The mini looked back over Kara’s shoulder. “Oop.”
The crowd stared at Kara in mute horror. Eyes of all shapes, sizes, and colors widened in disbelief.
Uh-oh. Kara suddenly got it. These creatures had thought her wings were real!
The Troll King rose from his seat, drawing his bushy eyebrows together in a ferocious scowl. His massive body, covered in battle-worn armor, looked like it was carved from a mountain, with thick gray skin, dark brown hair, and moss green eyes.
In a voice that sounded like grinding rocks, he laughed. His outburst set off a round of guffaws from the entire troll contingent, all massive brutes.
“Do you mock us?” the Troll King bellowed. “You would have us believe this human girl is going to save the Fairy Realms?”
“I would not joke in such dire times, King Ragnar,” the Fairy Queen answered respectfully, keeping her eyes on Kara. “This is no ordinary girl.”
“She most certainly is not.” The tall, wizened green-skinned goblin walked in front of the queen. Looking down his hawk-like nose, he scrutinized Kara with intense, black eyes. He smiled and called to the audience. “This is the blazing star!”
Gasps of disbelief ran through the crowd.
“You are quite right, Tangoo,” the queen said proudly.
One excited boggle leaped and applauded, then scurried into the audience when no one else joined in.
Everyone looked at Kara expectantly. She had no idea what to do.
“I am Queen Selinda,” the Fairy Queen said softly. “Step forward.”
Kara did as she was asked. Gulping, she managed to squeak, “Hi, what’s up?”
“Selinda, this is an outrage!” the Goblin Queen shouted. She rose from her throne and marched toward Kara, green cheeks flushed purple with anger, sharp eyes gleaming. A meek-looking Goblin Prince followed behind her. Slicking back black spiky hair with green highlights, the prince placed his other bejeweled hand on the Goblin Queen’s shoulder, trying to calm her down.
“Mother, this is one of the mages chosen by the Fairimentals to find Avalon.”
The stout Goblin Queen pushed between her sorcerer and the Fairy Queen to look Kara over. “Where is her mentor?”
Lyra stepped forward with a snarl, making the four back off.
“I would refrain from any more outbursts if I were you, Raelda,” Selinda advised, smiling at the big cat.
Flustered, Raelda stepped back.
“My luminous ladies.” Tangoo bowed briskly to both queens. “Allow me to proceed with my most extraordinary plan.”
“What’s going on here?” Kara asked. “What plan?”
“The plan to retrieve the power crystal of the Fairy Realms.”
“No way!” Kara grinned.
“But you must try!” the sorcerer protested.
“No, I mean, that’s what I’m supposed to do! With my friends, the other mages.”
Tangoo sighed, relieved.
Queen Selinda turned her violet eyes back to Kara. “I am sorry you were brought here so abruptly. You were supposed to arrive through this mirror in the Fairy Ring.” Selinda pointed to a large mirror set by her throne. Unlike the camouflaged gray glass mirror in the forest, this one was bright silver and elegantly framed by golden flowers.
“Well, I fell out in the middle of the forest,” Kara said, irritated.
“Connecting mirrors to portals is not a precise magic,” Tangoo explained.
“I would’ve been blazing stardust if the Forest Prince hadn’t rescued me,” Kara huffed.
The Fairy Ring suddenly erupted in chaos, everyone shouting and yelling at once.
“She’s working with that bandit!”
“What deceit is this?”
“Arrest her at once!”
Kara winced. Goldie squeaked. Lyra stood steady, tail swishing back and forth.
The Fairy Queen stretched her arms wide and the crowd hushed.
“I was attacked by tree wrags,” Kara said meekly.
“Wrags in the queen’s woods,” a dwarf yelled. “I told you the situation is dire!”
“She is in league with that thief of magic,” the Dwarf King spat, leaping up on short, squat legs. He was only as tall as an elf, but four times more massive, with a long, braided beard on his aged face.
“This boy saved my life,” Kara protested. The mystery guy had saved her, but Kara had known there wasn’t something quite right about him. Anyone who hid behind a mask wasn’t being completely truthful.
“She must find the power crystal now,” the Goblin King growled. “Or we proceed with our plans to seal off the Fairy Realms from the rest of the web!”
