by Kate Gordon
The smaller, but still powerful unicorn mage snorted and stepped back, his eyes angry as they flicked from Ambrosius to Lily.
“No magic, Brökk!” Ambrosius instructed. “Save your energy. We need you as close to full strength as possible for when we move the herd.”
Anxiously, Lily watched the unicorns. What would Brökk do?
“The other thing, Brökk,” Ambrosius said, his eyes firmly on the mage, “which you surely know better than anyone, is that any pulse of magic will lead Abellona to the herd.”
Sometimes it seemed to Lily that Ambrosius and Brökk were kind of equals – Ambrosius was obviously the herd’s leader, but Brökk could wield powerful magic, even if he wasn’t at full strength. Biting her lip, she waited for Brökk to respond. Would he use his magic against Ambrosius?
After several tense moments, Brökk lowered his head with a heartfelt sigh. “Sire, I apologise. I thought I was strong enough now.” He sucked in a breath then let it out with another sad sigh. “I was responsible for bringing us here and not being able to move to a safer place. I want to do what I can to protect the herd.”
Ambrosius lowered his head beside Brökk’s. “My friend, you bought us away from Abellona and what you know was certain capture. We could not have achieved that without you. But we can’t risk drawing Abellona directly to us until you regain your strength.”
“I can only apologise, Ambrosius. I don’t know what I was thinking. I do not like being able to contribute in my usual way.”
“I understand but am frustrated that you may have put us in more danger with your actions.” His voice was grim, and Brökk’s head dropped again. “Let us hope Mikaela can get a better sense of Abellona soon. I came to ask if you could help Mikaela with that. As long as it does not tax your strength.”
Brökk nodded. “It’s not really my speciality, Sire, but I’ll try.”
“Good. Mikaela will appreciate any support we can offer. In the meantime, let Sigvard and I look after the herd as you continue to recover. Everyone is doing their best to help me determine when we should move.”
“As you say, Ambrosius.” Brökk lifted his head.
Ambrosius looked around at Lily. “Will you bring the tonic please, Lily?” He saw Sasha and Chloe waiting at the top of the bank. “We’ll come up to you girls in a minute.”
Lily stepped towards the mage and set down the bucket.
“Thank you, Lily,” Brökk said, as he went to drink.
Lily smiled, relieved that Brökk ended up agreeing with Ambrosius. “You really need to thank my grandmother, but she’d be surprised to hear you speak to her.”
Ambrosius lightened the mood with a chuckle. “I’m sure she would be. When you are finished, Brökk, let us get back to the herd. The girls have foals to tend to, and I want you to put your mind – but not your magic – to sensing any magic around us.”
The unicorns trotted up the slope, and Lily clambered up behind them, heading for the trough to make a new batch of tonic. By the time she was ready, Ambrosius had the other small foals and their mothers gathered around Chloe and Sasha, so it was a quick matter to ensure each foal received their share of tonic and food.
“Brökk, have you eaten? Would you like more tonic?” Lily asked.
The mage and his leader stood looking out over the forest to the coastline a few kilometres away. The moonlight highlighted the dark intensity of Brökk’s eyes as he swung to look at Lily. “Please.” He dipped his head to drink. “And another bucket after this.”
“Are you sure? Kuia said not to have too much at one time.”
“Leave it with me to drink later as you did last night.”
“Okay. Hey, girls, do you want to put balm on Brökk’s burns?”
“Sure.” Sasha took the balm from Lily, who headed for the trough to mix more tonic. “What can you sense, Brökk? How does it work?”
“All unicorns can sense magic to a certain degree, but sensories like Mikaela have a special gift. They are much more highly attuned to the subtle resonance emanating from the creature generating the magic.”
Chloe soothed balm on the burn on his chest. “Can you feel anything, Brökk?”
“There is a faint magical vibration in the atmosphere, but that may have been from my failed cloaking spell.” His voice was solemn.
Lily set the tonic down and patted him. She didn’t like seeing him upset but couldn’t understand why he’d tried to cast a spell if he wasn’t strong enough. Maybe his anxiety to get back to full strength affected his ability to think clearly.
