was taken away and put under watch until Queen Rhosyn decided what to do about him. The afternoon passed quickly as the king and queen gathered their guard together to talk battle plans.
“Now, thanks to Nesrin, we have this new threat to think about,” King Llyffant said to Queen Rhosyn.
Martha and Beatrice exchanged a look, and Martha spoke up. “Your majesties, I don’t believe the Middling Grounds folk will attack us.”
Queen Rhosyn smiled kindly at her. “I understand that you have made a friendship with some and I’m sure they are good fairy folk, but there are others who reside in the Middling Grounds that have committed crimes against the fairy court and were rightly banished there. Considering what we know now, I’m sure if Nesrin offered them enough coin, they could be persuaded into battle.”
Soren patted Martha on the shoulder and took a seat next to Evony, who gave Martha an encouraging smile and said, “I’m sure it will all be well. If what you say is true, maybe your friends can talk the others around.”
“What if Nesrin hurts them for not helping her?” Octavia asked, Ferren watching beadily from her perch on her shoulder.
“I think Nesrin will be concentrating her attack on us first; we will deal with her, then go to your friends and make sure they are safe,” Queen Rhosyn replied. Octavia seemed satisfied by this, but Martha felt an ache in her stomach that had nothing to do with the fact that she was hungry.
Felicity offered Martha an apple and said, “Eat, we need to have our strengt
h.”
Taking the apple with a grateful smile, she munched thoughtfully as the fairies continued to discuss strategies and plans. As the sun started to set, her mind wandered and she thought of Nesrin and what she could be planning. A whirring sound had her pulling out her compass; she stared down at it and saw that the arrow was spinning wildly.
“What does that mean?” Beatrice asked as she leaned in to get a better look, her forehead furrowed in a confused frown.
Martha tried to settle her heart-rate and her swirling thoughts. Immediately, the arrow stopped whirling around frantically and pointed straight ahead, and Martha knew instinctively that the arrow pointed to Nesrin’s location.
“I think Nesrin is over there,” she told Beatrice nervously. Beatrice instantly pulled out her wand.
Doran, noticing her action, asked, “What is it, girly?” He stood and scanned the skies.
Before anyone could reply, the previously clear evening sky turned an ominous shade of grey as large clouds rolled swiftly in.
“Get ready – she’s coming!” King Llyffant shouted, and the guard all took their places around the camp.
Soren hastily guided Evony over to the covered cart where the companions were and told her, “Stay here, you will be safer out of sight.” Even though Evony frowned, she did as he asked and got inside, pulling the curtain closed behind her.
Felicity took out her bow and arrow and, with a nod to her siblings and cousins, headed to stand with the other archers.
A loud boom rumbled overhead, and Martha looked at her compass; the arrow still held steady, so she walked over to the queen and showed her. Queen Rhosyn looked at it grimly. With a swift gesture of her staff, a rainbow beam of light shot out in the same direction and lit up a ledge above them. Nesrin stood there, with Donal and Lord Runar flanking her.
Queen Rhosyn gave a thunderous look at Lord Runar, who raised his chin in defiance. Without missing a beat, Nesrin aimed her own staff at Queen Rhosyn and a silver power bolt zinged at her feet, sizzling where it landed.
Everything erupted.
Arrows started flying, and dark creatures flew down into the throng. Otto raced forwards with his shield and extended it over Octavia and Martha as they dived for cover. They walked forwards to encompass the unicorns; Caeruleus was doing his best to shield the smaller ones with his outstretched wings. Beatrice created her own power bolt, obliterating any arrows that came their way.
Doran, giving a grim look, sliced the air with his hand; immediately a grey, sinewy smoke dragon appeared. He leapt onto it and soared up towards Donal, who gave an arrogant laugh, using his own power to create a smoke dragon of his own. The two brothers disappeared into the cloudy sky, but flashes of light could be seen through the gloom.
Nesrin gave a frustrated screech. “Do I have to do everything myself?” she shouted after Donal. “Come, Runar, I feel a little reunion is in order.”
She leapt onto her cloud with Lord Runar and deftly rebounded Queen Rhosyn’s shots as she lowered herself to the ground.
From beneath the canopy, Martha looked around at the chaos. Soren, Conn and Lysana were in combat with dark fairies, and Aurus was pushing back a black wolf, who snarled and snapped his teeth viciously. Feeling helpless, Martha could only watch as King Llyffant stepped up to the queen’s side to face Nesrin.
“So, you decided to betray your own people, Lord Runar,” Queen Rhosyn said as she came face to face with the haughty fairy.
“He chose the right side – unlike some,” Nesrin replied with a pointed sneer at the king.
He gave his signature mocking bow and said, “I’m exactly where I should be: next to my queen, fighting you for the good of the realm.”
Nesrin rolled her eyes. “Ugh,” she said, “you self-righteous do-gooders always think you know best. Ha! But you didn’t even know I was stealing your precious fairy-lings and creatures from right under your perfect little noses!”
“You think they will stand with you? You are the reason they are in the Middling Grounds, not me,” Queen Rhosyn shot back. She was beginning to glow as her temper rose.
“But they are not aware of that, are they?” Nesrin said slyly. “Do you know how long I have been planning this? If my useless— uh, if Riad hadn’t messed up, he could be here enjoying this too. But no matter; I am here! And right at this moment my army are coming to join me, their queen, their real queen. One that will give them status and a place at a fairy court.”