“You cannot do that, King Voraxx,” the Fairy Queen entreated. The crescent-shaped jewel on her crown glittered as she looked to the other rulers. “If you seal off the Fairy Realms, the magic web will surely be destroyed and all worlds with it!”
Kara gulped. “All worlds, as in Aldenmor, and Earth?”
“It is only a matter of time before the web unravels completely,” King Voraxx continued. “We need to keep what magic we have.”
“We must save ourselves while there is still time!” the Troll Queen shouted in agreement with the Goblin King.
“But if the mages open the Gates of Avalon there will be enough magic for everybody,” Selinda countered. “We can restore the web to what it was meant to be.”
“We don’t know what’s inside Avalon,” Troll King Ragnar warned. “Whomever sealed the gates must have done so for a good reason.”
“You speak of myth and legends,” Fairy King Oriel shouted. “The gates must be opened!”
“We are not here to debate what lies inside Avalon,” Selinda stated. “We are here to save our kingdoms.”
“I refuse to put the fate of the Fairy Realms in the hands of a girl!” the Dwarf Queen scoffed.
“Then you will see our armies march on Ironhold!” King Oriel vowed.
Raelda held up her hand. “I have authorized Tangoo’s plan to bring the blazing star here,” she spoke, looking sharply at Oriel. “Let us see if the sorcerer is as smart as he looks.”
Selinda’s lips twitched in a smile.
“However,” Raelda continued. “If she fails, we will do what we must to save ourselves and our lands.”
Fairy King Oriel stood and moved to the center of the ring, his sky blue robes rippling around his lithe form. “Anyone who tries to seal off the Fairy Realms will have to deal with me first.”
“And the elves,” said the Elf Queen firmly, her distrust of goblins reflected in her large brown eyes. “The blazing star proved her courage by sending magic to save Aldenmor. We stand with the fairies!”
The Goblin Queen countered, “This so-called blazing star has made everything worse by losing the power crystals!”
“I don’t understand,” Kara said. “The power crystals are dangerous?”
“Very.” Selinda’s face was grim. “The crystal of the Fairy Realms is composed of elemental fairy magic. But it is now wild, destroying the very magic it was created from. The Fairy Realms are in great danger unless it can be found.”
Kara thought of the wild magic whirlwinds she and her friends had seen in the deserts of New Mexico. They were created by a power crystal; the magic warped and twisted whatever it touched, and had even switched Emily’s and Adriane’s powers.
“I didn’t know what would happen!” Kara protested.
Raelda scowled. “You can bet the Dark Sorceress and her allies are keenly aware of the crystals’ volatile powers.”
The Elf King glowered at Queen Raelda. He spoke in a threatening whisper. “The Dark Sorceress was aided directly by your people. I wonder how high up the chain of command that went?”
Raelda gasped in shock.
“That is enough!” Selinda commanded. “The mages have already found one of the power crystals.”
All eyes focused back on Kara.
She stammered, “My friends and I gave it to the Fairimentals for saf
ekeeping. We’re supposed to find the other eight.”
The crowd muttered. Some even began laughing again.
The Fairy Queen raised her voice. “Magic attracts magic, and who is more magical than a blazing star?” She looked at the other rulers. “Surely you will give her a chance before we resort to war.”
“The blazing star is a friend to the elves, as are the other two mages, the healer and the warrior,” the short, kindly Elf King smiled warmly at Kara, but spoke to the crowds. “I agree with Queen Selinda, let us give the young mage a chance.”
“But I can’t find this power crystal by myself, I need my—” Kara began.
“Exactly, my young celebutant mage,” Tangoo interjected. “That is why I have created a creature of magnificent power to aid you.”
“Ooo!” Goldie looked around expectantly.
“Only the blazing star can tame this wondrous beast.” Tangoo bowed to Kara.
“If she really is the blazing star,” Dwarf King Rolok grumbled.
“Prove it!” someone in the crowd yelled.
“Show us some magic, blazing star,” a pixie called out.
“Er… magic?” Kara asked nervously. “I’ve got dress rehearsal at school in, like, fifteen minutes.”