The girls stood with the unicorns, looking over the forest and bush towards the sea. All was quiet, just the sporadic sounds of unicorns snatching grass around them and a native owl making its distinctive ‘more-pork’ call.
“Is the beach a better place for Mikaela?” Lily asked Ambrosius.
“The chasm is the first place she’ll sense Abellona’s magic, and what she can sense is definitely stronger there.”
Lily nodded. That seemed logical. “Is the chasm still visible? I’ve been worried that my family would see it if they go down to the beach.”
“It’s a sunken patch near the high tide line now, so not too obvious,” he replied.
“I’ve been wanting to go and close it properly,” added Brökk.
“And you know why I said it’s just fine as it is.” Ambrosius looked at the mage with a stern gaze. “We’re thankful Lily’s family hasn’t been to the beach since we arrived.”
“How do you know that?” Lily asked, surprised.
“We have sentries posted, of course.”
“Oh! We’ve never seen them.”
The unicorn king snorted. “They wouldn’t be very good unicorn sentries if you had. Now let us look at your tablet so Chloe can show us the route we will take tomorrow.”
Lily pulled the tablet out and gave it to Chloe, who held it so the unicorns could look over her shoulders at the screen.
“We’re here on Sanderson Road. We want to get here, to the big park behind town. The fastest route is along the highway. But if we turn right out of Sanderson Road and go along the highway in the other direction for a short way, we can turn up into this forestry block and use the dirt road. It takes us quite close to park. We’d just need to weave through a few suburban streets to get to it.”
“That looks excellent, Chloe, thank you. A much better route,” Ambrosius said. “Less time on the main road. Less visible from the air through the forest. And now I think you girls should head home to sleep.”
“Oh, Ambrosius...” Lily looked at him. “It’s so nice spending time with you all, even if I am worried about Abellona.”
“And we want to see Sigvard and Mikaela,” Sasha added.
“They may not be back for some time. Anyway, I have made up my mind. If Brökk cannot sense any strong magic and Guilio has not come with any urgent messages from Mikaela, then we are not moving tonight. We will all rest and continue to regain our strength.” He looked at the girls. “And therefore, the best thing you can do to help us tonight is go home, get a good sleep, and Sigvard or I will meet you at the gate an hour before moonrise tomorrow night.”
Lily glanced at Sasha who nodded and said, “Well, I guess we’re going home then.”
Chloe yawned. “I’m tired, even if you aren’t.”
“I could sprinkle some more of my special dust if you like, so you get home safely,” Ambrosius offered.
“No, thanks.” Lily stepped back from the unicorn with a grin. “Mum went mad when she saw my pillowcase this morning while changing my bed.”
His deep chuckle rolled around them as Sasha laughed. “Then you blamed the glitter bomb on my little sister.”
“First thing I could think of!” Lily turned to look for Rainbow.
“Not sure your mum believed it.”
“Ha-ha, no.”
“Imagine if it had been my mum,” Chloe said as they walked over to their ponies grazing together. “I’d have been grounded for a week,
no matter what I said.”
Lily groaned. “Oh, yeah, that would not have been good.”
Within a few minutes, they caught the ponies, tightened girths and mounted.
Lily looked around the herd. The mares had gone back to grazing, their foals alongside. The tension they felt earlier seemed to have eased, although the herd was still in darkness except for the odd pop of light appearing around a foal then disappearing again.
They rode over to Ambrosius and Brökk who were still watching out to the coast.
“Good, you are ready,” Ambrosius said. “Let us get going. Brökk, you will graze and rest like the others.”
“Of course, Sire.” The mage nodded.
“Fredek! Isak!” He called two unicorns standing sentry near the forest edge over. “You’re in charge of the herd’s safety while I’m gone. Send for me urgently if anything changes.”
“Yes, Sire,” the tall silver-grey unicorns replied in unison.
“I’ve left more tonic for you, Brökk.” Lily pointed to the bucket by the trough. “And grain.”
“Thank you.” Brökk turned to the trough as Ambrosius led the way across the paddock to the driveway and home.
Chapter Eleven
“Beach! Beach! Beach!” Liam shouted as he thudded down the hall.
