Octavia Bloom and the Missing Key (Through The Fairy Door Book 1)

by Estelle Grace Tudor

  Octavia gazed at the bright, flowery coats. “They’re so colourful!”

  “That is because Fairy Land is thriving and happy, of course,” Finnian told Octavia proudly.

  Octavia pondered this, but all thought left her mind as she locked eyes with the unicorn with yellow blooms. It whinnied in greeting.

  “This is Xanthe,” said Finnian. “She has chosen you! Put your hand out – don’t be afraid.”

  Octavia swallowed and slowly walked toward the yellow unicorn, her hand shaking with excitement as she placed it upon the creature’s nose. Xanthe blew softly. They gazed at each other and Octavia’s heart rate settled, a stillness coming over her.

  Felicity paired up with Emeraude, a soft-eyed, green-patterned unicorn mare, and Martha with Linnea, a small unicorn patterned with pink flowers. The largest of the unicorns, a stallion with bold blue blooms, pawed at the air before sinking into a deep bow before Beatrice.

  “You are honoured, Miss; Caeruleus has chosen you,” Finnian said, chuckling.

  Beatrice, who looked terrified at the very thought of riding him, visibly trembled as she walked toward Caeruleus, but after one look into his twinkling eyes, her face relaxed into a grin and she patted his great head. Meanwhile, Evony greeted her purple-hued unicorn, Ione, warmly.

  As the girls mounted their unicorns, a thunder of hooves and shouts heralded the arrival of a riding party. The lead fairy, a young man with flowing, deep purple hair, dismounted as the unicorn was still running and flew directly to Finnian on powerful jewel-coloured wings. Octavia immediately saw what Evony had meant about some fairies’ wings being stronger than others; this fairy’s wings beat in the air like a large bird’s. He did a double-take as he saw Evony and the girls.

  Sinking into a low bow mid-flight, he enquired, “Princess, what are you doing in Bloomsville?”

  He flushed as Evony raised one imperious eyebrow.

  “We are on royal business, Soren,” she said, a touch of her mother in her tone.

  “Forgive me, but I must speak to the village elders immediately,” he replied apologetically as he landed. Turning to Finnian, he said, “Father, the flower fields have been decimated.”

  Finnian gasped. “Wait here – I will gather the others!” He flew off to the largest building in the square.

  Evony grasped Soren’s strong arm. “What do you mean?” she asked him urgently.

  “We went to collect more flowers for the Late Summer ceremony, but when we arrived, we found that the whole area has been burned and the soil churned up – there is not a blossom left,” Soren told her.

  “This is Nesrin’s doing!” Evony seethed with anger. “Soren, please send a messenger to the castle and let my mother know. We have to go now, girls – there is not a moment to lose!” she continued, flying up to sit on Ione’s back.

  “Ev— Princess, where are you going? If this is indeed Nesrin’s doing, it is not safe for you, nor them.” Soren nodded to the girls.

  “Do as I command. The queen needs to know about this. These girls have a curse to break.” Evony met Soren’s eyes, and he reluctantly nodded.

  Wheeling her unicorn around, Evony addressed the girls. “Now you are paired with your steeds, think about what you want them to do and they will do it.” At a neigh from Linnea, she smiled and added, “As long as it’s safe, of course.”

  Octavia looked around at her sister and cousins and saw similar looks of concentration on their faces. Closing her eyes, she could detect a faint trace of glowing yellow in her mind. She latched on to it and thought, Go. Immediately, Xanthe trotted forward, falling in with the other unicorns.

  Octavia turned her head, watching Soren with interest as they moved away. He waited until they left the village, indecision written across his handsome features. Finally, he turned to meet his father, who was coming back with a group of older fairies, and Octavia faced forward and thought of what was to come next.

  Chapter Eight

  Wattle

  Octavia enjoyed the cool stillness of the woods as they followed a well-worn path through the trees. She took a moment to observe her sister and cousins, who were riding the unicorns confidently. Beatrice especially was glowing with happiness; she kept looking down at the blue-patterned unicorn in awe.

  Ferren squeaked from Octavia’s tunic’s top pocket, “I’ve never ridden on a unicorn before.”

  Octavia gave her a conspiratorial wink and giggled before saying, “Me neither!”

