Word of the Month

CONTENTS

STORIES

The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel - Part 10

The Hunters - Part 3

Beyond Juniper Silverheel - Part 2

Orchestral Instruments - Brass

Poem - Winter's Fire

Recipe - Baked Tomatoes

Orchestral Instruments

Eva Marlie

BRASS

French Horn

Also known as simply “horn”, this instrument is made up of 3.66-3.96 metres of tubing that coils into a shape that is easily played. There are approximately 2-4 of them in an orchestra, but, as with any orchestral instrument, it depends on how many the group needs for the piece they are playing.

(Picture: www.easypedia.gr)

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Beyond Juniper Silverheel

Part 2

Star (13)

PART 2 - Fairy Kin

Elves
A wingless fairy who is light on foot and can be roguish, though is essentially good-humoured. In Scandinavian mythology elves lived in the celestial city called Alfheim. At twilight processions of High Elves, called the Seelie Court , can sometimes be glimpsed in forest areas. Elves are often part of the Imperial court though they do not have a ranking because some can have humour like a Water Fairy, while others can be as wise as Eventides. They are normally taller than the tallest tree fairy as, since they do not have wings, they do not have to be light so that they can fly. The taller elves can blend into human society as a very small human. They can range from half a metre to one and a half metres high.

Hobgoblins
A lively, mischievous, wingless fairy who is fond of practical jokes. Puck from Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream was a hobgoblin. They are usually about half a metre to a metre high.
Important note: Hobgoblins are not to be confused with goblins, quite nasty creatures that should be avoided without exception.

Goblins
Nasty creatures. We know little about them since they are now mostly just legend like the Pravus Elders and the Abydusses are to fairies. They were trapped by Lord Rhohson and Lady Mana's predecessors in Nocturna Suppresso.

To be continued ...

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The Adventures of Juniper Silverheel

Part 10

Star (13) and Nova (12)

“How did they die? Is there any explanation?” I was shocked that I hadn't heard of this before now.

“Well,” said Kanoko. “We think that My Lady Mana died of a heart attack, which is strange because even though she is very old, she was perfectly healthy a few days before she died. No one knows why My Lord Rhohson died. It is very strange; witnesses say that he just fell suddenly and died.”
This seemed very strange indeed. All three of the council were perfectly healthy and then all of a sudden they just died ...
“There's something else as well,” said Kanoko. “All fairies will have to assemble at the Imperial court. That means that no one can track Elvena to make sure she's alright. But we will still be able to see her on the Eventide maps.”
“Even the forest fairies? Great! Now what'll we do?” I cursed in frustration.
“Of course the forest fairies! You're the next most intelligent beings after Eventides,” said Kanoko. “We can track her on the map. We must go now.” I nodded and we prepared to take flight for our adventure ahead.

* * *

We flew straight across the sea; it was the shortest way to what the humans called England . But the wind was strong and there was nowhere to rest until Finger Point. Though we spent most of the day travelling, there was still time for other things. I used most of that time worrying myself over Elvena and Lux's differentness. What did I see in him which was like her? My mind seemed blank as I fought against the wind of the ocean. By nightfall, we could see the distant lights of civilization thanks to Kanoko's Power Puffballs that we'd had before we set out. They really work, but only for twelve hours, so we were relieved when we saw the city. Though cites meant humans and humans meant danger, I was still relieved to see a significant landmark. Kanoko said:

“That's Cardiff . There should be more cites now. The Imperial court is on the other side of England , past Glasgow .”
“Oh, so we still have a while before a rest?” I was truly exhausted and I could see deep in his eyes that Kanoko felt the same way.

“Yes,” said Kanoko. “Can't you feel it? This is a big thing. The court is calling all fairies across the world.”
“How much will this delay our... other plans?”
“As long as the court wants us to stay, we stay. Only a very powerful fairy could deny the court’s will.”
“But...! Kanoko! It could take weeks!” Now I was angry. Of course it had to come up now!
“Yes,” he said, in a matter-of-fact voice. “It could take weeks, or months, or days, or hours, or even minutes. You never know. It's no use getting angry, Juniper. We just have to accept the way things are.”  This time I kept my mouth shut; words wouldn't make a difference. I stared down at the buildings that stretched as far as the eye could see. I noticed that even though I had stopped or at least tried to stop as I talked I was still moving just as fast as I had before. Like something was pulling me...

“The power puffballs still have an effect.” Kanoko answered my question before I could ask it.

“How can Power Puffballs pull me when I want to stop? They only give me energy!" I shouted. This time I actually tried to stop. I couldn't.

To be continued ...

The Hunters

Part 3

Roania (10) and Hermia (12)

Chapter 2 - Reena

The last thing I remembered was seeing the faces of humans, then I blacked out. It felt like I was being pulled down by groping hands. I struggled but they were stronger than me. They pulled me slowly down. Then voices started singing to me.

