We fell downward towards the group of pixies beneath us, battered and bruised where the steel balls had hit us. I grabbed my wand, and before I knew what I was doing, I thought about how terrified I was to fall down this high up to a cold stone floor. I knew I wanted safety, and even something like a shield.
Rodney was about to hit the ground first. Then Mother and Father. Finally Alistair and myself would fall to a quick and painful death or much injury. I couldn’t let that happen. I lifted the wand, said a few words, and suddenly…there were piles and piles of fluffy white pillows lining the floor, and a concrete wall between where we were landing and the pixies on the ground.
Rodney landed first on the soft white pillows. Then Mother and Father. Finally, Alistair and I landed. On the other side, the pixies were trying to climb over the wall, but it was a solid concrete wall much too high for them.
“Now we can’t fly,” Rodney said, “we have to get pass those pixies to get down and out of the castle.” He looked up into the air. “How are we going to bypass this group of pixies?”
I took a deep breath and said, “I’m going to pull down this wall, and when I do… we have to rush as fast as we can past these pixies.”
Mother and Father’s eyes flew open in surprise. “We have to rush through lightning fast.”
Mother looking worn, said, “I can fight my way through with the sword while everyone make a mad dash for it.”
“I’ll do the same,” Rodney said, brandishing his sword.
“And me,” Father said, taking out his crossbow and arrows. “I’ll fight my way through.”
I looked at Alistair and he looked back at me. We both smiled.
“Mother, Father, and Rodney,” I said, “Alistair and I have another suggestion.”
“What is it?” They asked.
Before I can explain my plan, Alistair had transformed. He had transformed himself into an eight foot tall minotaur.
“Father, you said fairies cannot glamour into pixies, but can glamour into anything else. Well… how about minotaurs? Angry ones since they collect minotaur’s horns.”
“And all of us transform into Minotaurs?” Mother asked. “We can certainly do that.”
*********
The glamouring was perfect, and everyone looked like angry minotaurs ready to fight the pixies.
I held out my wand and said some words and raised my wand.
The loud crumbling of the wall, thundered throughout the room, causing enough of a distraction for everyone to rush pass the pixies. We all rushed out at the same time, growling loudly, and carrying swords.
As soon as the pixies saw us, their mouths dropped wide open, revealing yellowing sharp jagged teeth. “Minotaurs!” they yelled. “Run!”
The pixies cleared out of the room running as fast as they can. For a while, we chased them, hurting a few of them, before we ran all the way out of the castle. We even had time to run to the stables and gather some horses.
Unglamouring out of the minotaur glamour first, Father helped Mother up a horse, then climbed up on another horse. Alistair and I found two, too. Then Rodney protected us from the rear.
Within hours on pixie-raised horses, we were home.
Chapter 8
Alistair’s Confession to Rose
After the entire incidence, Alistair led me to the stream in the forest just on the edge of the wheat fields bordering our cottage. He was holding my hand, and I felt a shiver climb up my skin that felt warm and cold at the same time.
“Rose,” Alistair said. “You probably know now that I’m going to someday (hopefully not so soon) take over my uncle’s duties as the Duke of Autumn Springs.”
“I did hear about that,” I said.
“Thank goodness we were able to escape that incidence with the pixies without too bad of an injury.”
“I know,” I said, leaning into his chest and putting my head there.
He reached his hand and stroke my long wavy hair back. “Rose,” he said. “I came here to study magic, to study alchemy, but also to learn how to be a knight like Rodney. What I didn’t expect to do is to fall for a girl, especially my best friend’s sister.” He bent down and kissed me softly on the lips. When we pulled apart, he said. “I have notified my uncle of this incidence. He is the Duke, and he needs to know, especially since it involves pixies.”
“How did he take it?” I asked.
“He did not like it at all, but he did not blame Rodney nor Summer for this incidence,” Alistair said with a wisp of a smile. “He did. This shows what the pixies’ true intent was.” Alistair stopped and said, “before I came to Summer to study alchemy, the Pixie King visited Autumn Springs on a diplomatic mission. He asked the Duke if he wanted to join forces against Summer and Winter fey.”
“What? How disarming!”
“Of course my uncle did not want to say ‘yes’ without research, and that meant for me to come out here to Summer to see how Summer is like, and whether they are trustworthy.” Alistair pulled me in tight for another kiss. “You are. Summer has proven loyalty and nobleness thoroughly through you and your family. You all came out to find me.”
I smiled widely. “So is it me that convinced you of Summer’s loyalty?”
Tracing a finger along my jawline, Alistair leaned in close and whispered. “It was always you, Rose.”
I sighed leaning in for another kiss, which was soft and sweet. When I pulled back, I noticed Alistair had a worried and sad look on his face. “Oh Rose, I wished this was simple. And I’m so so sorry about this. I love you, and I want to be with you here in Summer, but my uncle has another plan. He wants me back in Autumn Springs to learn to take over his duties.”
He kissed me again, and held me tight. “When I return back to Autumn Springs, Rose, I am to get engaged. It is purely for diplomatic reasons. And the girl, Rose, is the Winter Queen’s daughter, the Winter Princess.”
I threw myself out of his embrace and started running away from him. How can he tell me he loved me one moment, and then tell me he was going to get engaged? And to all people, he had to get engaged to Summer’s mortal enemy, the Winter Princess.
