Under Pressure With a Squash

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO The Point Monster *SAFFY*

WHILE MAGELLAN WAS at the equipment trials, his twin sister, eleven-year-old Princess Saffy, was at the other end of the Magenta Kingdom fortress, waiting in line.

She ground the path’s tiny yellow stones under her feet.

The dragon was getting weaker every day. The solution was obvious. They had to send it to the Fairy Kingdom’s Magical Creature Reserve. Saffy would rather keep the dragon in the Saffron Kingdom too, but it would starve to death. That wasn’t going to change. What was her brother waiting for?

Yesterday, Magellan had said he had some plan that was supposed to solve everything. He’d dropped her off an hour ago, leaving her totally in the dark.

How long did his grand plan need?

“It might not work,” was all he’d say. “Go win the Archery Contest and I’ll tell you everything later.”

Saffy went. Because the other reason she went to every Archery Contest . . . she let herself dream of a dark green Fairy Ranger uniform for a moment . . . No. That would never happen. The fairies hadn’t worked together with a Saffron Kingdoms royal for a hundred years or more.

She had to focus. She was here to prove the Saffron Crown Princess had dedication, discipline, and consistency—the things people needed from a good ruler. And oh, she needed all of those traits to keep from ditching this slooooooooow line to sneak up on Magellan. What save-the-hungry-dragon plan was he trying to pull off in the Magenta Kingdom? She was dying to know.

The line of hopeful archers stretched out in front of her all the way to the stone arch that was the official entrance for the Magenta Kingdom fortress. It was about the distance of seven full-grown Saffron dragons laid nose-to-rear, not counting tails.

Saffy was going to be here for a while.

Princess Twyla, in a Cochem silver dress, and Prince Nero, in regulation Blackfly black from his hair to his boots, were in line in front of Saffy.

Nero looked over his shoulder and smiled. “Hi, Saffy. Here to wear out all the bullseyes?”

“Hey, Nero.” Saffy shrugged. There wasn’t much she could say to that. With a fairy gift like straight shooting, it wasn’t like she could miss.

“This is for you,” Twyla said in her quiet voice, handing Saffy a scroll.

“Oh, thanks.” Saffy unrolled it. She hadn’t expected to get anything from Twyla. The drawing showed some complicated straps hooked together with buckles.

“What’s it for?” Saffy asked. Twyla was an inventor, so Saffy didn’t always know what her stuff was. It was better to ask.

“It might help.” Twyla pointed out the strength of the fastenings and how adjustable it was.

Nero looked over Saffy’s elbow at the drawing. “Oh—for the dragon?” Nero was the one who’d found the dragon in the Saffron tunnels.

Twyla coughed, letting Saffy know she didn’t appreciate her folding the scroll’s corners back and forth. Oops--she’d been thinking about the dragon problem again and her fingers must have wandered. She smoothed the ridges with her thumb. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to wreck it.”

“It’s a harness,” Twyla said.

“A harness for a Saffron?” Saffy bristled. “The dragon isn’t dangerous.” Twyla should know better. She didn’t keep her Cochem rook harnessed.

“Could be worth a try. Barge captains can be dangerous to dragons.” Nero’s tone had cooled.

For the umpteenth time, Saffy wondered how much control he had over his magical charm. She’d helped him with it once, but she still wasn’t sure how it worked.

“Of course, I didn’t do you any favors teaching your dragon about barges.” Nero rubbed the back of his neck.

“No, you didn’t,” Saffy said, because it was true. “But it’s not your fault it likes coal.”

He’d helped with coal donations from the whole Seven Kingdoms, and she—along with the rest of the Seven Kingdoms—had already thanked him for that a few times. The coal was down to a few chunks. That’s why her dragon was starving. It broke her heart.

What could Magellan’s plan be? Prospecting for coal in the Magenta Kingdom?

Nero and Twyla started talking about some cable tram project. As they got deeper into cables and pulleys and trams, they turned their backs on Saffy.

If Twyla’s father, King Oliver, was behind this harness idea, it meant the Saffron Kingdom had to hurry and solve their dragon problem. The King of Cochem was well-loved. Seven Kingdoms people followed his lead.

