Zally's Book (5 page)

“Queen Carmina spoke to me of the Shadeblossom, a rare healing flower that grows only in rocky crevices and at cave entrances. The tiny blooms are a deep indigo color and difficult to see in the shadows. I offered to get some Shadeblossoms for her, but she said it was too dangerous and not worth the risk. Still, I dreamed of finding the flower for the queen, and one day I decided it was too important not to at least
try
to get one.”

Imishi looked down and pushed some food around her plate with a slender two-pronged fork. Her cheeks flushed as she continued. “Our valley has high cliffs on one side. I had heard that Shadeblossoms grow outside some of the caves in those
cliffs, so I was sure I could fly up to one of the caves, get a Shadeblossom or two, and be back before anyone knew I was gone.”

I could feel tension building inside me. When I hear someone telling a story that starts out, “I was told not to do this, but I had a good reason, so I did it anyway,” I'm usually pretty sure that things are not going to end well.

“One morning, I awoke early and flew to the cliffs. Once there, I searched for the caves, which are hard to see. I kept seeing something shiny out of the corner of my eye. Finally I saw a cave. I was getting tired and sore, but I flapped as hard as I could and reached the cave opening. Right inside was a single Shadeblossom. I was so excited that I didn't see anything else in the cave. When I did notice a huge shadow coming at me, I stepped backward and fell out of the cave. Almost immediately something caught my fall—something soft, springy, and … sticky.

“A
spiderweb
.”

I shivered.

“From the ledge above, a giant spider looked down at me. Each of its hairy legs was longer than I am tall.”

I stared at the fairy girl. I couldn't even imagine what I might do if I was faced with a spider that
big. I could barely deal with a spider the size of a fingernail.

“I tried to get out,” Imishi said, “but the more I struggled, the more the spiderweb stuck.

“Just then, Queen Carmina, Azul, Roja, and Blanca—the best fliers from our tribe—showed up. Even though I could tell it saw them, the spider didn't seem to be in any hurry. Maybe it was hoping more of us would get stuck, I don't know. Azul, Roja, and Blanca pulled on my arms and legs, trying to break me free, while Queen Carmina cut through the web with a shell knife. The spider was almost upon us by the time my friends managed to free me. I heard my wing snap as they pulled me away, some of the spider silk still clinging to my wing. The fairies turned to fly away, but the web had caught Queen Carmina's skirt.

“While the queen was cutting herself free, the spider spit its venom at her. It hit Queen Carmina in the face, in her eyes….” Imishi gulped, and tears filled her own eyes. She swallowed hard and then continued. “It happened just as the last strand of web gave way under her knife. Blinded, she flew up against the rock and fell. Blanca caught her and just managed to lower her to the ground while the other two fairies carried me down.”

Imishi raised her head and looked around. “It's
my fault. Queen Carmina is scarred and blind and full of fear. She cannot help the creatures who come to Kib Valley. The rest of us clean the sick who arrive in our valley daily, talk to them, feed them, and give them a place to rest. Some of them we can heal with the knowledge we have … but others … We cannot save all of those who come to us for help. Queen Carmina will not leave her palace rooms and she will not speak with anyone. She barely eats. I am to blame, so I must be the one to find a way to help her. Prince Kir came with me for the sake of the queen and for the sake of his sire, King Xel, who is gravely ill and is not likely to live without Queen Carmina's healing skills.”

The horse whinnied—startling everyone for a moment—and nodded his head.

“How long has it been since you left?” Queen Patchouli asked.

The fairy girl looked even more downcast. “Weeks, I think. Prince Kir has never been out of the Kib Valley.” She shook her head. “I'm afraid”—her voice was very small now—“I'm afraid we got lost. I actually meant to ask the Kalistonia Fairies for help, but”—she gestured around—“here I am.”

Queen Patchouli sighed. “This is grave news. The fairies of Willowood have no particular healing powers. If your own tribe does not know how to aid
your queen, I fear we would do no better. But you do need help. Many
innocents
could die if Queen Carmina cannot begin healing the sick again.”

The fairy queen gave me a look.

I knew what I had to do. “I'll help,” I offered, my voice echoing in the clearing.

Imishi's face fell. “What can
you
do? You're just a child—not even a
fairy
. This is a true emergency. How could you possibly be of help?”

I opened my mouth to answer, and I was surprised that no sound came out.

The fairy queen spoke instead, her tone firm. “You trust
me
, do you not, Imishi? Then believe me when I tell you that Zally Guevara, a fairy-godmother-in-training from the Inocentes Lineage, is your best hope for saving Queen Carmina.”

“Are you certain you and your tribe cannot just fly over the land and find Kib Valley?” Imishi asked.