“Come to us, out of the land of suffering,” they seemed to say. I stopped struggling and let the hands pull me down. But then there was a bright green light and a male voice calling, “Come child it is too early for you to go to the darkness.” The voices stopped singing and I snapped out of it, struggling for the point of light at the top of what seemed like a well.
When I made it there the first thing I felt was pain and weakness. I'd never felt so weak. Then I heard the voices of humans. Humans, I thought. Danger. I sat bolt upright going automatically into a crouch. I felt dizzy at this light movement but I ignored the pain and dizziness. There was a man leaning over the bed. My eyes darted. There was a gap in the Human’s tent. I made a leap for it. I managed to get just outside the tent before my strength failed me. I stumbled and fell. I tried to get up but I was too weak. I managed to whistle the piercing whistle I had taught Snow Storm before I blacked out again. When I woke up I still felt weak. I also still sensed humans but I didn't try to run like I had before; I knew I didn't have the strength. I opened my eyes and looked straight into in the grinning face of my little sister. I almost choked as I saw that face so unlike my own.

“Cheera!” I gasped. “Did they get you?”
“No,” she said cheerfully. “I told them I wanted to see you. They let me see you.”
“But –”

“We can trust them, Reena.” She lowered her voice. “At least most of them.”
“Where's Snow Storm?” I asked.
“Looking after himself.”
“If we can trust them why won't they let me go?”
“They don't want you to get hurt.”
“I can look after myself.”
“They don't know that. Anyway look at yourself; you can hardly walk, let alone fight.”
I sighed. She was right. She was always right with Human things, even though we were only in contact with them about once a year.

“Well,” I said. “As soon as I'm better I'll be off.”
“That's fine with me. Meanwhile I get to babysit you.” She grinned. “Nice swap of positions, don't you think?”
I rolled my eyes and went to sleep.
When I woke Cheera was still there sleeping. There was also the man who had been standing over me when I first woke.

“Ah! Hello, Reena. You’re awake.”

I gave him an expressionless stare and said, “Obviously.” He looked slightly offended
“Well, that's not too friendly.”

“If you’re too friendly in this world…" I said. "…you'll most likely get killed."
“Well, yes, but you can trust us, Reena.”
“How do I know I can trust you when I don't even know your name.”
“Well, I suppose you’re right. My name is Wilton . I'm squad three’s healer.”
“When will I be better, then?”
“Normally it would take a week or two to recover from something like you've been through. But you seem to be healing very fast. I mean you actually managed to stand and run after only ten hours, and your ears are very strange too. You don't appear to be exactly... human. What are you?”
“Why would I tell you?”
“Ok. How old are you?”
“Older than ten.”
“Do you know when you were born?”
“Yes.”
He frowned.

“Then you should know how old you are.”
“I'm not stupid. I know how old I am. I'm just not going to tell you.”
“You’re very stubborn.”
“So I should be. When will I be better?”
He sighed.

“A few days.”
“Good. You hear that, Cheera? We'll be free soon.” I knew she wasn't asleep, just pretending. She had woken up halfway through the conversation.
“Good,” said Cheera.
“Um, about that. Do you have a family?” said Wilton . I looked at him.
“No. Why?”
“I think that... it would be best if you stayed.”
“Why?”
“Your magic. You need to be trained.”
“I can train myself.”
“So you know you have magic?”
“I'm not stupid.”
“Well, how exactly do you intend to control it?”
“Experience, books… ”
“Well, what type of magic do you think you have?”
“Animal magic. Maybe plant magic”
“What about the magic you killed the poison weavers with.”
“What?”
“It was storm magic. Lighting to be precise. The plant and animal magic would explain why it didn't harm anything else.”
“What about you?”
“One of the other mages managed to throw up a shield just in time.”
“What's your point?”
“Storm magic is the most uncontrollable and least known magics in the world. If you don't need a teacher for your other magics, you definitely need one for this.”
I sighed and said, “Ok, Cheera what do you think?”
“As long as we can make it once a year.”
“So,” I said. “Who will teach me?”
“A storm mage called Hegila. She already has one student who had a little animal magic and a little storm magic.”
“Ok,” I said, stretching and getting up. “I'll just settle in then.”
“Hey!” he said. “Take it easy.”
I looked over my shoulder and smiled, then rode into the forest.

To be continued …

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Poem

Winter's Fire

Tara Rose

Go to that place inside of yourself,

That place of comfort, and of joy

Breathe the crackling of the laughing Fire,

As the rains cry and the winds scream

Winter wanes, and the fire dwindles,

But know, when winter returns there is always kindle

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Recipe

William (10)

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