“Oh, no!” Lily fell out of bed, her legs tangled in the sheet, and landed on top of Sasha on the camp bed.
“Ouch!”
“Sorry! Get up! We have to stop them.” Lily hissed. “The unicorns need to keep watch at our beach. They can’t have humans in the way.” She ran out of her bedroom door, leaving Sasha and Chloe to scramble after her.
“Morning, love.” Dad strode into the hall to scoop Liam into his arms, the toddler screaming with delight.
“Uh, hi, Dad. Are you going to the beach?”
“Ask your mum. She was talking about it.” He headed into Liam’s room. “You girls better go and get breakfast while I dress this monster.”
“Not monster!” Liam protested.
“You’re a ticklish monster!” Dad laughed as he tickled Liam. The toddler’s giggles echoed along the hall as Dad took him into his bedroom.
“Come on.” Lily saw the girls were up. She dressed quickly, and they ran into the kitchen filled with the Sunday morning smell of bacon.
Lily’s tummy rumbled as she wrapped Kuia in a hug. “Morning, Kuia.”
“Hello, my darling.” Kuia smiled her wrinkly smile. “And how are you this morning? And your friends?”
“Good, thanks.” Tired, actually, but you’ll ask why if I say that. And I’m worried for the unicorns and scared about tonight too. But I guess I’m not lying because I am happy that we found the unicorns somewhere safe to go and they’re going there tonight...
“How many eggs, Lily?” Mum asked from the stove. “What about you, Sasha? Chloe?”
“One, please, Mum.” She sat down beside Kuia who poured her a mug of milky tea.
“Same, thanks, Mrs Masterton,” Chloe replied.
“Two for me, please,” Sasha added as she joined Chloe opposite Lily. “Beach! Ask!” she mouthed at Lily, who waved her hand in a ‘slow down’ kind of way.
Lily passed bowls from the pile at the end of the table. “Do you want cereal and yogurt?”
The girls started eating as Liam ran in, wearing just his swimming togs, Dad close behind.
Sasha’s eyes went wide in alarm. “It’s a bit cold for togs, isn’t it?” her voice squeaked.
Lily swallowed a mouthful. “Are you going to the beach, Mum?”
“Liam wants to, as you can see.” Mum put a plate piled with toast on the table. “I’ve tried to explain we need to wait until late morning for the best tide, but you know what he’s like.”
Lily tried to smile as Dad caught Liam and put him in the highchair, but a sick feeling grew in her stomach. They needed to keep her family away from their private beach, but how?
Then, an idea.
“How about we go to Whale Bay beach for a change, Mum? It has that lovely shallow bit that’s great for Liam. I could look after him if you want to go for a long swim.” Lily’s mother used to compete in triathlons and still liked to swim, bike and run to keep fit.
Sasha grinned at Lily and gave her a quick thumbs up.
“Maybe.” Mum set down a big dish of bacon and eggs. “What do you think, John? Are you coming?”
Dad sat down. “Not if Kuia’s happy to mind the kids.”
“I’m not a baby, Dad!” Lily interjected. “I said I’d look after Liam.”
“And the law says you need an adult supervising around water.”
Kuia chuckled. “You’re in charge of Liam, Lily, don’t worry. I can’t run that fast.”
“Thanks Ma. So yes, Lily, we can go down to the main beach for an hour or so later this morning.”
Yes! Lily did a mental fist pump. She spooned up the last of her cereal, keeping her face down, not wanting them to see her relief. “Cool. It will make a nice change.”
“Always seems a bit odd you offering to look after Liam.” Mum handed out plates with the requested number of eggs to the girls. “But I’m not going to give up the chance for a swim.”
Lily could feel the girls both watching her as she took the plate from her mother. “Thank you. I do look after him sometimes, you know.”
Mum smiled. “Usually when you want something. What do you want this time?”
“Nothing!” Help, this is getting more complicated than it needs to be.
“If you say so, but we’ll see. Are you girls coming too?”
“Ah, no...” Chloe stumbled her reply as she often did with Lily’s forthright mother. “Not today, Mrs Masterton. I’ve got to go to church with my mother this morning.”
