You cannot imagine how you strengthen me. Kendra felt such a surge of love that she gasped and clutched her chest, tears spilling from her eyes.
"We can't win this battle," Bracken said. "There is no point in deluding ourselves otherwise. But even without winning the battle, we might earn a chance to win the war. Hours of crisis often call for sacrifice. In matters of consequence, when have doubt and fear given the best advice? Why not heed faith, courage, duty, and honor? Kendra has, her friends have, and without reason for hope."
Sound counsel, as usual. I will obey your plan. Kendra felt a wave of reluctant resignation.
"Not my plan," Bracken said. "I'm proposing we implement it, but I did not design it. This stratagem was authored by the wizards who arranged to locate a shrine here."
"What plan?" Kendra asked.
"Only the Fairy Queen and I know all the particulars," Bracken said. "It needs to remain that way. Agad has probably deciphered our strategy, but that was unavoidable.
Should the enemy anticipate our intentions, our final hope will unravel."
"We have a chance?" Kendra asked.
"A small one," Bracken said. "I would never have allowed you or your friends to come here if there wasn't a chance."
You have an important role to play, Kendra.
"How many have you gathered?" Bracken asked.
Ninety. Three of the six rebels returned. And of course three have perished.
"Are you talking about astrids?" Kendra asked.
The pool around the island erupted with the flutter of golden wings as astrids emerged from the water. Within moments, ninety owls perched atop the linked pillars, human faces staring down at Kendra and Bracken.
"No wonder I couldn't find any of them!" Kendra complained.
"They were out searching for you," Bracken said. "But as events unfolded, I decided it might be best for the Fairy Queen to gather them home in preparation for this day."
Kendra frowned at the little fairy statue. "Didn't all that travel weaken the protections to your realm? All the astrids coming and going?"
Yes. But do not fret, I repaired most of the damage by closing all other shrines besides this one. I have marshaled all of my energy for this confrontation. Follow Bracken. His leadership is now our best hope.
"Can you give us a clear morning?" Bracken asked.
The weather is the simplest part.
"You're ready to do the rest?" Bracken asked. I am ready.
Bracken became sober. "If the right conditions do not unfold, we'll have to abandon the effort."
I understand. Make your preparations. Onward to victory.
Kendra felt a surge of hope so strong she almost believed it. Then she was left with her natural emotions. The presence of the Fairy Queen had departed.
Bracken took Kendra's hand and guided her back over the arch. "Gilgarol, you first!"
A golden owl fluttered down and alighted in front of Kendra.
"This is the captain of the astrids," Bracken said. "Give him a kiss on the forehead."
Kendra crouched in front of the owl. The solemn face stared up at her with an unreadable expression. At least she didn't have to touch her lips to his feathers. She leaned down and gave his waxy forehead a quick peck.
Golden light flared, and, after a scintillating whirlwind of sparks, Kendra found herself crouched before a tall warrior. Gilded armor protected his muscular frame, and an owlish helmet guarded his head. His facial features appeared much more masculine than before. He clutched a spear in one hand, a sword in the other. Broad, gleaming wings fanned out from his back.
The splendid soldier turned and knelt before Bracken, head bowed. "Forgive our failure, my liege," he implored, his strong voice thick with emotion.
"Rise, Gilgarol," Bracken said. "All is forgiven. We have work to do."
The strapping warrior stood up. "We prayed this day would come. At long last, a chance for redemption."
Kendra confronted Bracken. "Okay, seriously, who are you? The Fairy Queen treats you like her favorite. The astrids kneel to you. Are you the only unicorn left or something?"
"No, there are others," Bracken said. Gilgarol harrumphed. "Are you not aware of--" A hard glance from Bracken silenced him. "What?" Kendra pressed. "Come on, you have to tell me."
Bracken sighed. "The Fairy Queen has five children-- four daughters, one son. I'm the son."
"The Fairy Queen is your mother?"
"Yes."
Kendra rubbed her forehead. "No wonder she seemed so worried about you. But how could your mother be a fairy?"
"Did I say she was a fairy?"
"She's not?"
"Unicorns were the founders of fairydom. My mother was the first."
"The Fairy Queen is a unicorn?"
"Very few beyond our inner circle share this knowledge," Bracken said. "The fairies honor her as the first of their kind. Gorgrog destroyed my father, which is part of the reason I want to defeat him. Time is running out. We have eighty-nine astrids to go."
Kendra felt stunned. She had been cuddling and flirting with the son of the Fairy Queen? There was no time to sort through the implications. "Let's get going."
"All but the unfaithful," Bracken called.
Kendra knelt, and one by one the astrids came forward to have their true forms restored. It took longer than she expected. Soon she started closing her eyes with each kiss to avoid the blinding blizzard of sparks that accompanied each transformation. All of the astrids looked more or less like the first. The weapons varied, as did some elements of the armor, but each had golden wings, and each looked intimidating.
At last, with eighty-seven astrids restored, three darker astrids remained. These lacked the shining golden feathers of the others, and they wore remorseful expressions.
"You turned on the Fairy Queen after she chastised you for your failure," Bracken reprimanded. "But you came when she called. You will hereafter be considered the lowest rank of all those present. May you reclaim your honor through outstanding valor." He nodded at Kendra.
When she kissed the final three, they grew into shining warriors indistinguishable from the others. The three knelt before Bracken. They spoke in unison. "We apologize for our disloyalty. Our rebelliousness will forever shame us. Thank you for this opportunity to prove our penitence. We will not fail you."
"You picked the right day to prove yourselves," Bracken said. "Behold, dawn approaches."
Looking to the east, Kendra saw color in the sky. Overhead, the clouds were thinning. Accompanied by several astrids, Kendra and Bracken returned to where their companions waited, a short distance from the shrine.