They heard a horse whinny and a man shout. Close. Too close. Ellie grasped Omar’s arm. His muscles were tight; he was ready to spring. The pistol was in his hand. She let go, realizing he didn’t need distraction. A gun fired nearby, and someone shouted. Omar pushed Ellie to the ground and shielded her body with his. Lights flickered through the brush, more guns fired, and several voices began to shout. Ellie and Omar lay flat in the wet leaf litter.
Then a terrible noise seemed to stop her heart, an unearthly roar that shook the earth beneath her. Men and horses screamed in terror, guns fired, and hoofbeats pounded the ground. Ellie breathed in the peaty smell of moss and earth, and she felt Omar’s heartbeat against her shoulder. Not until the gunfire began had she realized how close the hunters were to their hiding place. Was the riding trail that near?
She knew the source of that roar: The Gamekeeper had responded to her message more quickly than she’d imagined possible. Perhaps he had still lingered near the resort when she sent it. Who could know? But he had come through for them tonight.
One glance over her shoulder toward the unicorns, and Ellie scrambled into motion. The mother still crouched over her baby, but her ears were flat back, and her horn and eyes glowed red. Ellie pulled out her spray and again filled the glade with the aroma of flowering clover and grasses.
“You needn’t fear,” she said softly. “The Gamekeeper is an enchanted beast who protects all magical creatures. He will chase away the men who wished to harm you. And if you are willing, he will take you to a place where many of your kind live in peace and safety. I understand your fear—he frightened me too when I first met him. But now I know he is good and kind. If you doubt me, ask the brownies who live and work at Faraway Castle. Or the lake monster.”
The unicorn’s horn and eyes darkened and disappeared in the night. Ellie again felt trust flow toward her. The sensation was strange and gratifying. All was quiet behind her, so she dared to ask, “Once we know the bad men are gone, will you come with us to the resort? We will shelter you there in secret until the Gamekeeper can transport you to the refuge.”
Sensing the creature’s uncertainty, she added, “The Gamekeeper will not take you to the refuge against your will. But I am certain you and your little one will be safe with him. Far safer than you can be anywhere else in these mountains.”
Again Ellie sensed the unicorn’s thoughts. “You wish to wait until morning? Um, let me speak to my companion.”
She shuffled back to where she had left Omar, but he was not there. “Omar?” she inquired softly, trying not to panic.
“Here.” He spoke aloud from a short distance away. He sounded calm, so she pushed through the underbrush and walked down the slope to the bridle path. The Gamekeeper was nowhere in sight, but another man stood with Omar. “Briar’s horse bolted along with the others,” Omar explained.
“My mistake,” Briar said. “I dismounted to try to distract Prince Maximilian just before the Gamekeeper spoke his piece.”
“Did you see him?” Omar asked.
“The Gamekeeper? No. It’s a good thing he came when he did. I delayed and muddled things up for as long as I could, the dwarfs dawdled, and the brownies at the stable were as inefficient as a brownie can bear to be, but ol’ Prince Max headed for this place like a compass arrow finds the North Pole. First one, then all four mighty hunters started shooting at patches of moonlight. I’m just glad you’re safe. Omar says you found the unicorn and she’s a new mother.”
“Yes, and they are both doing well,” Ellie answered. “Thank you for delaying the hunting party for us.”
“Still, if not for the Gamekeeper, we would be in a bad way right now,” Omar admitted. “Where is he? Might he be wounded?”
“I never saw him at all, but then I ducked for cover after that first shot. I’ll scout around if you like. I don’t like the idea of leaving a wounded compatriot behind.” Briar sounded as calm and cheerful as ever.
“But what do we do now?” Ellie asked. “The unicorn asked if we might rest until dawn. It won’t be a comfortable night, but we should do well enough.”
“I’m afraid those men will come back to learn what terrified their horses,” Briar said. “They are—or rather, Prince Max is—far more determined than I’d expected. Though what glory is to be had from killing a unicorn, I can’t imagine.”
“The horn is valuable,” Omar added, “but none of those lords and princes should be lacking in wealth. One way or another, we must get the unicorns away from this place.”
“Yes, the horn of a unicorn is valuable for its magical power.” Briar spoke with his usual nonchalance, but Ellie sensed something disturbing behind his words. His following statement confirmed this: “Dangerous power, in the wrong hands.”
Just as she opened her mouth to inquire further, she heard a familiar trill, wings fluttered, and something landed on her shoulder. “Well, hello!” The nightjar had never before perched on her. “Just a moment, gentlemen.”
She stepped aside, carefully pulled the little tube from the bird’s leg, and opened it. A voice emerged for her ears only: “Take the unicorn to the maternity barn tonight; the road there and the barn are safe. I will come Saturday at dawn to collect her and the baby, if she wishes. And if you wish, you may accompany them.”
Oh. Oh my! Ellie thought. The thought of traveling to the Gamekeeper’s home was both exciting and intimidating. She knew with her head and heart that he was good and would not harm her, but her gut nevertheless clenched at the prospect.
After brief thought, she sent a return message. “Will comply. Thank you for stepping in. Mother and baby are well.” Even as she spoke, she wondered how the Gamekeeper knew about the baby unicorn. Had he been observing them from cover? He might be watching even now. It was not a comfortable thought.
She slipped the tube in place and said, “Please take this to the Gamekeeper.” The bird gave an answering chirp and took off, instantly disappearing in the darkness.
She turned to the men, their faces like mottled gray smudges in the shadows and starlight. “The Gamekeeper says we should take the unicorns to the maternity barn tonight—the road and barn are well guarded. I don’t know, but I suspect he is still here.”
“Unnerving yet reassuring,” Briar remarked. “Let’s get moving.”
Omar carried the sleeping baby unicorn, walking with its mother at his elbow where she could easily touch her young one with her nose. Ellie walked at the unicorn’s other side, her pack feeling heavier than it had earlier in the day, and Briar took up the rear. Walking on the bridle path through forest and pastures, they made quick progress. The night was quiet, clear, and starry. Ellie saw a few falling stars but didn’t dare wish on one.
As they approached the stables, she sensed something new: an invisible magic fence allowed them to pass through to the barns—the Gamekeeper’s work, no doubt.
Mira and Howurl awaited them in the maternity barn, eager to direct them to a stall piled with fresh golden straw. Miria almost smiled, she was so happy. “We will feed and protect the unicorns, you may be sure. I am so pleased that Tob kept his promise! What a fine day this has been.”
Ellie felt the unicorn summon her and hurried into the stall to calm the mother’s fears. “Don’t worry, you’re safe here. You must have sensed the magical barrier we passed? The Gamekeeper placed it around the barns so that no enemy may enter. The brownies are your friends, and if the horses are unfriendly, they are also unable to escape their stalls. In a few days the Gamekeeper will bring a special cart to carry you and your baby to the sanctuary on the far side of the mountain, and there you may live among many of your kind and raise your young one in safety, if you choose to remain. Tomorrow, if I’m able to do so safely, I’ll come and visit you here.” By the time Ellie finished speaking, both unicorns were asleep, glowing softly and snuggled together.