  After a little while, Evony led them out of the woods. “Martha, it is time to get out your compass. Across this brook is the Flower Fields and beyond that is the Middling Grounds, which is neither my mother’s nor Nesrin’s domain. The Flower Fields are as far as I have travelled,” she said, dismounting Ione.

  The girls followed suit and led their unicorns to the glittering stream to drink. Evony gestured for the girls to fill up their water bottles. “It is safe,” she assured them at their hesitation.

  They held their bottles in the water, Octavia immediately thinking of Otto as she caught sight of her reflection.

  “My father used to bring me to this brook, but would never take me past the Flower Fields – he said it wasn’t safe for a princess,” Evony said, interrupting Octavia’s thoughts.

  “Ours is over-protective too,” Octavia said in sympathy and with a touch of pride. “Where is your father?” she asked. “We never met him at the castle.” She regretted it instantly as Evony’s face fell.

  The princess paused, then opened her mouth, but a shout hailed them from across the brook. Evony looked apologetically at Octavia and flew towards a small bridge where another fairy waited.

  Octavia followed Evony with her eyes and looked beyond her. She gasped at the sight of enormous fields, totally scorched and ruined.

  “What could have done it?” she asked.

  Aurus stepped back from the brook, water droplets running down his shaggy coat. “Nesrin favours wyverns,” he intoned, “but it is so rare for them to come this far south.”

  Evony flew back to the group, frowning. “No, this does not look like the work of a wyvern,” she mused, taking a seat on a fallen log. “Maybe she has a new weapon. Fern is trying to salvage what she can, but I fear it is a hopeless task,” she added, nodding toward the fairy who was walking back to the field. She looked at Martha. “The compass?”

  Martha took out the compass and held it out to Evony, who shook her head. “No; it will only work for you.”

  Martha started and looked at the compass resting in her palm, surprised to find that, unlike a regular compass, there were no letters printed on it. She held it tightly and murmured, “Where’s North?”

  Instantly, the arrow pointed left.

  “Oh!” she said in surprise.

  Aurus nodded. “Well done.” Martha flushed with pleasure at the praise from the solemn stag.

  Octavia was itching to get going again. She hastily shared a honey cake with Ferren and passed one to Xanthe, who had bumped Octavia’s shoulder with her head in a silent request.

  “Time to go,” Evony finally announced, to Octavia’s relief.

  They passed through the Flower Fields in single file, Evony at the front and Aurus bringing up the rear. That left the girls to focus on the devastation around them. Not a flower remained in the ground; the soil was charred and had deep troughs raked through it. Small sorting huts dotted around the edge of the field were burnt to their foundations. A ripple of unease skated down Octavia’s back at the first sight of what Nesrin was capable of, but she shrugged it off; anything worth fighting for always came with its own risks.

  Hoofbeats echoed along the road behind them, which had Aurus turning in one fluid movement, head and antlers braced downwards.

  A voice rang out. “It is I – Soren.”

  Evony sighed audibly and put away her bow. “What are you doing here?” she called.

  Soren joined them, sitting astride a large unicorn adorned with flame-coloured flowers. Its ruby mane sparkl
ed in the late afternoon sun.

  “I am here to assist you with your quest; the queen has agreed,” he added with a sideways look at Evony, who frowned. She let out a frustrated breath and threw up her hands.

  “Very well. Please ride between Felicity and Beatrice.” She pointed to the middle, introduced the girls to Soren, and recapped the details of their quest for him.

  “The Arianthe flower?” he asked, disbelieving. “That’s ridiculous! I’ve heard they hatch from wyvern’s eggs!” he blustered.

  “We know,” Evony said wryly. “Still want to come along?”

  Soren stiffened, but didn’t reply. He silently slotted his unicorn between Emeraude and Caeruleus. Octavia exchanged glances with Felicity; the air was suddenly thick with tension. Evony started Ione walking and they all followed, a quiet procession through the ruins of the flower fields.

  Xanthe started to tremble beneath Octavia. Perplexed, she looked down and gasped. Xanthe’s bright, patterned flanks were dimming, the colours turning from vibrant to pastel before her eyes. Octavia heard sounds of dismay from the other girls; their unicorns too were fading.

