The Fae Princess (The Pacific Princesses Book 2) by Ektaa Bali (books to improve english .txt) 📗

his hand and waved them at the robed koala. “Looks like we are!”

The four Fae kids leapt up into the air, wings fluttering so fast that they darted high in the sky and over the Leaf Master, directly into the sunlight over the forest.

“We’ll fly as long as we can!” called Vidya once they had lost sight of the marshes. “And then—”

BOOOOOOMMM

The marshes behind them exploded in a gigantic cloud of smoke and fire, and the kids clapped their hands over their ears.

“Do you think he—” wondered Lotus.

Vidya shook her head. The Leaf Master was far too cunning and far too old to have gotten caught up in the explosion. He was safe to rule another day; she knew that much to be true.

“I can’t believe we got away with that!” cried Lily.

“Me neither,” admitted Vidya, shaking her head. “Here, Lotus, I want my nose back.”

Lotus cackled, and they gathered in the air, looking at the noses in his hand. They were all quite similar.

“I don’t want anyone else’s nose,” complained Lily. “Oh, that’s definitely mine, it’s the smoothest.” She snatched it up and held it close to her chest.

“This is the biggest,” pointed Pancake from Vidya’s pocket. Lotus shrugged and took his.

“There’s a tiny pimple on this one, it’s mine,” said Willow sheepishly.

Vidya took the remaining nose. They hovered in the air, staring at their noses, wondering what to do next.

“On three?” suggested Lily.

The others nodded.

“One — two — three!”

Vidya squished her nose back into the centre of her face as Pancake turned his head, watching each of them in turn. With a loud wet sound, she felt her nose suction back onto her face and suddenly; she felt cold morning air flood through her nose.

“Oh!” she said. “That feels good!”

Lily danced in the air with glee. “Does it look right?” she asked Vidya, pointing her face out in front of herself.

“Looks perfect, Lily!”

“Oh, thank the earth,” sighed Willow. “This all turned out well. Imagine if—”

“Lotus!” cried Pancake. “Your’s is on sideways!”

“Oh no!” yelled Lotus, panicking, pulling at his nose, trying to take it back off.

But unfortunately for him, it wouldn’t budge.

16

Saving the Flower

“Sometimes the night seems so dark that it feels like the sun will never rise again. But all saplings know—it is in the darkness that roots grow deep. And it is only after this that the green shoots can be born, ready to meet to sun when he rises. Because he always will.”

—The Book of the Fae, Queen Mab the First, 3333 B.C.

Vidya, Lotus, Willow, Lily, and Pancake flew as far as they could, northeast, in the direction of the palace, for as long as they could. The Wollemi Pine King had told them what to do to recharge the Flower of Awakening. They had the wood to make the bow and arrow, and now they had the fire flower. All they had to do was get back home and prepare the spell and then head back out to the Bunyip Nest to do it. Once their wings grew tired, they flew down into the trees and walked cautiously through the bush. Within a few hours, they were out of the forbidden zone and back into familiar territory. It felt like a weight had lifted off their shoulders, to see the familiar canopy of sprightly gum trees. But Vidya had to remind herself not to be fooled into a false sense of security. Anywhere in the Fae forest, Bunyips could be lurking, ready to attack the Fae. They had to keep their guard up at all times. But it was difficult, as they were tired, sore, and hungry. They hadn’t packed near enough food and had hardly slept the last two days.

They all gave exhausted groans of relief when they saw the glint of the tall spires of the Fae palace. They had made it. Feebly, they crossed the gap over the Bottomless Sky, and the Fae children guarding the front of the palace blew their horns to announce their arrival.

Much like how Vidya had arrived back from her trip to the Old Ones just a few days ago, the four of them touched down wearily, shuffling back up to the palace, Pancake fast asleep in Vidya’s pocket. A whole group of Fae kids spilled out of the large front doors and ran toward them.

“We’ll have a meeting,” said Vidya, waving off a worried Toad and Luna.

“What’s wrong with Lotus’ nose!” exclaimed Lobey.

Lotus gave a weak laugh. “It’s a long story, but let us rest a moment please. We’ve been travelling non-stop and didn’t sleep at all last night!”

The group walked together up the palace stairs and into the library, where the other kids brought out chilled glasses of orange juice and fruits and vegetables to eat. Daisy even brought out a non-burnt cake that wasn’t crooked. The four kids and Pancake ate greedily as they filled everyone in on how they had travelled to the Wollemi Pine King, were captured by the Yarama, and how they battled the Leaf Master in the explosive marshes.

“The Bunyips plan to attack us on the night of the new moon, the darkest night,” said Vidya. “It was lucky we overheard that conversation.”

“But that’s tomorrow night!” cried Luna.

“Exactly,” said Vidya firmly, her hands on the table. “Now, I know we’re all tired, but we have no choice. We need to execute the spell tonight.” She looked around the table. “We’ll sleep and wake up at dusk and head to the Bunyip nest. The rest of you prepare your weapons.”

“Weapons?” asked Toad.

“Yes.”

The room went silent.

“We’re at war, everyone. They’re coming to take away our home. There’s no way around it. When we shoot. It’s to kill.”

“There’s always been a way around it, Vidya,” said Will. “Every other time in our history—”

“But this is like no other time, Will,” Vidya replied, her voice rising. “When have the Fae ever had an angry army fly over across the bottomless sky to come and get us?”

No one had