“I’ve told you to call me Tessa, Chloe. What about you, Sasha? You’re a beach girl from way back.”
“I’d love to, but Mum insists I go to Susie’s dance competition today.” Sasha sighed as she flipped her phone open to check the time. “And I better eat quickly, get Tommy and head home soon or she’ll kill me.” She put her phone down and concentrated on clearing her plate.
Kuia chuckled again. “What dramatic words. In my day, you were only worried you were going to get a hiding.”
“Ma!” Mum frowned. “That kind of punishment would be regarded as child abuse nowadays. Well, you girls better get moving if you’re finished.” She started collecting plates.
“I’ll help!” Sasha jumped up.
Chloe nudged Lily as they stood up with their plates. “What about Angel?” she whispered. “Can she stay here?”
Lily whispered back. “Ask Dad. It will be fine.”
“Um, Mr Masterton?”
Dad looked up from wiping egg and crumbs from Liam’s face. “Yes, Chloe.”
“Is it okay, um, if Angel stays another day, please?” She glanced at Lily, who nodded encouragement. “I need to talk with someone at Pony Club about the horse that’s bullying her and won’t be able to do that until tomorrow.”
Lily crossed her fingers behind her back. All this lying made her uncomfortable.
“No problem.” He got Liam out of his highchair. “Don’t know why you don’t graze Angel here. There’s plenty of room, and you’re always over here riding with Lily anyway.”
“Thank you. I’ll talk with Mum about it again. But you know how she likes me to do things the way she thinks is proper.”
Dad laughed. “So, it seems.”
The girls made quick work of stacking the dishwasher and wiping the table, before grabbing their gear from Lily’s room and heading for the barn.
“I’m so worried about tonight, I don’t know how I’m going to concentrate with my tutor later.” Chloe opened the horse paddock gate.
Lily sighed as they walked to the horses standing under their favourite trees. “I know. It’s going to be a l-o-n-g day, waiting and hoping Brökk’s well enough.”
“And that Abellona hasn’t turned up in the meantime a
nd captured the whole herd.” Sasha held out the bread crusts Lily’s mum gave them. “Here, one for each. Gracie too.”
Lily stared at Sasha, horrified. “That could happen, couldn’t it? And we’d never know.”
Sasha nodded. “Sounds like she could appear any time, doesn’t it? Would she care about possibly being seen in daylight? She’d just hunt the herd down as fast as she could.”
“Aren’t you worried for the unicorns, Sasha? Kind of sounds like you’re expecting that to happen.” Chloe said, her voice trembling as they reached the ponies.
“Of course, I’m worried. It’s hours since we’ve seen them and I’m terrified, especially for Sigvard and Mikaela who are closest to where Abellona will probably arrive.” Sasha sniffed as she slipped the halter on Tommy. “But what can I do today? I’ve got to go to this stupid dance thing when I’d rather saddle up and ride over to the unicorns right now and make sure they’re okay.”
That sick feeling in Lily’s tummy came back, and she could see tears welling in Chloe’s eyes.
What could they do?
Well, the others couldn’t do anything – they had to get home – so what could she do?
“It’s only eight o’clock. I’ll bring Rainbow up to the barn with you.” She took hold of Rainbow’s forelock and urged him to walk with the other ponies. “I’ll tell Mum I’m going to do some training in the cross-country paddock for a while before we go to the beach. There’s a gate at the top which goes straight into the forest. You can’t see it from the house like the other gate.”
“It’s eight o’clock? I’ve got to hurry.” Chloe started jogging. Angel trotted beside her even though Chloe hadn’t haltered her.
“What are you going to do, Lil?” Tommy tagged at Sasha so he could follow Angel. “Hang on, pony.”
Lily clicked to get Rainbow trotting too. “Go see the herd, obviously. I’ve got a couple of hours easily.”
Chloe hustled everyone through the gate, leaving an anxious Angel behind. “You’re staying here, girl. Go find Gracie.” She patted her palomino mare and ran after the others to the barn. “And you’ll text us? Let us know the herd’s okay?”