Wings of Change

Chapter 6: Getting Told Off

They flew toward the tree in silence. Vidia had let go of him but was tailing so close that he had absolutely no chance of flying away, even if he wanted to. A million scenarios were rushing through the fast-flying talent's mind, but so far, she hadn't come to the correct conclusion. Not that he expected her to. After all, no one knew the Protectors existed.

She was still convinced he'd somehow stolen the Pixie dust, which left her in a state of confusion, somewhere between incredibly impressed and undoubtedly angry that he'd supposedly been able to do what she couldn't.

He didn't know how to convince her otherwise without telling her the truth. The whole truth. Exactly what he had been specifically instructed not to tell anyone. Well, the Queen would know that he wasn't stealing dust and if Vidia would have taken the time to visit the Dust-talents, she would have known that he had not yet gone there for rations as Fairy Mary seemed to like to bring them to him personally.

They reached the Pixie dust Tree a few minutes later. Phineas landed unsteadily on the flattened surface, shooting Vidia a nervous glance as she touched down behind him and shoved him forward.

The Queen and the Ministers were in the middle of a late-night meeting, so Phineas was more than content to sit outside on one of the knotted branches and wait, but the fast-flyer would have none of it. She heaved him up by the back of his shirt and, opening the door with a bang, practically tossed him in, much to the shock of the fairies already gathered.

Redleaf and Hyacinth gasped and Snowflake covered her mouth as Phineas hit the floor before them, coughing, and Vidia stood in the doorway, arms crossed.

What is Vidia doing here?

And why is she throwing about that twig of a sparrowman?

"Vidia," Queen Clarion spoke as Phineas struggled up. She was forcing herself to be calm. He could hear it in her words and in her mind. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Yes! We are in the middle of an important meeting!" Redleaf butted in.

"Now, now, Minister," Clarion said soothingly. "I'm sure there's a logical explanation." Her gaze was fixed on Phin, and he could hear her underlying fears, even as he kept his eyes down.

He's been caught.

Does she know?

How many others discovered the truth?

How?

"I've caught your dust thief, Your Majesty!" Vidia blurted. "He's the one who has been stealing all of the tree's extra dust!"

Is that what this is all about? Oh, Vidia...

"Don't be absurd!" Redleaf began again loudly. "How could this sparrowman possibly--"

"I'll handle it, Minister," Queen Clarion interrupted once again. "Vidia, dear, listen to me. I am grateful that you are trying to help in this matter, but if you just paused for a moment to think...dust has been going missing from our tree long before Phineas arrived. He can't be the one behind this."

Vidia's face went from triumphant to sour in less time than it took to blink. "But, I...he...he flew so fast, Queen Clarion! Faster than me! No fairy is faster than me!"

"Aren't you being a little presumptuous?" Hyacinth muttered behind a fake cough.

This time, the queen ignored him. "Phineas," she said gently. "It's all right to stand up now."

The sparrowman scrambled to his feet, embarrassed. He glanced from the Queen, to the Ministers, to Vidia, and then down to his feet, too afraid to look at any of them, lest they guess his secret immediately.