Legend of the Unicorns: The Faire Pendant Series, #3

By Leah Price

A magic pendant, a mystical unicorn, and a race to rescue it from the fairy folk before it's too late...

Glenna's life is anything but ordinary. The daughter of Renaissance festival vendors, Glenna's days are filled with magic and medieval reenactments as she travels the faire circuit with her family.

Then one day, Glenna's life changes forever. With the help of a pendant, she discovers Otherworld. An enchanted realm, Otherworld is the land in which all of the myths and magic woven by the Renaissance players comes to life!

When Glenna stumbles across an injured unicorn in the woods, she knows she must do all she can to help it. But as Glenna soon learns, there's something quite different about this unicorn. It's unlike any unicorn the residents of Otherworld have ever seen, and the fairy folk are determined to keep it for themselves.

Can Glenna discover the secret of the unicorn? Can she rescue it before the fairy folk ensnare it? And perhaps most importantly, can she juggle both her life in the real world and her life in Otherworld without damaging either?

If you like strong female characters, dangerous quests, and epic journeys through vivid lands of imagination, you'll love Legend of the Unicorns.

Perfect for fans of Diana Wynne Jones, Michael Buckley, and Chris Colfer.

Buy Legend of the Unicorns today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Talebearers Publishing
• Release date: Jun 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507004869

Leah Price

Leah Price was born and raised in Tennessee. She enjoys reading and writing as well as horseback riding and traveling. After studying abroad and working in a variety of locations, she has returned to Tennessee and devoted herself to writing. She LOVES hearing from her readers so don’t hesitate to drop her a line at www.LeahPrice.com.

Book preview

The Faire Pendant

Legend of the Unicorns

by Leah Price

THE FAIRE PENDANT

LEGEND OF THE UNICORNS

Published by

Talebearers Publishing

Nashville

Copyright © 2015 Leah Price.

Cover Photo © Catmando / Adobe Stock

Cover Frame © Leah Price

All Rights Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter One - The Forest

Chapter Two – Robyn Hode

Chapter Three – The Fairy

Chapter Four - Fireworks

Chapter Five – The Jousters

Chapter Six – A Conversation over Breakfast

Chapter Seven – Tea with a Troll

Chapter Eight – Atterberry’s Cottage

Chapter Nine – Searching for Unicorns

Chapter Ten - The Secret in the Woods

Chapter Eleven - Otherworld

Chapter Twelve – Fia Silvana

Chapter Thirteen – The Unicorn

Chapter Fourteen - The Great Search

Chapter Fifteen – The End

Also by Leah Price

About Leah Price

Connect with Leah Price

Acknowledgements

I’d like to acknowledge everyone who supported me during the making of this book, including my parents and family. Thank you for answering my million questions and helping my dream become a reality.

PROLOGUE

THE COOL BREEZE STIRRED the leaves in the dim woods. The smell of fresh earth and growing plants hung thick in the air. The still forest echoed with silence, waiting as it had for many days. It seemed a shock when a sudden noise broke the pervading stillness.

A slender hoof descended upon the fragile ivy, crushing it underfoot as the animal stumbled forward. As it fell to its knees, it slashed a wide mark across the trunk of a nearby tree, leaving a gaping scar in the rough bark. It breathed heavily as it stretched across the ground, falling quickly to sleep.

From above, several expressionless eyes watched the scene, their disinterested gazes flashing in and out of view among the trees.

CHAPTER ONE

THE FOREST

LOUD GIGGLES FILLED the air as Glenna ran through the woods. For a moment, Glenna believed it was coming from the trees themselves. A feeling of all-consuming happiness floated through the branches, scenting the air she breathed. The world felt free and alive with magic and music. She realized with a start that it was her own laughter she was hearing. She struggled to stifle it as she slowed down, edging around tree trunks and peeking through the underbrush.

The Forest of Shirwode was a maze of trees, plants, and living, breathing creatures. Its paths wound about the trees in a puzzle Glenna believed she would never learn. But she wasn't worried. She knew her friends would find her and lead her back to safety if she found herself to be lost.

Crouching, Glenna adjusted her long skirt, carefully tucking one end over her satchel so that it didn't trail across the ground. The light green of the fabric did not exactly match the forest floor, but it was not too startling of a contrast. Her chest heaved against her corset as she struggled to catch her breath.

As the heavily scented air filled her lungs, Glenna closed her eyes, resting her head against the trunk of a tree. How can I be this lucky? She knew, without a doubt, she was one of the luckiest girls who had ever existed.