To Saffy’s left, the gorge dropped steeply down to the Rhine river. The hillsides were covered with tidy rows of grapevines that slanted in every direction.

Now, in the early fall, the vineyards made a striped patchwork of green and yellow, with an occasional flash of brilliant orange, surrounded by dark green pines and black rock. It looked like a giant had combed his colorful hair every which way. Saffy wondered if the Magical Creature Reserve was down there somewhere.

If Magellan’s plan failed today, the dragon would have to go to the Reserve tomorrow, so the fairies could get it strong again. They were the experts when it came to magical creatures. She was sure they could help—not that she actually knew how.

Every time she brought it up with Magellan, he shut her down. On the way over, he’d said, “You told me there was a Saffron dragon here a hundred years ago. That means there’s a way to feed one. Without fairies. In the Saffron Kingdom. Without coal barges.”

Saffy thought she knew how that had happened. Long, long ago, Queen Hildegard of Saffron had been both a queen and a healer. People said she’d learned her healing skills from the fairies. Queen Hildegard would have been the perfect person to re-energize the dragon, however that worked.

Basically, Saffy wanted to solve their dragon problem by becoming the next Queen Hildegard. But she couldn’t say that out loud, not even to her twin. Her face burned. It wasn’t raw ambition, whatever it looked like from the outside.

Saffy had always wanted that kind of life. She would do her duty as queen, while protecting and healing the creatures in her kingdom.

What she needed was information, like how to get into the Fairy Ranger School when she wasn’t a fairy. She’d been working on the Saffron fairy godparents for years, but so far? Nothing. She’d even tried the twin angle. She and Magellan were twins. Merrill and Webb were twins.

Still nothing.

She wasn’t asking for another fairy godparent gift. She was willing to work until she got whatever points the Fairy Ranger School required. She knew how to earn points. It was what she did best.

All she needed was a Fairy Ranger to show up, scouting for talent at the Archery Contest. Then when Saffy had racked up a perfect archery score, she could ask what else the Fairy Ranger School wanted.

The line crept forward again, about as far as one dragon’s claw. Saffy sighed. What was so complicated about signing up archers?

Way up in front, where the waiting line touched the fortress, a single Magenta guard stood at attention. A Magenta banner swung in the breeze above the arch.

The banner read “Watch Gate” in spiky black letters.

Saffy supposed she should be grateful she was finally close enough to read it.

The day was warm and sunny, with a light breeze—not windy enough to disturb the archers, but airy enough to be comfortable.

But Saffy wasn’t.

The judges signed them into the Archery Contest one at a time—sloooooooowly. A new Magenta guard replaced the old.

Saffy rolled her eyes. She’d been in line so long, the guard had gone on a tea break.

She turned all the way around, scanning from the Watch Gate down the long line of royals to the path behind her. Switchbacks cut down into the gorge below in giant zigzags.

Something moved. What was that dark green thing with wings zooming up the path? It was too big for an insect. Too small for a bird.

Saffy’s heartbeat picked up. Maybe a Fairy Ranger? Suddenly, the registration line was the perfect place to be. She took a deep breath to make the jitters go away.

Calm.

Archers knew how to be calm.

Calm.

But she couldn’t take her eyes away. Not after all this time.

At that moment, Prince Indy cruised by her place in line. His deep Indigo Kingdom blue tunic blocked her view, and she stepped to one side, practically stabbing herself with the competition bow slung over his shoulder.

He threw up his hands in a big fake show of surprise. “Oh, I didn’t expect to see the Point Monster here.”

Ignoring Indy’s “nickname”, Saffy leaned out of line to look around him.

That was definitely a fairy flying up the path—not the Saffron's fairy godparents, Merrill and Webb, and not Kizzy, the fairy godmother for Cochem. Whose fairy godparent was that? Saffy squinted.

Saffy wished Indy would get out of the way. “Are you trying to cut in line?”

Indy dangled his badge in front of her eyes, blocking her view again. “Already registered. I wanted to get a good spot.”

Indy’s early registration meant he got first pick for his target. “As long as you’re not next to me,” Saffy sidestepped him, but he moved.

She wished he’d go away.