Martha frowned at the mention of Riad, the dark fairy, who had almost bested Beatrice in a magical battle the last time they had been here. She didn’t take the time to dwell on it as Nesrin’s last works sank in, causing her stomach to swoop. No, it can’t be! Fenn and Reed would never join her! she thought desperately and looked at Octavia, whose face was a picture of uncertainty.
A rhythmic pounding started to echo around the stone walls as drumbeats and yells reached Martha’s ears. Looking around in confusion, she was horrified when a band of about a hundred Middling Grounds fairies and creatures appeared, Fenn and Reed on Twig and Thicket among them. The battle came to a halt, and each side regrouped as they waited to see what these newcomers would do.
Nesrin let out a delighted cackle. “Right on cue,” she said, elated.
Martha stepped from beneath Otto’s protective canopy. “No!” She didn’t realise she had shouted until Nesrin looked her way. The dark fairy narrowed her eyes in speculation as she observed Martha staring at Fenn in shock.
“Aww, did you think your little friend would come to your rescue? How sweet,” she mocked. “Boy, come here,” she ordered Fenn.
With an unreadable expression on his face, Fenn slid from Thicket and walked slowly towards Nesrin. As he passed Martha, unseen by Nesrin, he gave a slow wink that made Martha close her mouth in shock. Hope bloomed within her chest.
As Fenn reached Nesrin, she pulled him to her side. “Welcome, Middling Grounds folk, you who were cast aside like you were nothing. Now, I give you purpose!” she shouted.
The Middling Grounds group shuffled and looked at each other. There was a moment of tense silence. Then Fenn, in a sudden movement, twisted from Nesrin’s grip and threw a roll of sticky thread around her staff-arm.
Nesrin looked down in shock. “You would use my own weapon against me? The weapon I gifted you!” she screamed, each syllable rising in anger.
Fenn stepped back with a quirky little grin. “Thank you for the gift, your highness,” he said politely.
As the Middling Grounds folk laughed and jeered, Nesrin’s face turned thunderous. “So, you choose the wrong side. So be it,” she said. Before anyone could do anything, she screeched, “Runar!”
Lord Runar, with a flash of silver, sliced through the thread with his cloak pin, and they vanished in a whirl of smoke.
Martha rushed over to Fenn. “That was brilliant!” she told him breathlessly. “I knew you wouldn’t side with her.”
Fenn looked embarrassed, but was saved as Grub and Grover came over. Grub flew onto Fenn’s shoulder, and Grover clapped the young fairy on his back.
“The boy did good. He was very insistent that we, the ones who were wrongly banished, all come to your and the queen’s aid. The real queen, I mean,” Grover said gruffly as he turned to Queen Rhosyn and King Llyffant.
King Llyffant held out his hand, and the two men clasped wrists. “We thank you. The queen and I will ensure that you are all welcomed back into Bloomsville where you belong.”
Queen Rhosyn nodded, but had a grim expression as she looked around. Aurus, his chest heaving as he held down a wolf, huffed, “Some have got away, but I don’t think it’s over yet.”
Martha stared uncomfortably at Grub. Noticing her look, Fenn gave her a smile and said, “Grub has apologised. He feels guilty for telling Nesrin about you, and I think he deserves a second chance.”
Martha looked back at the downcast woodpecker and this time gave him a gentle smile. At that moment, her compass started whirling again and Beatrice app
eared by her side. “It’s really going mad today, isn’t it?”
“It’s probably because my thoughts are all over the place,” Martha replied with a bashful laugh.
Suddenly Soren let out a shout. “Nesrin’s guard are going for the cart! Evony and the companions are in there!”
The king, queen and numerous guards, along with Felicity, raced down the rocky ground to the shallow area where they had parked the cart. Dark shadows could be seen approaching it.
But in all the confusion the compass settled, and the arrow pointed away from the cart.
“I think it’s a distraction. Nesrin is over there. I’m going to see what she is up to,” Martha said.
Beatrice looked appalled. “It’s not safe,” she protested.
Fenn, gesturing to Grub, said, “We’ll come with you. We can just see what she is doing and come back and tell the queen.”
Beatrice gave a groan and said, “All right, but you might need my magic too.” She swiftly went to check Caeruleus was safe with the other unicorns before re-joining Martha.
Together, the four of them rounded the rocks and climbed up the roughly hewn steps until they came to a platform. Hiding behind a large rock, they peered cautiously round it and watched as Nesrin stalked up and down. In shock, Martha saw that she was berating a huge spider whose body glistened with an almost metallic iridescence. Runar was nowhere to be seen.
Martha felt a thrill of horror at seeing such a large spider, and swallowed to try and moisten her suddenly dry mouth.
Fenn murmured between Nesrin’s shrieks, “So that’s where she was getting her thread from.” He nodded at the skeins of thread lying in a bundle next to the creature. “Grub, go and fly to the queen and tell her where we are,” he said quietly to the woodpecker.
With a gentle flurry of wings, the bird took off into the night sky.
“More, you useless arachnid!” Nesrin screeched, kicking out viciously with her booted foot, which connected with the silver abdomen of the large spider. A fresh mound of glistening silken thread shot out, pooling on the ground in front of Nesrin. The spider made a wretched sound of pain that had Martha wincing. Despite her initial shudder, she now felt only pity for the poor creature. She had finally had enough of Nesrin’s bullying tactics; she simply couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. She got to her feet.
Martha Bloom and the Glass Compass Page 12