  “Princess, look at Ember!” Soren shouted. Evony, brought out of her thoughts, wheeled around to stare at Soren’s unicorn. The flaming flowers licking up his legs were winking out as if being doused by buckets of water. “Something is wrong,” Soren said, leaping off Ember to stand at his nose. Ember braced his large head on Soren’s shoulder weakly.

  “Why are their flowers fading?” Beatrice asked nervously. Soren grimaced and met Evony’s eyes; a knowing look passed between them.

  “I could tell you,” a whiny voice remarked. The group turned as one. On the threshold between the Flower Fields and the Middling Grounds’ woods stood a scruffy weasel, a dirty, ripped tabard hanging limply from one shoulder.

  “Your Highness, stand back,” Aurus commanded, cantering to stand in front of Evony and the girls.

  “I mean you no harm, Princess, nor to your human friends,” the weasel simpered, tiny paws outstretched.

  Ferren popped her head out of Octavia’s pocket and squeaked at the sight of the weasel, who almost imperceptibly licked his lips as his eyes landed on the tiny mouse. She quickly retreated into the depths of the pocket.

  “Do not listen to him! I recognise the tabard of Queen Nesrin’s guard.” Aurus snorted, pawing the ground. The unicorns huddled together feebly, and Soren watched them, worriedly running a hand over Ember’s flanks.

  “I have been banished; my loyalties lie with Nesrin no longer!” the weasel protested. “See? My tabard has been ripped as part of my banishment.” He held up what had obviously once been a smart black tabard, emblazoned with silver stars.

  Evony stepped out from behind Aurus. “What is your name, and what caused your banishment?” she demanded.

  “I am Wattle, your highness.” The weasel gave a crooked bow. “I decided I no longer had a taste for hurting innocents. I refused to help ruin the Flower Fields, something Nesrin did not look favourably upon.” He hung his head. “She banished me to the Middling Grounds.”

  Evony looked thoughtful. “He could be a useful source of information,” she said.

  Aurus and Soren exchanged looks. “I don’t like this; it could be a trap,” Soren vetoed.

  “I will decide what to do with him,” Evony replied. “Tell me, weasel, what caused the destruction of the Flower Fields? If you assist Queen Rhosyn in bringing the perpetrators to justice, she may look favourably upon you.”

  Wattle rubbed his paws overs his whiskers. “May I have some food and water first, please? It has been hours since I ate and drank,” he said slyly.

  Evony raised an eyebrow and made to offer her water bottle, but Soren beat her to it and thrust his upon the weasel, who took it greedily. After he had drunk his fill and eaten three honey cakes, he sat on a nearby tree stump and belched. Octavia had to stifle a giggle.

  Aurus looked down his golden snout and pawed the ground. “Sneaky weasel, answer the princess’ question.”

  “Nesrin has struck a bargain with the fire imps. In return for razing the Flower Fields, she will give them Rhosyn’s Woods,” the weasel announced, gratified at the gasps that came from Evony, Soren and Aurus.

  “How dare she! They are not Nesrin’s to gift,” Evony expostulated, her eyes sparking with outrage.

  “If Nesrin’s plan works, it soon will be,” Wattle replied, ending on a squeak as he found himself hoisted in the air, dangling by the remnants of his tattered tabard on Aurus’ gigantic antlers.

  “What plan?” Aurus growled, great puffs of breath making the little weasel swing.

  “Sh-she is betting on the Bloom girl failing her quest to save her brother and her mother, the current Key Keeper, losing all hope. If she stops believing in us, Fairy Land will weaken, which in turn will weaken Queen Rhosyn’s magic. The Key Keepers do not just look after the key to the door to our realm; they are also the last true believers,” Wattle rambled. “Please put me down! I feel sick,” he moaned.

  “That’s all those honey cakes you ate, you greedy little weasel!” Aurus told him, placing him roughly back on the tree stump.

  Octavia looked at Felicity and saw the shock she was feeling mirrored on her sister’s face.

  “It looks like it has already started.” Wattle nodded at the solemn unicorns, the colours on their blooming flanks wilted and pale.

  Soren nodded. “I have never seen this happen before, but my father has always warned me that if the unicorns start to fade then there is something seriously wrong with the realm. I didn’t realise how quickly and badly it would affect the unicorns.”