It all started when she received the gift of a pendant. With it, she was able to travel to Otherworld, a place where the creatures and people of the Renaissance faire circuit became the characters they played. She already loved traveling the faire circuit with her family, but it was even better now that she had the pendant.

Her hand trailed across the rough bark of the tree, and she opened her eyes, puzzled.

What's this? she muttered as the bark gave way to raw wood. A wide slash crossed the tree, leaving a gaping wound trailing towards the ground. It wound around the trunk, out of sight.

Glenna studied it, confused. It looked fresh. Its raw edges caught at her skin as she took a step forward, her fingertips tracing the jagged mark as she walked.

Lost in thought, she never noticed the being hovering above her, hiding amongst the thick branches. A scream filled the air as a figure appeared suddenly in front of Glenna, dropping down from a limb to hang in mid-air before her. She echoed the scream, paralyzed with fear.

Ash's scream turned to a high-pitched laugh, and he clutched his stomach as he rocked back and forth with laughter, swaying upside down from a large tree branch. His shaggy hair stood away from his head, flopping back into place as he bent forward and grasped the limb with both hands, pulling himself up just enough so that he could free his legs. He swung neatly down, landing with a thump in front of her, his right hand steadying himself against the ground.

You should have seen the look on your face, Ash smirked.

Glenna clutched her chest, her heart still racing with fear. You scared me. I wasn't paying attention.

Well, you should have been, Ash said, smiling. His carefree nature was infectious. Glenna could not help but grin back.

Ash. Glenna turned back to the tree. If anyone knew what the strange mark on the tree was, it would be Ash. He was an imp, after all. In fact, Glenna had begun to think of him as part tree himself. What do you think made this?

But when she turned back, she discovered she was alone once more. He's hiding, Glenna thought, and sighed. Their game of hide and seek had been fun, but it was quickly losing its novelty. Ash found her within minutes, sometimes seconds, despite her best efforts and a head start. Ash, on the other hand, took forever to find. Many times, he became so bored waiting on her to discover his hiding place he ended up revealing himself.

Ash, Glenna called. Flutter? But she received no reply. Flutter was even more difficult to locate. In the game of hide and seek, her small size and ability to change her hair color came in very handy, though the other creatures of Otherworld did not seem to have as much difficulty finding her as Glenna. Despite the fact Glenna knew her friends were near, she felt suddenly and inexplicably alone.

They're hiding. A cool, regal voice rang out in the silence.

Who said that? Glenna asked, turning.

I did.

Glenna realized the voice was coming from above her, and a wave of fear came over her. She swallowed hard, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. You know what it is, she told herself. Only one creature in Otherworld could sound so disdainful, condescending, and proud. Only one creature could make even the smallest remark echo with arrogance. Only one creature. The most dangerous and tricky creature in Otherworld. At least, of those Glenna had met so far.

She forced her eyes open, her gaze traveling slowly up the branches. She scanned the limbs, and for just a moment, she believed she must have been mistaken. I'm wrong, she thought with some relief. Nothing's there. She did not feel ready to receive the addresses of the treacherous creatures. Especially without her friends. Besides, only trouble would have come from such a being as the one she believed the voice belonged to. One of their kind would not have deigned to talk to her otherwise. She smiled, relieved.

But then, as she looked one last time, her gaze landed on the lady as she stretched along the branch, one limp hand playing with a flower-laced braid. Interwoven jewels sparkled in her hair as she shifted to face Glenna.

A fairy.

SEVERAL MOMENTS PASSED before Glenna could find the right words. She felt frozen, and the words seemed to be stuck in her throat as she struggled to speak.

Did... did you say something to me? she finally choked out. She was angry when her voice quivered noticeably with fear.

Again, the fairy toyed with her, remaining silent. After a long pause, Glenna turned to leave, happy to escape. But then the fairy spoke, and her words trapped Glenna as neatly as a snare.

I did, the fairy said. I thought you might want to know.

Despite her fear, Glenna's curiosity could not be overcome. Know what? she asked, licking her dry lips as she waited.

Once more, the fairy hesitated, turning so that she lay flat against the branch. Her large wings, shining like precious stones, hung limply towards earth. She studied the leaves above her, and when she finally spoke, her voice dripped with boredom.

What made that mark?

I did. I mean, I do, Glenna said.

Then, the fairy rose to her feet, her wings disappearing from sight. She sighed heavily. I suppose you should follow me.

Glenna hesitated, glancing over her left shoulder. I shouldn't go alone.

Ash? she called out again, her voice louder this time. Flutter? Where are you?

She listened for any sound of her friends, but nothing came to her. Turning back, she noticed the fairy watching her. She cocked her head to one side