Secret Rescuers

by Paula Harrison

  “Try again!” urged Sophy. “Maybe you need to blow harder.”

  Maya pushed her hair out of her eyes and blew again. This time she made a deep, harsh sound. The unicorns looked up, their tails swishing anxiously, but they didn’t run away.

  Taking a huge breath, Maya blew again.

  This time she made a noise so horrible that Sophy put her hands over her ears. “That sounds totally awful!” she shouted over the din. “I’ll join in with the drum.” Grabbing the drum, she banged it very fast with the beaters.

  The sky unicorns sprang away, galloping across the little valley.

  “Look, they’re leaving!” cried Sophy. “Well done, Maya. That noise was terrible.”

  Maya beamed as she watched the sky unicorns disappearing through the trees. Then she saw a shadow moving on the other side of the valley. She ducked down behind a big coil of rope, pulling Sophy with her.

  Sir Fitzroy marched down the steep slope, scowling deeply. He turned to shout something, but the girls were too far away to hear what it was.

  “As soon as he’s gone, we’ll go back under the bridge,” said Maya, and Sophy nodded.

  Sir Fitzroy strode up and down the hidden valley a few times. Maya noticed him staring over at the boat but she knew that she and Sophy couldn’t be seen. She hoped that the knight would give up on finding the sky unicorns. The Emerald Plain was a huge place, stretching hundreds of miles. If the unicorns were out of sight, he’d never find them.

  The gentle movement of the river swept the boat along and the valley started to disappear from view. Maya got ready to leap for the wheel as soon as she had the chance. She glanced at the hidden valley one more time and gasped in horror.

  Ruben prowled down the slope to join Sir Fitzroy. He was holding a creature tightly round its middle. The little animal was wriggling its legs but Ruben wouldn’t let go. It had a snow-white coat and a turquoise tail.

  Clover had been captured.

  “No!” gasped Maya. “Not Clover!”

  “Poor little thing!” cried Sophy. “He must have been slower to gallop away than the others.”

  Maya leaned out, desperately trying to see what was happening, but the river swept the boat on. The men and the little unicorn foal disappeared from sight.

  Tears pricked Maya’s eyes. “This is awful! How could Ruben be so mean? Clover’s only a baby unicorn.”

  Sophy’s cheeks flushed with anger. “They’re both very bad men. What shall we do? Get the boat to shore right here and steal Clover back?”

  Maya bit her lip. “That could be tricky. They’re much bigger than us! Let’s follow them and then we can work out a plan.”

  They sailed over to the riverbank and tied the boat up next to the bridge. Sneaking through the bushes, they saw the men just as they were tying a rope around Clover’s neck. Ruben Gribba mounted his horse. Sir Fitzroy also climbed into his saddle and cantered towards Blyford, while the little unicorn was pulled along behind.

  “He’s taking Clover back to town,” whispered Maya. “Maybe he’s hoping to use him to lure the other unicorns into danger.”

  Sophy nodded. “That’s exactly the kind of thing Sir Fitzroy would do.”

  The girls followed at a safe distance. Maya thought of how Clover had gambolled across the grass that morning with his white mane flying. Her heart ached to see him being dragged along with a rope around his neck.

  Clover’s head drooped and he stumbled as they reached town, but Sir Fitzroy only shouted at him and jerked the rope.

  They stopped outside an inn called The Rotten Cauliflower. Sir Fitzroy’s guards rushed up to him. The knight yelled some orders and one of the men took the horse to the stables while the other led the foal inside. Then Sir Fitzroy gave more gold coins to Ruben, who walked away stroking his beard and looking very pleased with himself.

  Maya felt a lump in her throat as she watched Clover being led away. She couldn’t believe Ruben had been so heartless and given away the unicorns’ hiding place for a few coins. Worst of all, he’d taken Clover away from his family. She’d never thought he would be so mean.

  “Sir Fitzroy must be staying here tonight,” she said to Sophy. “We’ll have to get inside to rescue Clover.”

  “How?” Sophy whispered back. “They’ll know as soon as they see us that we’re not supposed to be there.”

