‘It’s OK,’ Cat said to them both. ‘We’re going to get out of here. I promise.’

She told Mikey and Jenny to keep well back and stood shoulder to shoulder with Shane. Together, they faced the trees, ready to make a stand.

Chapter Twenty-Three

The Last Stand

The fairy host arrived with the force of a hurricane, whipping up dead leaves and trampling over bushes as they streamed into the clearing. Within seconds, they had the children entirely surrounded, cutting off any possible means of escape. Cat took a step closer to Shane and felt the reassuring pressure of his arm against hers. She could do this. She just had to be brave. From out of the trees rode the Queen of the Fairies on her stallion. She brought the horse to a halt a few feet away from the children and eyed them coldly.

‘You’ve led us on a merry chase tonight, of that there is no doubt, but we have you surrounded now. It’s time for you to come away quietly.’

‘I don’t think so,’ said Cat.

‘I propose an offer,’ said the queen, softening her voice. ‘If you come with us without any more fuss, we will leave your brother and sister alone. What could be fairer than that?’

‘You think I’d trust you after what you did to us earlier?’ said Cat with a scoff. ‘Unlikely.’

‘You try my patience, child,’ said the queen with a sigh. ‘In that case, we shall have to do things the hard way.’ She clapped her hands together and one of the fairy riders trotted forward. Cat noticed there was something slung across his horse’s back but in the early morning gloom it was difficult to make out what it was. The rider pulled up to a stop next to the queen and roughly shoved the bundle to the ground. It landed with a loud thump and a groan. Cat realised with horror it wasn’t a bundle at all. It was Nancy, tied at the hands and feet.

‘We know the girl helped you escape,’ said the queen. ‘She is a traitor who poisoned my husband with that wretched iron and if you don’t come with us now, I promise we will make her pay.’

Nancy moaned and shifted slightly. She was hurt, but still alive. Shane darted forward to help her, but Cat stuck out her arm to hold him back.

‘She needs us,’ he said.

‘I know,’ Cat whispered. ‘And we’ll help her soon, I promise. Just trust me.’

Shane said nothing, but he took a step backwards and that was enough for Cat.

‘What will it be? Answer now or we will take every last one of you and none of you shall ever see your homes or families again.’

Cat took a deep breath. It was now or never.

‘Did you know that the Pooka gave me a new name tonight? “Cat-of-the-Fairies” he called me, because I notice things. I see things that others don’t. Do you know what I see now?’ she said, staring the queen dead in the eye.