10

The Riddle

Staring into the candle’s flickering flame, Daisy mused over the message in the rainbow, her thoughts clambering over each other in her head.

‘Grace comes from nature, unbound beauty growing high. Magic dust that brings new life shall also help the fairies fly.’ Daisy repeated the words in her mind.

If it’s growing, she thought, then it must be alive, like an insect or . . . a bird! Birds are graceful and part of nature. They’re certainly beautiful, and flying gives them freedom that makes them ‘unbound’ to earth. Baby birds are new life and grow in a nest up high. The only thing that doesn’t fit is the magic dust . . . And Daisy had a feeling that that might be the most important thing of all.

Turning to ask Vu what he thought, Daisy found him asleep in one of her travelling shoes. It had been a very long day for the little beetle and he’d already been so much help. It would be cruel to wake him if she didn’t really need to. Daisy decided to work it out for herself.

If not a bird, she thought, then what else could it be?

Daisy considered everything that she’d seen on her Quest. The golden blossoms of Mother Wattle, the field of waving paper daisies, the pure white blooms of the water lilies. Of course! That must be it. The magic is in a wildflower, in the golden dust of its pollen.

But which wildflower?

The message said it was growing high, so maybe not the lilies or the paper daisies. It must be up in a tree. Could it be the pollen from Mother Wattle’s blossoms? Would the Quest end where it had begun?

She couldn’t be sure. There must be another clue.

Picking up a stick, Daisy scratched the message into the dirt next to the candle.

Grace comes from nature,

Unbound beauty growing high.

Magic dust that brings new life

Shall also help the fairies fly.

Staring at the words, she willed them to give up their secret . . . And they did. It was right there, spelled out for her in the first letter of every line.

‘I found it!’ whooped Daisy, accidentally waking Vu. ‘It’s gums! The pollen of gum blossoms! That’s the magic that makes wings fly!’

By the light of her candle, Daisy pulled on her magic shoes, then scooped up the rest of her Questing Things and tied them up in her bandana. Touching her wand to it, she said the magic words that changed it back into a silver locket. She slipped the chain over her head and put her hand out for Vu. The sleepy beetle climbed up her arm and settled himself on her shoulder.

Ready to move, she picked up the candle. The light flickered across something familiar on the ground. Daisy reached across to pick it up. It was the flask of lemon myrtle cordial. She must have missed it while packing away.

Pulling out the stopper, she brought the bottle to her nose and breathed in deeply. The strong lemony smell made her nostrils fizz. Tipping back her head, Daisy gulped the cordial down. It was cool and refreshing. Her tastebuds tingled and a burst of energy zinged through her body, readying her for whatever challenges lay ahead.