Spy

Spy short story by Iris Carden

Primrose carefully followed Merlin’s instructions, giving the queen half a drop of healing potion each morning and night. Her new friends made sure she, the queen and Princess Aster had everything they needed. Queen Rose gradually regained her strength.

When all of the fairies’ new friends were gathered, the discussion quickly became about how to find out what was happening in the Fairy Kingdom.

“We need a spy,” Queen Rose said.  “Someone not well known, who will not draw attention.”

Everyone looked at Primrose.

Primrose blushed.  “I’m just a nursery maid,” she said. “I wouldn’t know how to be a spy.  I look after the baby, that’s all.”

“All you would have to do would be to go there,” Merlin said, gently.  “We can watch you from a distance.”

“I will go with you,” Orsinius said.  “I may not be able to go right into the kingdom, but I can wait nearby, with Excalibur, so you can call if you need help.”

The Cat leapt up on the table beside Primrose.  The Cat would go too.

“I can place a protection barrier over you so no-one can harm you, and give you extra strength and stamina as well.  I haven’t used magic today, so that small amount won’t have side effects,” Ariana said. “I can even make Orsinius temporarily invisible to fairies and elves, apart from you and the Queen.”

“And Queen Rose and I can watch from here.  All I need s some item that belongs to you, such as the necklace you wear.  I won’t hurt it,” Merlin added.

Primrose did not believe she was capable, but if all her new friends would help, she would do it.

Ariana placed a hand over Primrose and closed her eyes a moment.  

“Now you are stronger, than usual, and cannot be harmed for the next two days.  I hope you won’t  be gone that long, but it’s best to be sure.” She did the same with both Orsinius and The Cat.

Then The Cat, Orsinius, and Primrose all entered the interim, to move almost instantly to the Fairy Kingdom.

With Orsinius close by, and The Cat walking by her side, Primrose walked through the streets of the town she knew.  The castle looked the same as it always did, except, instead of fairy guards, there were elf guards at the gate.  Primrose didn’t try to get too close. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself.

She went to her parents’ home. As soon as she knocked on the door, her mother grabbed her arm and dragged her inside.  Her parents told her the elves were looking for everyone who worked in the castle. They were searching for the baby, and for the queen, who had somehow escaped from their dungeon. 

Primrose asked if they knew what had happened to the fairy army or the castle guard.   Her parents told her no-one knew where they were. They told her to run away quickly before she was caught.

A moment later there was another knock on the door.  A loud voice demanded entrance.  Primrose’s mother went to the door.

An elf soldier asked, “Do you have a visitor in your house?”

“No.  Just my husband and I are here.”

“A person was seen entering your home.”

“That was me, I just went out gathering food, some dew and some pollen, to bake bread.”

“Your house will have to be searched.”

The Cat, which had been sitting beside the house, swiped the elf soldier with a paw, sending him flying.  The Cat’s eyes glowed yellow, and the elf flew further than could be expected to be possible. 

“Go now,” Primrose’s mother said, “before he regains consciousness.”

“Come with me.  I have friends who can help us,” Primrose begged.

“No. We have friends here.  Just tell me, is the princess safe? You were looking after her?”

“Yes, and the queen too. She sent me to find out how things are here.”

“Things are bad.  The soldiers have all run away.  There is no-one left to fight back. Perhaps they will come back and fight if they know the Queen is safe.”

Primrose ran back to Orsinius, 

Two elves were yelling at The Cat.  Orsinius’ invisible hand picked up one and put him on roof of a nearby fairy house.  The Cat swiped the other with a paw.

“Time to go, I think,” Primrose said, 

The three of them re-entered the interim, and returned to Ariana’s hairdressing salon.

“They all ran away,” Queen Rose said.

“Primrose, the nursery maid has been braver than my whole army. What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to make a plan,” Merlin said. 

Series 2 Stories:

• Nutshell
• Doll’s House
• Spy
• The Queen’s Return
• Cat
• Dream
• Mirror

---

While you’re here…

Find my Books:  Direct from the publisher
                               From Amazon
                               Or from your favourite online bookshop

Follow Me: Twitter / Facebook / Instagram

Digital Tip Jar: PayPal Me

Everything on this site is the product of human, not artificial, intelligence.