Then the unicorn lowered her head to the clover, and Cordelia felt saddened, because she could no longer see the great, lovely eyes. She plumped down in the grass, sitting on her heels, and pulled a patch of sweet dill from the herb-bed. She held it out in her open palm, calling softly, "Come. Oh, come, I beg thee, most beauteous one—for I long to stroke thy velvet cheek, and caress thy silken mane!"
The unicorn turned, lifting her head, and looked right into Cordelia's eyes again. The girl watched, scarcely daring to breathe, as the unicorn came toward her slowly, one delicate step at a time, until she stood right in front of Cordelia, and slowly lowered her muzzle to accept the dill. A thrill shot through Cordelia as the unicorn's soft, gentle nose tickled her palm, and she hurried to pull some more dill with her left hand. The unicorn took that, too, staring into Cordelia's eyes. Greatly daring, she reached out slowly to rest her hand upon the muzzle. The unicorn moved her head, letting Cordelia's hand rub against her cheek, and the girl stroked the velvet
smoothness, breathing in delight, "Oh! Thou art so beautiful!"
The unicorn bowed her head, accepting the tribute and pawing the turf. Cordelia reached out her other hand to touch the golden mane.
The unicorn's head snapped up, and Cordelia snatched her hand back, afraid she had offended. Then she saw that the unicorn wasn't moving away, but was staring toward the house. Following the direction of her gaze, she saw her brothers, standing together just outside the back door, wide-eyed in wonder.
Cordelia couldn't speak aloud, for fear of frightening the unicorn; so she pressed her lips tight in anger and thought at her brothers, Thou great oafs! Begone, ere thou dost scare her away!
She doth not seem afrighted, Magnus thought back at Cordelia, nor ought she; we come only to watch.
But Geoffrey's thought came right after: Ah! How fine a thing 'twould be, to ride so fine a mount! And he stepped forward, raising a hand.
NAY! Cordelia's thought fairly shrieked. Thou wilt afright her!
And, true enough, the unicorn moved back a pace. Geoffrey froze.
A frown puckered little Gregory's brow. Was it truly Geoffrey caused her to move? Let me see. And he took a step.
Thou little lummox! Cordelia fumed. Wilt thou leave her to me!
The unicorn moved another step away.
Why, she is not thine! Geoffrey thought, in indignation. Thou canst not bid us not to touch her!
Yet the unicorn can. Magnus pressed a hand against Geoffrey's chest to hold him back. Cordelia's right in this—we do afright the beast.
But Gregory shook his head, and whispered aloud, "She is not frighted. "
The unicorn's gaze riveted on the youngest.
"See. " Gregory spoke a little louder. "She doth hear me, yet doth not flee. "
"Then she will let us come nigh her!" Geoffrey took another step.
Nay! Cordelia thought furiously; and sure enough, the unicorn stepped away again.
Magnus pushed Geoffrey back, and the younger boy
scowled, sulking. "I thought Gregory did say she did not fear us. "
"Nor doth she. " The youngest still sat on his heels in the grass, gazing at the unicorn. "Still, she will abide us no closer than we are now. "
"Yet she did come nigh Cordelia!"
Gregory nodded. "And will again, I doubt not. Attempt it, sister. "
Cordelia stared at him as though he were crazy. Then she frowned, musing, and turned back to the unicorn. Slowly, she stepped toward it.
The unicorn stood still, as though it were waiting.
Thrilled, Cordelia took another step, then another and another.
Still the unicorn waited, unmoving.
Finally, Cordelia's outstretched hand touched the unicorn's neck, and she stepped close, reaching up to stroke. "Oh, thou hast let me come nigh thee!"
"'Tis not…" Geoffrey started to yell; but Magnus clamped a hand over his mouth—with the palm cupped, so his brother couldn't bite it. Geoffrey glared at him, thinking furiously, 'Tis not fair! Wherefore ought it to allow her to approach, and not us?
"'Tis the way of unicorns," Gregory answered. "I mind me, for I read it in a book of a time."
Geoffrey glared at him. Gregory had been reading for two years now, and it drove Geoffrey crazy.
"They will allow maids to approach," Gregory explained, "yet not lads."
Geoffrey turned away, fuming.
The unicorn lay down, tucking his legs beneath her body.
Cordelia stared in surprise. Then a radiant smile spread over her face and, very carefully, she leaned forward, resting her weight on the unicorn's back.
"Now 'tis thou who wilt afright her!" Geoffrey hissed; but Cordelia turned slowly till she was sitting sideways on the unicorn.
Magnus stiffened. "Cordelia! I prithee, come away! For of a sudden, I do sense danger!"
"Pooh!" she scoffed. "Thou art but jealous!"
"Nay!" Magnus protested. " 'Tis more than that! I…"
So smoothly that she seemed to float, the unicorn stood up again. Cordelia gasped with joy.
"Cordelia, thou art but mean!" Geoffrey cried in outrage. "Thou art selfish, aye, and spiteful!"
"'Tis the unicorn's choice, not mine," she returned. "Am I to blame if she doth find thee vile?"
"Cordelia, I prithee!" Magnus insisted, really alarmed. "Where might she take thee?"
"Why, wheresoe'er she will," Cordelia answered; and sure enough, the unicorn turned away toward the forest.
The shouting brought Puck out, rubbing sleep from his eyes and scowling. "What coil is this?"
"A monster doth abduct our sister!" Magnus cried.
The unicorn trotted away.
Puck stared after it. "A monster? Where?"
"There!" Geoffrey shouted, and he ran after the unicorn. "Thou one-horned thief! Come back with my sister!"
"Nay, Geoffrey! Fly!" Magnus leaped into the air.
Geoffrey looked up at him, startled. Then he grinned, and leaped ten feet up. "What ails me, brother? I had forgot!"
Gregory sped toward his two brothers like a stone from a slingshot. Together, they darted after the unicorn.
With a crack like a gunshot, Puck appeared right in front of mem, hovering in midair. "Halt, younglings! Where dost thou think to go?"
"Why, after the beast who doth bear off our sister!" Magnus said. "Do not seek to bar us, Robin! She's endangered!"
"Endangered! Nay, speak sense! Ne'er hath a unicorn offered harm to a maiden!"
"If 'tis not from the beast itself, 'tis from something it doth bear her to! I tell thee, Puck, I feel dread in every bone!"
Puck hesitated. He had some idea of Magnus's powers, but nothing definite; not even the boy's own parents knew the limits of his abilities. He could do things that no Gramarye warlock had ever been able to do—nor any witch either, for that matter. Why might he not also be able to see the future? Puck was sure the boy's father had one of his nonsensical words for the power—as though the talent would not be there if there were no word for it!
But whatever danger there was, Puck was quite sure he could handle it—unless it were something that needed a score of elves. And if it did, why, he had the score at hand. He weighed that chance of manageable danger against the exasperation of trying to keep four young magic-workers occupied
for another day, and decided that the danger was definitely the lesser risk. "Well enough, then, thou mayest pursue. For if there's any slightest danger…"
But he was talking to empty air. While he had hesitated, the three young warlocks had disappeared with a thunderclap.