  Maya thought hard. “I know a way we can do it. We’ll just need to borrow a few things. Let’s go – we haven’t got much time!”

  Chapter Seven

  The Two Pageboys

  Maya rushed down the street to the town square with Sophy close behind her. She was glad to see that Floella and Daisy were still there, packing the dancing costumes into a small wagon.

  “Hello, Maya!” said Floella cheerfully. “I meant to tell you how good your dancing was today but I couldn’t see you after the show.”

  “Thank you!” Maya would normally have been delighted to be praised by Floella, who’d taught her every dance step she knew. But right now all she could think of was rescuing Clover. “Sophy and I left the square after I’d danced,” she admitted. “And I need to ask you a favour.”

  Floella looked at her with wise brown eyes. “Go on! What is it?”

  Maya put on her most pleading expression. “We need to borrow the two pageboys’ costumes. It’s for a … sort of prank. Please can we?”

  Floella jerked her head towards the wagon. “I’m afraid those are right at the bottom of the costume pile.”

  “Don’t worry! I’ll get them without messing anything up.” Maya climbed into the wagon and slid through the layers of shoes and dresses and cloaks. She came out with two pageboy coats in velvety dark red with gold buttons, two pairs of black trousers and two dark-red caps.

  “Don’t tear them!” said Floella with a pretend scowl.

  “We won’t!” said Maya and Sophy together.

  On the way back to the inn, they bought a piece of parchment paper from one of the market stalls and rolled it up into a scroll shape. It didn’t look perfect, Maya thought, but it would have to do.

  It was hard finding a place to change into their costumes but in the end they found an empty part of the stables. They hid their other clothes behind a bale of hay.

  Maya tucked her long dark hair under the velvet cap and turned to look at Sophy, dressed in the dark-red uniform. “You look funny!”

  Sophy grinned. “So do you! And what’s the scroll of paper for?”

  “It’s a fake message from the queen. It should be enough to get us inside at least.”

  Sophy’s smile was replaced by an anxious frown. “Are you sure this will work? I’m not really used to disguises and pretending to be someone else.”

  “Don’t worry! We’ve got actors in our troupe and I’ve watched them putting on plays lots of times,” said Maya, pulling her cap low. “Just follow my lead.” Her stomach tumbled as they left the stables but she tried to ignore it. Clover was depending on her and she wasn’t going to let him down.

  The girls marched up to the inn and rapped on the door. One of Sir Fitzroy’s guards opened it. “You can’t come in,” he said roughly. “The whole inn is reserved for my master—”

  “We have a message for Sir Fitzroy from the queen,” interrupted Maya, showing him the scroll of paper. “So you’d better let us through.”

  The guard stared at them for a moment. Maya kept her eyes down, crossing her fingers that they looked like pageboys.

  “He’s upstairs having dinner,” the guard said at last. “It’s the second door on the left.”

  “Thank you!” Maya marched in and climbed the stairs with Sophy close behind her. Luckily, the guard didn’t follow them.

  “There he is!” whispered Sophy.

  The door to Sir Fitzroy’s room was open a little. They could see him sitting at the table, his plate piled high with food. He was talking to the second guard. “So tomorrow we’ll find out what makes the sky unicorn so magical.” He said this last word as if i
t was disgusting. “Then we’ll use the little beast to capture the rest of them.”

  Maya’s heart sank. There was no time to lose! But where had they put Clover?

  Tiptoeing along the corridor, she listened at each door. There was no noise behind any of them. Then she heard a faint crying coming from the end of the passage where the stairway led up to the next floor.

  Beckoning Sophy, she hurried up the steps. It was dark at the top and it took a few moments for her eyes to get used to the dim light. The crying sounded louder. Following the noise, Maya ran to the last room and pushed open the door.

  Clover was trapped inside a small metal cage that stood on the bare floor. “I want my mum,” he sobbed. “It’s horrible up here. I’m hungry!”

  Maya dashed over to the cage. “Shh! Don’t cry!” she begged. “It’s me – Maya!”