“Let the blazing star prove herself!” the Troll King rumbled.
“Agreed!” the Goblin King added.
The doubting Goblin Queen stood back and crossed her arms.
Arguing with these fairy creatures wasn’t getting Kara home any sooner. Besides, if what they said was true, there might not be a home… an Earth… to go home to. “Lyra, what should I do?” she whispered.
“Stand close to me and we will focus your magic.”
Goldie hugged Kara’s neck. “I help.”
“All right.” If she could pull off a tiny bit of flashy blazing star power to dazzle her hosts, maybe they’d help her. She held up the unicorn jewel dangling from her silver necklace. It sparkled with power.
Awed by the gem, the crowd fell silent.
“Picture in your mind what you want to accomplish,” Lyra advised.
Closing her eyes in concentration, she imagined a beautiful rainbow arcing from her jewel. She reached for Lyra. “Okay, here goes.”
ZzzaPPP!
A beam of light shot from the jewel straight above the ring. Rainbow fireworks exploded in the air, making everyone duck for cover.
Kara struggled to control the intense force building inside of her.
Lyra and Goldie tried to help with their own magic, but theirs was like a sprinkle of raindrops on a forest fire.
They want magic, I’ll show them magic! Everything seemed to fall away as the white-hot center of Kara’s magic flared to life. Diamond fire spun around her body, engulfing her in dazzling spirals as she blossomed into a tower of blazing light.
Somewhere through the curtain of bright fire she saw people running away, horrified by the outburst of such immense power.
Suddenly panic tore through her body. Everything she feared about her magic bubbled to the surface and erupted over. She could not contain it—could not control the power.
Screaming, Kara staggered backward, stumbling against Lyra. A jagged bolt blasted from her jewel, scattering the crowd. Pixies dove to the ground. Dwarves rolled head over boots onto outraged fairies, while trolls caught startled hobgoblins flying through the air.
“Kaaraa!” Goldie clung to Kara’s neck.
Kara’s magic slammed into the bleachers, slicing through three layers of seats. Uprooted toadstools sent smoldering spotted caps bowling over a group of boggles.
Trying to keep away from the crowd, she spun. The magic smacked into the large mirror, splitting into rainbow shards and ricocheting everywhere.
A scream of anguish came from behind her. She whipped around to see Lyra bombarded by rainbow fire, turning green, red, orange, purple, and finally blazing silver.
“Kara!”
“Lyra!” Kara shrieked, her stomach burning with panic. Desperately wrenching her magic back, she slammed the fire downward, razing deep slashes across the center of the ring.
“Stop!” Kara screamed. The unicorn jewel suddenly dimmed.
Kara wobbled unsteadily. Lyra! What had she done? Instead of warm orange and black fur, the cat had been transformed into shining silver. Mouth half-opened in a roar, tail held high, Lyra was a frozen, lifeless statue.
“Extraordinary!” the Dwarf Queen declared, looking closely at the frozen cat.
“Wow, look at that!”
“She’s good to go!”
The crowd broke into excited cries.
Kara burst into tears.
“Obviously, the girl has power,” the Fairy King bellowed, examining the smoking trenches that now scared the ring. “Raw, but impressive.”
“Calm, child,” Queen Selinda said. “Now turn your friend back.”
“I… I don’t know what I did!” Kara wailed, a distressed Goldie crying on her shoulder.
“Quicksilver,” Raelda concluded, examining the gleaming silver cat.
Kara watched in horror as a drop of glimmering silver melted from Lyra’s tail and landed in a small puddle on the ground. “What’s happening to her?”
“She is melting,” Raelda explained unsympathetically.
Kara pleaded to the queen through blurred tears. “How do I turn her back?”
The Goblin Prince kneeled, studying the Lyra statue. “Master Tangoo, what say you?”
Kara glanced at the teenage boy: tall, lanky, and—green.
“Hmmm.” Tangoo inspected the frozen cat. “I haven’t seen this kind of spell in years, Prince Lorren.”
“How long do we have?” Selinda asked.
“A day, maybe more,” the sorcerer replied casually. “Once the cat melts completely there is no way to counter the spell. But,” he added emphatically, “a very powerful gem like the power crystal could certainly cure her.”