“It is possible, but that could take weeks—just as your own journey did,” Queen Patchouli said. “I am surprised that you don't know that most of the fairy queens in Aventurine rarely venture far from their own queendoms. The one exception is when a fairy-godmother-in-training has completed a quest and then either I or another fairy queen has a vision of the path, so that we can be part of sending a girl on her
way back to the waking world. This is the biggest reason that Zally should go with you. If she completes her quest, we will be able to find her—and the Kib Valley—very quickly afterward. Zally will help you find the fastest route back to Kib Valley while we gather supplies for the moment when Aventurine has determined Zally's success.”

My stomach gave a lurch. “Wait! What do you mean ‘find the fastest route'? I don't have a map of Aventurine!”

Queen Patchouli nodded. “There is no map. But, Zally, you are gifted with an intuition for place and space, which is
why
you are good with maps. This is your chance to learn to use that gift. As you travel and learn, you will make a map—a map unlike any you have seen.”

“But how?” I mentally kicked myself for sounding so whiny. Imishi didn't trust me to take on this task, and clearly I didn't trust
myself
to do it.

The fairy queen looked from Imishi to Kir and back to me. In a voice that allowed no argument, she said, “You are a member of the Inocentes Lineage, and the Kib Fairies are healers of the innocents in Aventurine. Who could be better suited to help them? If I did not think you were the wisest choice for this mission, I would not allow you to go. You
did
volunteer.
And now your quest is twofold: you will begin to map Aventurine, and you will guide Kir and Imishi back to Kib Valley by the fastest route and do all you can to help the innocents there. On the way, you will also help the innocents you meet. But first, rest; you leave at dawn.”

With that, she rang her glass bell, and the fairies began to clear the tables.

4
The Long Road

After a night sleeping on a bed like a silky cloud, I was amazed at how refreshed I felt, even though I awoke at the crack of dawn. I gave a wry smile. I guess no matter
what
world I'm in, sleeping late is not an option. On the other hand, if what Queen Patchouli told me was right, I
was
still asleep in my own bed in my world. How could I sleep and wake up all inside a dream? Sleep within sleep. Very strange.

I didn't know where Imishi and Kir had slept, but they were up and ready to go by the time I pulled on my fairy travel clothes, hung my bag with the cacao pod in it crosswise over one shoulder, and emerged from the curtains that enclosed my canopy bed.

Imishi had changed into a golden-brown dress the color of Prince Kir. The dress was made from overlapping layers of cloth that started at her shoulders, leaving her arms and wings free, and cascaded from the shell belt at her waist to her knees. Loose and comfortable, it seemed like a very practical travel outfit.

Queen Patchouli, along with four of the Willowood Fairies, was there to see us off.

“I know you're worried,” I said, trying to reassure Imishi, “but I'll do my best.”

She nodded unconvincingly. Her face was pale, and I wondered if her splinted wing was hurting.

“Prince Kir will carry both of you, along with supplies for your trip,” the fairy queen said. She turned to me. “Remember that he is a companion and not simply a means of transportation.”

Kir snorted, then dipped his head twice in agreement.

“The Shell Fairies consider the horses of Kib Valley cousins,” Imishi said. “We would never ride any horse without its permission.”

“That is very wise,” Queen Patchouli said, patting the golden horse's flank. One of the fairies beside her came forward, carrying full saddlebags. The fairies asked for Kir's permission—and got a nod—before
they slung the packs over his back and secured them with a cinch.

“There is plenty of food for you,” the fairy queen went on. “There are only two pods of water in your supplies, but the horses of Kib Valley are known for their ability to locate drinking water, and Prince Kir should be able to find what you need.” She looked at me. “Zally, I have these for you.”

Another fairy handed me a roll of yellow parchment paper and a speckled brown feather that was about eight inches long. I unrolled the parchment but the sheets were blank.

“For your mapmaking,” the queen explained. “Keep these things with you in your bag. You have everything you need now.”

“Thank you,” I said, wishing that the maps had at least some markings on them to start with for me to use as reference points.

With a mysterious smile, Queen Patchouli showed us another roll of parchment pages. They were blank, too. “We will keep these pages here in the Willowood with us. Our pages are connected to yours with magic. Whenever you draw something on your map, Zally, it will appear on our pages as well.

“And now, our other gifts. Prince Kir, you are to have our gift to you; the blanket beneath the saddlebags
is of Willowood fairy silk. It will never rub or chafe. It will help those who you have given permission to ride you to stay on your back, so that you need not worry about them falling. It will work in all but the most extreme circumstances. For you, Imishi, weightless shoes to protect your feet for walking and riding while your wing heals. Lastly,” the queen said, handing me another piece of parchment no longer or wider than my hand, “I cannot tell you how or when to use this, but you will know when the time is right.”

I looked at the paper. It was a recipe in Abuelita's handwriting!
Chocolatl
.

“Imishi, you must sit back on Kir and fold your wings up out of the way so that nothing bumps them. And, Zally, you must find the way for your companions and guide them on the surest path.”