  The little foal stopped crying in surprise and whinnied, “Maya! You look different! What are you doing here?”

  “We’ve come to rescue you, of course!” Maya told him. “Oh, Clover! I’m sorry you got caught. Sir Fitzroy is such a horrid man!”

  “Maya, I’ll keep a lookout,” said Sophy, pulling the door closed. “I’ll knock if anyone comes.”

  “You really came to help me?” said Clover, starting to cheer up. “And you speak sky unicorn too!”

  “Do you remember the stone I showed you?” Maya pulled out the stone that was hidden under her costume. “I can talk to you because of this. It has magic inside it.”

  “Like me!” said Clover eagerly. “I have magic inside me.”

  Maya smiled. “Just like you. Now, how does this cage open?” She studied the cage but couldn’t see a lock or a key. At last she found a little catch on one side but it wouldn’t open.

  Curling her fingers through the bars, she tugged harder. The catch pinged open. A sharp metal point on the end of the catch scraped across her finger and cut her skin.

  “Ouch!” Maya looked at the cut. “Never mind! At least now you can come out of this awful cage.”

  Clover stepped free from the metal bars and flicked his tail in delight. Then he bent his little head close to Maya’s hand. “Let me help you, Maya! This is our secret magic. We never show it to anybody, but I will share it with you!”

  Maya watched in astonishment as the little unicorn bent his golden horn to touch her finger. Slowly, the cut on her hand healed until it looked as if it had never been there at all.

  “That’s amazing!” breathed Maya. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Clover gently nibbled her hair.

  Maya threw her arms around him and his snowy coat felt soft against her cheek. Then she let go and sprang up. “Now, we must get you out of here.”

  There was a quiet rapping on the door. Maya froze. That was Sophy’s signal to say that someone was coming.

  Creeping to the door, Maya heard a man’s voice and footsteps on the stairs. Someone was climbing the steps and it could be Sir Fitzroy. How would they get Clover to safety now?

  Chapter Eight

  Clover Takes a Leap

  Maya’s mind whirled. What should she do? Try to hide Clover under her jacket? But he was far too big for that.

  There was nothing in the room that would help her either – just a table and a chair. She ran to the window and swung it open. The streets of Blyford were far below. The sun had set now and people were lighting the lamps.

  An idea leapt to the front of her mind. “Clover!” she said eagerly. “I know sky unicorns learn to fly – can you do that yet?”

  Clover shook his head sadly. “I’m too young to learn. My mum told me I can start flying when I’m older.”

  The footsteps outside drew nearer.

  “What are you doing here, boy?” Sir Fitzroy’s voice could be heard outside the door. “You must be up to no good if you’re hanging around in the dark.”

  “I was just looking for the right room, sir,” replied Sophy. “I came here with the other pageboy to deliver a letter but we … got a bit lost.”

  Clover began shivering at the sound of the knight’s voice. Maya knelt down and put her arms round the foal’s neck. “Clover,” she whispered. “Would you try to fly? Just for me!”

  Clover nodded. Then he took a few steps backward, a look of concentration on his little face. Maya smiled in encouragement but her stomach lurched as she heard the knight speaking outside the door again.

  “What are you talking about?” Sir Fitzroy snapped at Sophy. “I haven’t seen any letter.”

  Clover cantered into the middle of the room and began galloping in circles, faster and faster. The air sparkled around his hooves. Maya moved over to give him more space but just as she started to feel hopeful, the little foal stopped.

  His head drooped. “It’s not working, Maya! I’m not flying.”

  Maya bit her lip. She could hear Sophy still talking to Sir Fitzroy outside the door. Her friend was starting to sound desperate.

  “What’s going on in there? Stand aside, boy!” barked Sir Fitzroy.

  “I know you can do it, Clover!” whispered Maya. “Think of your family flying.

  Remember the magic inside you!”

  Clover cantered a little but then stopped again. “I don’t know! What if I really can’t do it?”

  “Please, Clover!” cried Maya, not caring any more if Sir Fitzroy heard her. “I believe in you!”

