Chapter 8

"Wha- what happened?" Zey moaned, getting up off the ground. "It's a full moon," said Queen Crystalia calmly. Zey looked around at the mess he made and gasped. "Oh, gracious! Did I do this?" "I'm afraid so!" said Tyla. "I really am sorry," said Zey, rubbing his head. "What on earth," a small, squeaky voice came from behind "please don't say I have to be the one cleaning this up." The Grade Fives spun around to Nutsy flapping out of Tyla's tent. "No, you don't," said the queen calmly

"So?" asked Raiyaaz. "What will we do?" Queen Crystalia pulled a small, wooden stick out the pocket of her traveling cloak. She muttered something and gave it a short wave. A stream of glitter shot out of it and everything was back to normal.

They left the campsite straight after breakfast, Zey with his scarred hands twisted in the air. Eventually, Chate, who was right next to Tyla, whispered – "What is Zey doing? Surely his arms must be cramped by now?" "He's communicating with the trees," said Tyla "that hand sign means 'peace' in gum."

A slight breeze ruffled through the trees, making everyone tighten their cloaks. Near dusk, a line of bright pink and orange shone through the gumtrees in front of the Grade Fives – the edge of the forest. Zey walked with them until the edge, then said his goodbyes and scampered off back through the forest.

"There it is." Tyla pointed to a black hollow in the flank of a steep mountain, "the Flamy's cave." A fiery light shone around the entrance. "But how do we get up there?" queried Dominic. Tyla pulled a rope out of his rucksack and tied it around himself.

"Okay," he shoved the rope in Rana's hands "you're the strongest, so tie this around yourself. Then the rest of you must do the same if you do not have wings." Rana did what Tyla instructed and then gave the rope to Owen. Once everyone had the rope tied around themselves, they walked towards the base of the mountain. Rana heaved herself up onto a ledge while The Queen, the two teachers, Tisah, Michaela and Hayden flew up to ledge up above them. They were just a quarter of the climb away from the Flamy's cave, when Dominic blurted out, "Where's Josy?"

Everyone looked down to see Josy standing there on the ground. They were so high up that they could not hear her calling them. "I'll get the rope to her," The Queen gave her wand a short flick and the rope became so long that it reached the ground. Josy tied it around herself and with another flick of Queen Crystalia's wand the rope went back to normal. Josy was now a centaur hanging by a rope in mid-air.

They reached the top and immediately a fat, fiery creature came flying out. He stopped, saw the queen standing there and flew back into the cave. They stood there for a moment.

"That flamy was massive!" whispered Cuwien to Chloe, shocked at how big it was. Everyone walked to the mouth of the cave. "Ok," said Queen Crystalia, "now I want all of you to be as quiet as possible. I know that that flamy that just flew out, might have told Queen Flamory "about us, but that was Chubs, the most clueless flamy of them all. He might not have even seen us."

They all entered the cave (Rana had to duck) and followed Tyla and the queen through it. They reached a large, oak door and Tyla told the Grade Fives and the two teachers to stand back while Queen Crystalia used magic to open it. However, before she could, it creaked open and a large flamy with a fiery crown floated out and gasped.

"Well, well, well?' she smirked 'Whaddaya know – Queen Crystalia Myra Judith herself, in my cave! I knew that snatcher on the ickle witch would bring you here!" "If you let her go, there will be no problems!" Queen Crystalia commanded. "Hmm," thought the Flamy Queen, "well, lemme think about it… NO!" Monarch Flamory cackled at the top of her lungs. "And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer, Monarch Flamory!" bellowed Queen Crystalia. Her voice echoed loudly around the cave and Nutsy gave a small jump. Queen Crystalia then shot a spell at the flamy and they both retreated into the cave. Everyone followed them into a small, rocky throne room. Three other flamies and Chubs were playing cards behind the throne and shuffled to hide the game when they saw their queen enter.

Monarch Flamory glided over to her throne and flopped down, her guards moving to protect her. "Bring out the witch!" she screeched at the top of her lungs. The wall of the cave rumbled and slid open to reveal another room. A handful more flamies came out, dragging a girl with a pointed hat with them. "Help!" she was gasping. "Carmin!" shrieked Chloe.

Then more flamies came out and grabbed Queen Crystalia. "Tyla Weatherbury," said Monarch Flamory, "I will trade with you, this witch, in exchange for the queen of your land! Is it a deal?" Tyla glared at the Monarch. "Look," Tyla sighed, "you want a flamy city. We will build you one, in exchange for your patience, our queen, and the witch!" "Nope!" Monarch Flamy cackled, "It will take too long. It's either queen, or the witch, Tyla Weatherbury!"

Tyla growled like a dog.