In case a miracle had happened, and a scout was here today. She definitely didn’t want him next to her in the contest today. He made too many nasty comments—quiet enough that the judges didn’t hear, loud enough that the nearest archers did.

“I wouldn’t want to shake your concentration.” Indy bowed, with extra hand flourishes, mocking her. “What are you looking at, anyway?”

A buzzing sound came from the left.

Saffy pointed without thinking. “There!”

The fairy wore the dark forest green of the Fairy Rangers. Saffy beamed and clapped her hands together. A Fairy Ranger at the Archery Contest could only mean one thing. She could ask him about the Fairy Ranger School.

To Saffy’s delight, the Fairy Ranger flew right up to them and hovered above Indy’s bow-free shoulder.

Tiiiiiiiiiiiiing! 

A tiny arrow flew through the air and stuck in Indy’s bow.

Indy’s expression went stony, and he saluted. “Good morning, Ranger Ganzorig.”

“Good morning, Prince Indigo. Your concentration might need a little more work,” Ranger Ganzorig said.

“Yes, sir.” Indy’s lips barely moved.

“Better than last time.” The Ranger retrieved his arrow and replaced it in his quiver.

Saffy hadn’t even seen the Ranger draw. “That was amazing!”

The Fairy Ranger touched the brim of his dark green hat to her. “Good morning, Princess Saffy.”

“Good morning, Ranger.” Saffy curtsied. “That’s a gorgeous bow—is it Mongolian?”

“Yes, it is,” The Ranger gave her a courtly bow in mid-air. “See you at the contest!” He flew past the line of waiting archers towards the Watch Gate.

Indy rubbed his thumb over the tiny hole in the varnish. “I needed to use that bow today!”

Saffy had to know. “Was that your fairy godfather?”

“Yeah.” Indy’s answer was half-grunt, half-word.

Saffy’s mouth dropped open. There was no justice.

“Something's gonna fly in your mouth,” Indy said, out of the corner of his own.

Saffy shut her mouth. That was more like Indy.

The Fairy Ranger disappeared into the fortress. Saffy wished she’d asked him about the School. She’d wanted him to see her archery first and hadn’t wanted to ask with Indy listening. She could try again inside.

“Actually, I am surprised to see you here.” Indy’s voice was full of confidential concern, probably fake. Indy was back to normal. “You really shouldn’t enter these contests anymore.”

Saffy rolled her eyes. He tried this before every Archery Contest. She lowered her voice. “Fairy gifts are meant to be used.”

But not discussed in a public place. No one wanted to accidentally insult the Fairy Kingdom.

“I didn’t mean your fairy gift.” Indy lowered his voice too, mocking her with his eyes. “I meant the Sanction against the Saffron Kingdom. But you must have cleared that up or you wouldn’t be in line, would you?”

“A Sanction?” Saffy asked. That meant the Saffrons wouldn’t be allowed to participate. She didn’t think anyone would make that up. Not even Indy.

“Oh, so you hadn’t heard? Probably just a rumor then. See you later—or not.” Prince Indy threaded his way through the line and the Watch Gate and disappeared into the fortress.

Could the Archery Contest shut out the Saffron Kingdom? Such a thing had never happened before.

Saffy couldn’t be left out of this contest. It would be too cruel.

The Magenta Kingdom was known for being fair. The Magenta queen, Queen Maggie, would make sure Saffy didn’t get turned back at the Watch Gate. Her parents would have gotten a letter from King Pink before this.

Or someone would have come and taken Saffy out of the line.

A tap on her elbow made her leap into the air. She had an arrow nocked and her bow drawn before she realized what she’d done.

“Uh, excuse me. Princess Saffy?” The Marigold Crown Prince was very cool in battle, or very polite, or both.

Heat climbed up Saffy’s neck. “Sorry.” She carefully took the arrow off the bowstring and put it back in her quiver.

“I should have warned you.” Prince William of Marigold handed her a scroll and a packet of something. He wore a glowing deep orange tunic and matching pants.

“Thank you.” Saffy blinked from the intensity of Marigold orange, recovered and gave him a head bow. With a royal color like that, how his kingdom had stayed hidden for so many years was a mystery. “What’s this?”

“Hot peppers,” Prince William said. The Marigolds were famous for their cooking. “And a recipe. I thought your dragon might like it, you know, better than coal.”