  The little foal tossed his mane and began galloping round and round again. This time his hooves sparkled more brightly, as if they were sprinkled with stardust. Then, with one joyful leap, he sprang into the air and galloped right across the room without his hooves touching the floor.

  “Fly, Clover, fly!” cheered Maya.

  Clover gave an excited whinny and cantered straight out of the window.

  The door was wrenched open and Sir Fitzroy marched over to the empty cage. “Where’s the beast? Wicked boy, you’ve ruined my plan!”

  Maya was barely listening. Leaning out of the window, she watched Clover dash away into the night sky. He looked so beautiful, galloping beneath the stars. His white mane and turquoise tail lifted in the breeze and a silvery trail sparkled where his hooves had been.

  Maya’s heart danced as she watched him. Then she frowned a little as he dipped lower. Was Clover all right? Was flying too hard for him?

  Sir Fitzroy had finally worked out where Clover had gone. He pushed Maya aside in fury. “Sneaky animal!” he growled.

  Maya saw Sophy beckoning from the doorway. She crept after her friend, glad that the knight was too busy glaring out of the window to notice them escaping. They raced down two flights of stairs and out into the street.

  Sophy ran to grab their clothes from the stables. “Clover’s doing so well!” she said breathlessly.

  “He’s very brave, but it’s the first time he’s ever tried to fly.” Maya stared upwards, trying to spot the little unicorn. “What if he gets tired? He could hurt himself if he crashes into a rooftop.”

  “There he is!” Sophy pointed and the girls began to run.

  There were shouts behind them as the guards gave chase.

  The girls ran faster, dodging through streets and round corners. Clover cantered through the air, but his hooves dipped lower and lower.

  Maya was certain he was getting tired. Surely they would reach the edge of town soon. Then Clover could land safely.

  A few people stopped on the street to gaze up at the unicorn dashing through the night sky. They murmured in wonder at the glittering trail left behind by his hooves.

  At last they could see the edge of the town. Clover plunged lower and the girls ran to meet him.

  “Careful, Clover!” called Maya. “Go steady!”

  “I’m falling!” whinnied the foal.

  Stretching out her hands, Maya ran beneath him. He bumped down into her arms, knocking them both to the ground.

  Maya giggled. “Clover, you’re squashing me and your tail is tickling my nose!”

  Sophy helped t
hem both up. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine,” said Maya. “Are you OK, Clover?”

  The little unicorn danced around with his ears pricked up and his tail swishing. “I flew! Did you see me? I really flew!”

  “We saw you and we’re really proud of you!” Sophy patted his snowy coat.

  Maya cast a quick look behind her. “We need to keep going. Then we’ll find a way to get you back to your herd, Clover.”

  Together, they ran past the last few houses and the lakeside jetty. Then Maya found a place for them to hide behind a clump of bushes. Sir Fitzroy’s guards ran past, looking out of breath.

  The men searched the path and peered at the lake, but after a few minutes they gave up and went back into town.

  Sophy peeked out. “They’ve gone at last!”

  Clover gave a whinny of delight and jumped out of the bushes.

  Maya laughed and hugged him. “You were very brave,” she told him. “Flying for the very first time must have been really scary.”

  Clover nuzzled her shoulder. “It was at first, but you helped me.” He gambolled up to Sophy and nuzzled her shoulder too. “Now I am Clover the Fabulous Flying Foal!”

  Chapter Nine

  The Grand Show

  When they reached the bridge, Maya and Sophy changed back into their normal clothes and they all stopped for a rest. Clover sat quietly on the grass, looking tired after all the excitement.

  “Why don’t we get Windrunner to help us search for the unicorn herd,” suggested Sophy. “He’ll take us up into the air. It’ll be so much easier to find them.”

  “Good idea,” said Maya. “The Emerald Plain is such a huge place. We might get lost in the dark.”

  Sophy called a golden songbird by whistling a special tune that Windrunner the dragon had taught her. She explained to Maya that the songbirds carried messages for the other magical animals. Soon one of the golden birds heard her call. It flew down to perch on her hand and looked at her with bright black eyes.