Kara gulped. This couldn’t be happening. But one look at Lyra, melting into the scorched earth, and she knew it really was.
“I suggest we proceed immediately, my lady.” Tangoo stepped forward, adjusting his long robes.
Kara’s stomach lurched. If he expected her to use magic again, she had no idea what would happen. But she had to find the power crystal now!
“The elemental fairy horse is ready and waiting,” Tangoo said excitedly. “All she has to do is ride it.”
“With such a powerful steed, she will become an even stronger magic magnet,” the Elf Queen mused. “The power crystal will surely be drawn to her.”
“I can do that,” Kara said immediately, so relieved she almost laughed. This was her big magic thing? Lyra would be cured in no time.
“An excellent idea,” the Fairy King approved. “We are all anxious to finally see the horse you have created.”
Tangoo smiled smugly. “You will not be disappointed.”
“I rode a unicorn across the magic web,” Kara boasted, holding out her jewel but quickly pulling it back when the crowd gasped and ducked. Giving the kings and queens her best winning smile, she faced the ring. “I’m an excellent rider. Of course I can ride some cute little fairy pony.”
The Fairy Queen addressed the other monarchs. “We will give Princess Kara twenty-four hours to find the power crystal.”
“Agreed. But if the girl fails,” the Goblin Queen said, her glimmering green eyes glaring harshly, “we will meet on the battlefield.”
The trolls and dwarves rumbled in agreement, but the elegantly dressed Goblin Prince looked queasy, his green eyes wide with fear.
“It will not come to that,” the Fairy Queen said confidently. “The blazing star will not fail.”
“She has one day!” the Dwarf King said. “Our armies will be ready.”
Kara’s head was pounding. If she hadn’t turned Lyra into a melting statue, she could’ve walked away from all this and figured out how to get home by herself. She could regroup with Emily and Adriane and they’d w
ork out a plan, like usual. But now she had no choice. She had to save Lyra.
“IT’S ABOUT TIME!” Ozzie, the golden brown ferret, had been nervously pacing Kara’s front lawn, waiting for Emily and Adriane to show up.
“We had to catch the cross-town bus from school,” Emily explained.
“What’s happening?” Adriane asked as they quickly made their way up the walkway to the Davies’ large Tudor home.
“Kara’s parents left,” Ozzie reported, adjusting the leather collar that secured his golden ferret stone. “Her brother is still inside. Rasha, Ronif, and Balthazar report no activity from the Ravenswood portal.”
“So this portal is isolated to Kara’s closet,” Emily mused.
“She does have a knack for attracting magic,” Ozzie pointed out.
“Any other strange visitors?” Adriane asked, hoping they wouldn’t be surprised by other portals opening.
“Not so far. Dreamer’s been canvassing the grounds.” Ozzie waved a paw at the large black wolf pup emerging from the trees.
Dreamer, a mistwolf and natural magic tracker, trotted to Adriane’s side, his rich ebony coat shining in the sun. On his chest, a star of snowy white matched the white bands on his paws.
Adriane ran her hand over her packmate’s smooth fur. “What’d you sniff out?”
Scrunching his long nose, the mistwolf’s voice echoed in the others’ minds. “Something smells terrible!”
“Gah!” Ozzie sniffed under his arm. “My shipment of ferret shampoo is behind schedule!”
Emily gave the ferret a stern look.
Adriane hid a smile and nodded at the others. “Let’s go.” She rang the large brass doorbell.
Almost instantly, the double doors swung open. “Hark, what wind through yonder doorway breaks?” Kyle was doing equal opportunity damage to a chocolate Pop-Tart and Shakespeare. He grinned at them. “Forsooth, it’s the odd squad.”
“Charming as always, Kyle,” Adriane quipped.
“Hey, boy, how you doin’?” Kyle ruffled Dreamer’s head. “What are you feeding him—he’s huge!”
“Poop toots!!” Fred and Fiona squeaked inside Emily’s backpack as she struggled to hold it in place.
“Say, you finished with that?” Ozzie asked, eyeing the half-eaten snack in Kyle’s hand.
All's Fairy in Love and War (Avalon: Web of Magic #8) Page 3