“Right.” Saffy’s face flamed.

Prince William bowed and went back in the line behind her. Saffy had a split second to wonder if he’d given her the hot peppers now because he didn’t expect to see her in the contest.

She felt sick.

Unmoved by her situation, barges cruised up and down the Rhine. That one was filled with a point-y black pile that had to be coal. Saffy winced, searching the sky for the Saffron dragon, but she only saw gliders from the Royal Aeronautical Academy. Maybe Harold number one was out flying today.

She’d ask Magellan later. When she asked him about his plan.

This line! She tapped her foot and forced herself to breathe deeply. She had to stay in the zone for the Archery Contest.

She was where she needed to be at this moment. She had her archery equipment. Her long, trim-fitting saffron-yellow tunic and pants were perfect for archery. Her soft leather boots were silent—unless she made the gravel crunch out of frustration.

Appropriate. Correct. Functional.

The peaceful streets and houses of Koblenz filled the Rhine’s opposite bank. They made her restless.

The line moved up a bit, and she got a clear view of the German Corner—the arrowhead-shaped piece of land where the Rhine and Mosel Rivers met.

Also, a magical place. Magic made her think of fairies. If the Fairy Ranger was here scouting for their Fairy Ranger School, she would finally get her chance. It had to mean something that he knew her nickname. Her heart sang.

Saffy had promised herself that if she ever got the attention of the Fairy Rangers, she would prove herself worthy. The Fairy Rangers were the only ones who could teach her to be like Queen Hildegard. When the dragon went to the Reserve, Saffy had to be able to visit it. This Archery Contest was going to be the most important in her life.

Queen Sweetheart of the Rose Kingdom walked by, arm in arm with her royal husband. She nodded and smiled at Saffy. Then she turned to her husband. Her voice carried. “It’s hard to understand a creature with such unusual tastes. Coal has to be SO indigestible.”

Saffy gritted her teeth. The Rose Kingdom had nothing to worry about from a friendly, rogue dragon. Their castle had a massive cloaking defense wall that let them disguise themselves completely.

The other six kingdoms should mind their own business. The dragon belonged to the Saffron Kingdom.

Finally, it was Saffy's turn.

King Pink, in fuchsia robes, and Queen Ash, in a flowing Blackfly gown, were handling the registration at a broad table set up next to the Watch Gate.

Saffy curtsied.

“Good morning, Queen Ash. Good morning, King Pink.”

Good thing Magellan wasn’t here. He would have had something to say about this combination of royals. Saffy’s stomach felt nervous.

King Pink was known for fairness. The Blackfly queen was known for . . . cheating. There was no other way to say it.

“Do you have any idea what your dragon is costing me in tolls?” Queen Ash demanded.

Saffy tensed. It must be quite a pile of gold. The Blackfly castle was a tollbooth in the middle of the Rhine River. Since the dragon had taken to chasing barges, traffic was waaaaaay down. “No, ma’am.”

King Pink cleared his throat, and Saffy turned eagerly towards him. She reached out for her registration badge.

But he wasn’t offering her one. “Until the Saffron dragon problem has been solved, I’m afraid I can’t let Saffrons register for any Archery Contests.”

“But I have to get into the contest,” Saffy couldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance. “There’s a Fairy Ranger here today.”

“I’m so sorry to disappoint you,” King Pink said, apologetically. “There’s a Sanction against the Saffron Kingdom. No one from that kingdom can participate in Seven Kingdoms events. It’s the rule.”

Behind Saffy, someone cleared their throat.

“Please step to the side,” Queen Ash said, with malicious pleasure.

Seriously outnumbered, Saffy stumbled sideways.

The smile on Queen Ash’s face made Saffy’s fingers itch for the bowstring.

Saffy put her shoulders back and walked away from the registration table to the deserted place at the very end of the line.

In a situation like this, her fairy gift was no help at all.

Wait, maybe it was? She’d show them what kind of Ranger Queen she could be.

Stepping back from the others, she nocked, drew, aimed way up in the sky, and let her arrow fly over the wall of the Magenta Fortress.

Ha! The first bullseye of the Archery Contest.

From the wrong side of the Watch Gate.