Clara and the Magical Charms by Margaret McNamara

Author:Margaret McNamara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

eleven

“The Round-the-Island Swim begins . . . now!”

All the fairies cheered as Alasdair, Rowan, Hamish, Cam, Andy, Ethelrood, and the other gnomes dived off the dock and splashed into Sheepskerry Bay early the next morning. The fairies didn’t generally participate in this race—it wasn’t wise to take off their wings for such a long time.

“It must be freezing in that water!” said Sylva. “How do they do it?”

“Queen Mab enchanted the bay,” said Rosy. “She made the water as warm as it is in summertime.”

“Even then it’s too cold for me,” said Goldie, with a shiver.

“Still, I’d like to try a Round-the-Island Swim sometime. I could do it so fast my wings wouldn’t even notice they were off my shoulders,” said Sylva. “Maybe next year!”

“It’s all riding on this!” Lady Courtney announced with gusto. “If Alasdair wins, he takes first prize. But since this event is such a high-scoring one, Rowan or Ethelrood could snatch the trophy away from him. What will be the outcome? Who will win the Valentine’s Games?”

All the fairies were crowded at the dock to watch the beginning of the race. They started flying toward the West Shore to follow the gnomes’ progress when they heard a shout from Iris Flower.

“Come on, everybody,” she called. “Queen Mab sent the Royal Balloon so we can follow the race! It’s waiting for us behind Clearwater Cottage! Come on!”

Queen Mab hardly ever brought out the Royal Balloon, but when there was going to be a traffic jam of fairies in the sky, it was the best solution.

The Royal Balloon wasn’t really a balloon, but everybody called it that. It was an intricate straw basket, lined with deep blue velvet, that was pulled by a flock of very friendly chickadees who lived on Sheepskerry year-round. The black-capped birds chittered with excitement as the fairies piled in.

“Come on, Sylva!” cried Poppy. “Climb aboard!” Next, her own sisters disappeared into the basket. Clara heard Rosy calling her name. “Clara! Clara, where are you?”

Clara almost floated over to the balloon to be with her friends . . . but then she thought, They’ll be able to see the whole race from up there, but if I stay closer to shore, I can follow Rowan. “Go ahead!” she called to Rosy. “Go ahead without me!”

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