  Octavia spoke up. “But Mum would never give up! She is the strongest person I know!”

  “Maybe the fact that she has now lost all three of her children to Fairy Land has broken her,” Felicity said sadly.

  With a swoop in her stomach, guilt settled over Octavia like a heavy cloud – a feeling she couldn’t suppress this time.

  Martha started to cry. “I want to go home; I’ve had enough of this place!” she sobbed. Beatrice dismounted and walked to her sister’s side; she gripped her hand tightly.

  “We can do this, Matty! We’ve come this far,” she consoled her. Martha continued to cry quietly.

  Evony looked thunderstruck. “I of course knew the unicorn’s blooms were connected to the health of the realm, but why didn’t my mother ever tell me that the future of our land depended on a family of humans believing in us?”

  “I’m sure the queen had her reasons,” Wattle said ingratiatingly, and tried for an encouraging smile, which looked more like a grimace to Octavia.

  Evony stared at him. “You will come with us. If you try to double-cross us in any way, I will let Aurus deal with you.”

  Wattle gulped visibly as he looked at Aurus, who pulled back his lips in a parody of a menacing grin. Soren scowled, but mounted Ember with care. The unicorns walked more slowly as they entered the Middling Grounds’ woods, adjusting to their weaker state. Evony placed an arrow in her bow as they passed underneath a thick canopy of leaves, her eyes scanning the area.

  Aurus walked up besides Octavia and gestured ahead with his antlers. “Be on your guard; the Middling Grounds are home to fairy folk and creatures that live on the fringes of society – neither of Queen Rhosyn’s or Nesrin’s court. Although Nesrin has been known to recruit some of the Middling Market’s more… questionable characters from time to time,” he explained quietly, his eyes alert.

  Martha gulped audibly and Beatrice, who was riding next to her, reached over and patted her arm.

  They exited the woods and passed through a shabby village where crooked huts and tumbledown shacks lined the street. Shutters slammed, and Octavia caught glimpses of winged folk and furry creatures sliding out of sight.

  Keeping to the left, as shown by Martha’s compass, they left the village and carried on; the ground sloped downward into a rocky ravine, cliffs towering on either side of them. Wattle whimpered
and hopped in pain as his small feet were caught by jagged stones. Aurus sneered and lifted the weasel up, setting him on his back in disgust. Wattle gripped tightly to the golden fur, his eyes widening in terror as he looked at the distant ground below.

  They passed through the ravine with no incident, and Soren and Aurus breathed more easily as they came to a waterfall surrounded by a small copse of trees.

  “We will camp here for the night,” Evony announced, disembarking from Ione and leading her to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall to drink. The unicorn lapped thirstily before lying down in the shade of a small tree.

  Dusk was falling; the sky was painted in the lilacs, blues and pinks of sunset, but here in Fairy Land it glittered with a thousand fireflies as well as they danced together, flocking like sparrows.

  Soren took over care of the unicorns as Octavia, Felicity, Martha and Beatrice sat together at the pool’s edge. Fortifying themselves with the refreshing water, they watched the sunset, Martha drawing a map of their journey with a piece of black crystal and a scrap of parchment from Evony’s satchel.

  Octavia was aware of Evony, Soren and Aurus deep in discussion; the worried tones were not lost on her. Wattle strained to hear what was being said, whilst nonchalantly rummaging through the supplies bag for yet more honey cakes.

  “We need to ration our supplies; we did not bring a food fairy with us,” Aurus remarked sarcastically, looking over at the weasel. Wattle dropped the honey cake as if it had grown warm between his paws. He guiltily slunk over to the pool near the girls.

  Martha looked at the little weasel in disgust as he aimed a toothy grin at her. “What a pretty trinket,” he said in an oily manner, looking at the compass by her feet.

  She immediately picked it up and placed it inside her supply bag. “It’s a gift from the queen,” she told him dismissively.

  “Fortunate girl, favoured by the queen. I, too, was a favourite of my queen; alas, no more,” he remarked sadly, shaking his whiskery head.

  Evony frowned as she saw Wattle talking to the girls. Walking over, she told them, “You should get some sleep; we have the most dangerous part of our travels tomorrow.” Pointing at Wattle, she added, “You will sleep next to Aurus. I am on first watch.”