The Gate Fairy closes his sleepy eyes and leans against a leaf. The leaf gives way and he falls onto the branch. He stands back up, straightens his straw hat and stretches his wings. Nullaboo hullabaloo! He must have dozed off. He shakes himself awake, trying to clear his head. Then he starts his preamble.

‘Wait for it, wait for it … there goes the last bus … here comes the late teacher … her car is driving towards the gate and … IIIIIT’S OOOOOUT!’ His voice booms and his words are followed by an almighty siren as he blows into a tiny horn.

Fairies swarm from the trees in Glint Lane. Some flutter playfully through the leaves, while others zoom towards the playground, cascading down the slide, in and out of the monkey bars and over the rock climbing wall. The Glints, Twinkles and Sparkles skip out of the hollows, run their hands over the smooth glossy leaves and breathe in the excitement. Curfew is over until the first car arrives tomorrow morning. But today is a special day, and the end of curfew brings an electrifying atmosphere. This afternoon is the Wing Ceremony. Every year at the ceremony new flyers – fairies who recently grew wings – race around the school grounds, finishing in Glint Lane. The race marks the end of Sparklehood and showcases the new fairies’ speed, endurance and, most importantly, their heart. The winner is awarded fast-flying status and they are called upon in emergencies for special duties. As far as Papa Faff is concerned, though, winning the race isn’t as important as how the race is flown, or how someone wins or loses. Janomi knows that Papa Faff is impressed by those who try hard and want to win, yet race fair and lose well.

Silver dust swirls as the fairies settle into their seats and wait for the race to begin.

Janomi loves the Wing Race, but today she can’t stay and watch. She has an emergency meeting to attend … and she doesn’t think she’ll be returning. Not after her mother and Papa Faff’s aides find out what she has done.

‘I can’t wait ’til it starts!’ Elna’s eyes sparkle. She hugs Janomi, forgetting their quarrel. ‘This will be us soon. Let’s find a seat up the front.’

‘I can’t stay,’ Janomi says quietly.

The sparkle in Elna’s eyes fades. ‘Why?’

‘I can’t say. First Family duties.’

‘Again? Why can’t you just tell me what’s going on? First you float around the grounds during curfew and now you’re missing the Wing Race, hiding behind “First Family duties, big secrets for special ears only”.’

‘I never said that,’ says Janomi. ‘And I wish I could tell you, Elna. But, like I said earlier, I can’t. And you know that.’

‘No, actually. I don’t,’ Elna snaps.

Lady Suri lands beside them. ‘Are you ready?’ she says to Janomi.

Janomi nods and places her arms around her mother’s neck. When the conditions are right, Sparkles can float on the breeze to get where they need to go, but without the help of someone who can fly they can’t travel any great distance. This time Janomi needs to be carried.

‘I’m sorry, Elna.’ Janomi feels bad leaving her friend like this, but she can’t risk putting the colony in danger. Why can’t Elna understand that? She gives Elna a small wave, then turns and takes off with her mother.

They fly to the emergency shelter in the far corner of the school grounds. Even though Janomi is holding on tight, her mother’s arms are wrapped securely around her so she is safe during the flight. Lady Suri’s wings blur with speed and Janomi notices that her jaw is clenched tight. Janomi can’t help but feel that her mother is going to be even more stressed after she hears what her daughter has done.

When Janomi and her mother arrive, only two aides and a guard are waiting for them. Most of Papa Faff’s staff are attending the Wing Race, as they usually would, so no questions are asked. The aides hush when Lady Suri walks in, and wait for her and Janomi to take their seats before sitting down themselves. The emergency shelter is in an unlikely tree. A small wattle. The room is cool and dark, with only a small amount of silver dust accumulated for lighting. It isn’t supposed to shine or sparkle, so as not to attract attention from anyone. It’s a hidden safe haven, temporary accommodation to ride through a crisis.

‘What news of my father?’ Lady Suri asks, once everyone is seated.

Sig, Papa Faff’s first assistant, clears his throat. ‘Lady Suri, firstly, we know he’s alive. No Leader Powers have been released, no heart tingles have been felt.’

Janomi lets go a sigh of relief. Sig is right. She hasn’t felt any tingles.

