Fairy Realm #8: The Water Sprites
By Emily RoddaHarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Copyright ©2005 Emily Rodda
All right reserved.ISBN: 0060777613Chapter One
An Invitation
Jessie fastened her charm bracelet around her wrist and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her green eyes were sparkling. Her golden red hair shone against the rich blue of her new dress. She looked happy and excited, and no wonder! It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and she was going to a party. Not an ordinary party, either, but a party in the magical world of the Realm.
The charm bracelet jingled softly as Jessie picked up the gold-speckled leaf lying beside her hairbrush. When she'd found the leaf on her desk a couple of days before, she'd thought at first that it was quite ordinary. She thought the breeze had blown it through her open window.
She'd never seen a leaf just like it before, but that wasn't surprising. The garden of Blue Moon, her grandmother's old house in the mountains, was filled with unusual trees and bushes. Though she and her mother had been living with Granny for over a year, Jessie was still discovering plants that were new to her.
But when she picked up the speckled leaf, she suddenly saw that there was something strange about it. The yellow speckles were in straight lines, set tidily one above the other. Jessie peered at them closely. And then she realized that the speckles were words! The leaf was covered in tiny yellow writing.
Jessie smiled as she remembered how astonished and delighted she'd been as she read the leaf's message for the first time.
Princess Jessie! The village of Lirralee invites you to baby Jewel's Welcome Party on Saturday afternoon. The party begins at three o'clock and ends when the birds go to bed. There will be music, dancing, games, and lots of food. Please come!
On the other side of the leaf there was another message, in different handwriting.
Hope you can come, Jessie. Giff and Maybelle are invited, too. Be at my place at 2:30 and we can all go together. Lirralee is my old home village. Everyone is longing to meet you. Love, Patrice.
Jessie had been very relieved to read that note. She had no idea where Lirralee was, but with her friends Patrice the palace housekeeper, Giff the elf, and Maybelle the miniature horse to guide her, she wouldn't get lost.
She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and was startled to see that it was after two o'clock. Time had flown. If she didn't hurry, she'd be late. She grabbed the gift she'd wrapped in silver paper, and hurried out of her room to find her grandmother.
Voices were floating from the kitchen. Jessie sighed as she recognized the chirping tones of Mrs. Tweedie, the next-door neighbor.
What a nuisance! Mrs. Tweedie was a very curious woman. If she saw Jessie heading for the bottom of the Blue Moon garden dressed in party clothes, she'd ask all sorts of questions.
Jessie hesitated, wondering if she should just slip out the front door without saying good-bye. Her mother was out for the day, and Granny would understand.
"I'm so upset!" Mrs. Tweedie wailed. "I was terribly fond of that ring. It was my mother's."
"I'm sure you'll find it, Louise," Granny said soothingly. "It's probably just fallen -- "
"No!" Mrs. Tweedie insisted. "It was on my bedside table, in a little crystal dish. I remember perfectly. I put it there before I did the washing. I always put it there. That Wiseman person who came to clean the windows took it. I know he did."
Jessie's eyes widened, and she felt heat rush into her face. Mr. Wiseman was the father of her friend Sal. He was a kind, cheerful man, always full of jokes and fun, just like Sal. What was Mrs. Tweedie saying about him?
She rushed into the kitchen. Granny and Mrs. Tweedie turned to look at her.
"Is that a new outfit, dear?" asked Mrs. Tweedie, her sharp little nose twitching as she looked Jessie up and down. "I don't think I've seen it before. It's very pretty. Are you going to a party?"
"Yes," Jessie said breathlessly. "But, Mrs. Tweedie, I couldn't help hearing what you were saying about Mr. Wiseman just now, and -- "
Mrs. Tweedie's face grew solemn. "It's not very nice, I know," she said. "I hate to accuse anyone, but facts are facts. I can't go to the police -- I mean, the man will just deny he took my ring, won't he? But I know he did it, and it's only right to warn people about him."
"Louise, believe me, Alf Wiseman is no thief!" Granny said very firmly. "He's been in and out of Blue Moon for years -- ever since he started his window-cleaning business. He's as honest as the day is long."
"Of course he is!" Jessie exclaimed. "He's my friend's dad. I know him really well."
Mrs. Tweedie looked at her sorrowfully. "I am sorry, dear," she said. "But, sadly, people aren't always what they seem."
"Jessie, you'd better go, or you'll be late," Granny said as Jessie opened her mouth to argue. "You'll have to run as it is."
"Don't tell me you're walking to the party, dear?" cried Mrs. Tweedie as Jessie hurried to the door. "In your nice dress and shoes? No, no. Come on, I'll drive you."
"No!" Jessie exclaimed, horrified. "I mean, thank you, but it isn't far. I don't need a lift."
"It's no trouble!" said Mrs. Tweedie. "I must go, anyway. I just popped in for a minute to see if your grandmother wanted anything at the supermarket."
And to spread rumors about Mr. Wiseman, Jessie thought furiously. But the anger was driven from her mind as Mrs. Tweedie picked up her handbag and car keys from the kitchen table and bustled to join her at the door.
"Now, where's this party? Which street?" Mrs. Tweedie asked brightly.
Panic-stricken, Jessie glanced at her grandmother.
Continues...Excerpted from Fairy Realm #8: The Water Spritesby Emily Rodda Copyright ©2005 by Emily Rodda. Excerpted by permission.
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