Authors: Paula Harrison
Secret Rescuers (5 page)
Chapter Eight
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 them 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
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.
“Please could you ask Windrunner the storm dragon to meet me here?” asked Sophy.
“Of course!” The bird stretched its golden feathers and swooped away.
“It’ll probably take Windrunner a while to fly here,” said Sophy.
“Why don’t you both stay here and I’ll fetch us something to eat.” Maya sprang to her feet and picked up the pageboy costumes.
“Yes, please! I am very hungry,” said Clover, resting his head on Sophy’s lap.
Maya crossed the bridge and hurried back to camp. She was a little worried that she would be asked to explain exactly what she’d been doing all day. She knew her family would love Clover, but she certainly didn’t want to get them into trouble with Sir Fitzroy if he came asking questions later. Also, Maya knew that the troupe would be getting ready for the Grand Show that evening.
When she reached the camp, she was
surprised to find the troupe gathered round the fire. Maya’s triplet brothers were arguing with an angry-looking Ruben. Maya frowned. She couldn’t forget how nasty Ruben had been to poor Clover.
“I tell you I didn’t take your boat!” said Ruben furiously.
“It must have been you,” said Joe.
“You disappeared for ages this morning,” said Ben.
“And you came back looking guilty,” added Rick.
“It wasn’t me!” snapped Ruben.
“Then why was it tied up by the bridge instead of where we left it in town?” asked Joe.
Maya gasped. She was the one who had borrowed her brothers’ boat. She was just about to own up when Ruben burst out, “I tell you, it wasn’t me! I was busy showing that knight where the sky unicorns were hiding because…” He tailed off, suddenly aware of everyone frowning
at him. “I just did it to be helpful.”
“You did it for the money!” Maya burst out. “I saw the knight handing you some coins afterwards.”
“Well, so what if you did?” sneered Ruben. “It’s none of your business anyway.”
“You didn’t care about the unicorns at all!” Maya’s cheeks went bright red. “And you didn’t care about the little foal you took away from his mother.”
“Is this true, Maya?” Her mum got up and took her daughter’s hand.
Maya nodded. “I was with my new friend, Sophy. We both saw what he did.”
Maya’s mum rounded on Ruben. “You should be ashamed of yourself!”
Ruben’s eyes glittered. “I deserved that money!” He pointed at Maya. “And she is just a horrible little sneak!”
All the members of the troupe started talking loudly at once.
“Take that back!” Maya’s brothers yelled at Ruben.
“Magical animals should never be treated so cruelly,” said Floella, shaking her head.
Mr Inigo rose and held up his hand for silence. “Ruben, it’s clear that you do not deny what Maya has said. I’m afraid there’s no place in our troupe for someone who has abandoned what’s right and wrong for the sake of money.”
“But…” spluttered Ruben.
“You must go,” said Mr Inigo, and the other members of the troupe nodded in agreement.
“Fine! I don’t want to stay with you anyway.” Ruben glared round at all of them, before marching away to pack his things.
Maya put the pageboy costumes back where they belonged. Then she fetched some small fruit pies, and some lettuce and carrots for Clover, and ran back to the other side of the river.
“Yum!” Clover bounded up to Maya and tugged the vegetables from her hands.
“Thanks, Maya. This is delicious!” said Sophy, nibbling a fruit pie. “The songbird came back while you were gone. Windrunner will be here at dawn. We can rest till then.”
“Actually, it’s the Grand Show tonight. I nearly forgot because I was thinking so hard about rescuing Clover,” explained Maya. “I should really go and dance. I don’t want to let the troupe down.”
“Have a wonderful time!” beamed Sophy. “We’ll be fine here. Won’t we, Clover?”
Clover nodded as he chomped on another carrot.
Mr Inigo’s Amazing Travelling Troupe put on a spectacular show that night. Maya’s brothers juggled with glow sticks. Monty and May did rows of somersaults until the crowd gasped and clapped. Then Floella and Daisy performed a ribbon dance, twirling and spinning their long purple ribbons.
Maya joined the two grown-up dancers for their final number. Her pale-blue dress floated around her as she leapt and spun. Then she performed a beautiful ballet dance by herself. As the music played, she lifted her arms and pointed her toes, enjoying every step. The crowd clapped loudly when she finished and they called for an encore. Maya blushed and made another curtsy. She was so happy they’d loved her dancing!
Finally, Monty and May climbed the tall towers that had been put up on either side of the arena. Climbing on to their trapeze swings, they began to glide through the air. Maya always loved watching their act. It was awesome seeing them soar so high.
Suddenly, her heart fluttered. She would be riding on a dragon for the very first time tonight. The acrobats were flying high on their trapeze but she would be going even higher!