‘That may be so, but it’s only a matter of time,’ says Janomi’s mother. ‘He won’t survive another night cocooned in Queen Bernini’s web. How are we going to rescue him?’

Papa Faff’s second assistant, Bross, steps forward. ‘I propose an attack on Queen Bernini, to free Papa Faff and to take back the Council Chambers.’

‘I second the motion,’ says Sig. ‘It should be arranged immediately. The Wing Race will be a distraction. Queen Bernini and her silver army will think we’re all in attendance and won’t expect an attack.’

‘You know my father does not condone violence. You know he would never approve of such an idea,’ says Suri.

‘With respect, my lady, we have no choice,’ says Sig. ‘After every Wing Race, Papa Faff addresses the crowd at the Wing Ceremony before performing his famous cyclonic evacuation drill of Glint Lane. It’s tradition. If this is cancelled, everyone will know something is wrong. Papa Faff has never missed a Wing Ceremony or evacuation drill before. If he is absent, fairies will worry. They will fly to the Council Chambers to see him, straight into Queen Bernini’s trap. We have to act immediately. Our leader always puts the colony first. He puts their safety above everything else.’

Lady Suri considers Sig’s words. He’s right. The common fairies adore Papa Faff. When he inherited the Leader Powers, Papa Faff stood before the colony and declared that no child would live in poverty, no young family would struggle while living under his rule. The Faff colony would not just survive, but thrive.

And he proved to be a fairy of his word. Papa Faff made homes in the plush gums planted in a neat row along the path from the art room to the mail box. He named it Glint Lane and invited all the young families to live there in comfort. The fairies would fly straight to his chambers if they thought something was wrong. Papa Faff always made them feel welcome. He nursed the Glints and visited the sick – of course his people would return the favour.

Lady Suri’s chest tightens with fear. Never has she had to make such an important decision. She clasps her trembling hands together and places them on her lap, hoping Papa Faff’s aides don’t notice. She has to remain strong. As Papa Faff’s only daughter, she is considered the closest fairy to him, and so, in his absence, her role is to advise what he would want. But in this case she isn’t so sure.

‘Then I will be guided by you on this decision. Pass on the order of attack to the regiment,’ Lady Suri says, holding her voice steady.

‘No! You can’t!’ Janomi cries. Her face flushes red when everyone, even the guard, turns to look at her.

‘You have no right to speak – you are wingless,’ says Sig.

‘My wings have started. This gives me the right to speak.’ Janomi stands, turns her back and pulls her hair to the side. Two small bumps protrude from her shoulder blades. The aides murmur and bow their heads to Janomi.

Lady Suri smiles proudly and nods her head for her daughter to speak.

Janomi knows she’s in a world of trouble, but she can’t let Papa Faff’s regiment attack the Council Chambers when he might not even be there.

Janomi has no idea what will happen when she reveals what she has done. No fairy, to her knowledge, has ever made themselves known to a human before. But Gemma’s different. She is loyal and kind. And it was the only way to save Papa Faff. Janomi knows her heart was in the right place. She has to tell them, regardless of her punishment. They have to know everything so they can make the best decisions to help save Papa Faff.

‘I … I …’ Janomi stalls. ‘Um –’

‘The Sparkle’s got stage fright,’ says Bross.

Sig laughs.

‘Let her speak,’ Lady Suri snaps.

Papa Faff’s aides fall silent.

Janomi looks at her mum and swallows hard. ‘I asked a human, a girl, for help – she tried to rescue Papa Faff earlier today.’

Lady Suri and Papa Faff’s aides are stunned into silence. They look at each other, confused at first, then in need of confirmation that they really heard what Janomi just told them. She couldn’t possibly have said what they think she said. It’s … unthinkable. No fairy under any circumstances is permitted to speak to a human. It’s their oldest law. Their existence has been a carefully hidden secret for thousands of years.

‘The girl, Gemma, may have succeeded,’ Janomi mumbles. ‘But I’m not sure … I just thought you needed to know before making any decisions to attack.’ Janomi holds her breath, waiting for reassurance. When it doesn’t come she swings her eyes towards the dark, shadowy roof, which is more comforting than the four gobsmacked faces before her.