“Alistair,” I shouted. “I know what just happened, but I can’t believe it myself. You had just used me to get to know Summer, and will use that knowledge to help Winter and your future fiancé.”
“Rose,” Alistair’s face was crestfallen. “I didn’t know he was trying to make that arrangement. I’m sorry, please don’t hate me. I do love you and will always keep you close to my heart!”
“Traitor!” I shouted at him. He had learned all of the Summer Knight’s moves and training, and had learned magic from the Summer Chief Alchemist. If he was going to marry the Winter Princess, then Winter would know all about Summer’s weaknesses and strengths.
“Rose, I know what you think, and I didn’t betray you and Rodney. I am innocent of all this, of what my uncle has planned for me. If I have a choice, I’d stay here in Summer with you. I’d marry you, instead, too.”
But before I can hear him out, I had raced back across the fields, through the front door of the cottage and up to my room where I flopped onto the bed and began crying. I felt like my heart has broken into two pieces, and it would be a long time before I can ever love anyone again.
Epilogue
It was about a week after Alistair left Summer and went back to Autumn Springs. I didn’t see him away, nor did I say “good-bye” to him. Rodney did since he was a loyal friend all the way to Alistair. Rodney was also set on accompanying Alistair back to Autumn Springs.
While on a short break before embarking on their way back, Rodney came over to me and asked if I wanted one last chance to say “good-bye” to Alistair. I was in my bedroom, and I could see out the window that Alistair sat on a horse, looking more handsome than ever in his black shirt and pants and his boots and a cape. He was looking far away into the fields.
“Rose?” Rodney asked again. “Would you come down to say bye to him?”
&nbs
p; I turned to Rodney. “He betrayed me. Betrayed you and the whole of Summer. I can’t believe I even had feelings for him!”
“This is your chance to say anything to him before he has to go back and fulfill his duties.” Rodney then said, “Rose, Alistair feels so bad, he can’t even eat his breakfast. He wants you to understand, it wasn’t his choice. That he loves you, loves Summer.”
“No Rodney,” I said. “It’s too painful…you’d better go now before it gets dark.”
Rodney sighed. “Your choice Rose.”
“No,” I said with tears streaming down my face.
“Very well then.” With that, Rodney hugged me and I bid him “farewell” and “safe journey” for his journey to Autumn Springs.
Rodney left, and I went back to my bed to cry. I felt as though I’ve not only lost my love, but my good friend and tutor. We have grown so close.
I saw the post come in, and headed down the stairs to receive the post. It was there, plain and clear, a letter from the Summer Court.
“Rose, Rose, the fairy Rose from the Glen: You will be starting your apprenticeship in alchemy at the next convenience. Your prowess with your wand and your loyalty to the Summer Crown have earned you the coveted spot, left open by the departure of Lord Alistair of Autumn Springs. Lord Alistair had recommended you highly as his replacement. We value his judgment, and look forward to training you as best we can.”
I looked out the window of my bedroom, and a single tear fell down to cover the letter. Rodney had left, and so had Alistair.
I felt a strong pang of loss, but I looked at the letter again…I was to become an alchemist, finally.
******
Book 4 of the Fairy Rose Chronicles continues in
The Fairy Alchemist
Available Fall 2011
Are you between the ages of 12 to 23 and would like to discuss books, school, fashion, music, movies, boys, loves, life, and more with creative smart girls like yourself?
visit
Shy Girls Social Club
http://www.shygirlssocialclub.com/
The social club for girls free to be strong and smart, free to pursue their creative endeavors and get feedback from peers and guidance from mentors.…
Based on the book series that inspired it all:
Shy Girls Social Club
The Fiction Book
The battle is on!
The battle between the Shy Girls vs. the Mean Girls. This is the book that started the club. Shy Girls Social Club is the story of how four friends formed a club to rival the cliques, mean girls society, and bullies in high school while beginning a revolution on teen girl issues.
Combat Bullying in Your School and Neighborhood. It takes a community to curb bullying.
Get Your School or Group to Order
Handbook for Dealing with Bullies and Other Meanies (Shy Girls Social Club)
On Amazon.com, BN.com,
www.shygirlssocialclub.com
This book has been selected by the Parents Teachers Association as part of their school recommended program and fundraiser:
Other Middle Grade and Up Series from the Author of Harold the Kung Fu Kid
The Alchemists Academy
What do you learn here...at the Academy? Wirt asks. Magic? The responsibility to use your powers responsibly?
Uh...something like that, his roommate Spencer said. More like how to rule worlds.
Wirt, is used to being shuffled from foster home to foster home, adopting a devil-may-care attitude toward the world along the way. Now he is in a school he can’t escape, learning to develop his latent magical abilities, for what use, he doesn’t know...to save his world or to destroy it...
Want to Know More about The Fairy Rose Chronicles, Author Insight, Author Appearance, Contests and Giveaways?
Join the The FROST Series Official Facebook Fan Page at:
http://www.facebook.com/theFrostSeries
Talk to Kailin Gow at:
http://kailingow.wordpress.com
and
on Twitter at: @kailingow
The Frost Series
About the Snow Queen and Winter Fairies
Bitter Frost (Frost #1)
All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland. In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don't see. Her best friend Logan suddenly acts very protective. Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.
Table of Contents
Start
Pixies vs. Fairies (The Fairy Rose Chronicles #3) Page 3