Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX After lunch, Isla met with Diamond dorm in the barn. She'd been thinking over and over about her conversation with Valentina and what she'd heard Valentina saying to Golden Briar. She had a very bad feeling. She wondered whether to say anything to the others but she had no proof that the letters Valentina was getting were from Ms Willow. It was just a suspicion. What if she told them and it wasn't true? She'd look so stupid! "So, how are we going to find Ms Willow?" said Freya. "If she is at the Frozen Lagoon, she's going to be practically impossible to find. No one knows its exact location and it's not marked on the Magic Map."

The Magic Map was an exact replica of Unicorn Island that was kept in the Great Hall. If the map thought you wanted to help, it would magically transport you anywhere on the island that you asked it to. "We could use my magic again?" suggested Buttercup. "I could ask it to find the Frozen Lagoon." "You could," said Ariana carefully. "But if the Magic Map isn't powerful enough to show us where the Frozen Lagoon is then I'm not sure your magic will be able to help, Buttercup." Buttercup looked indignant. "Don't you think I can find Ms Willow?" "Maybe you should practise a bit more first,"

said Violet quickly. "Soon your magic will be stronger and then you can try again." "If there's time," said Freya. "We've only got a couple of days left until graduation." "We need another plan," said Rosa. They threw around suggestions but by the end of lunchtime they still didn't have any idea of how to get to the Frozen Lagoon. Isla went back to her dorm to get ready for her afternoon lessons and saw another envelope lying on Valentina's bed. Isla picked the envelope up curiously and glanced across at Valentina's drawer. It was half open and she could see other letters inside. She knew she shouldn't look but no one was around. What if they were from Ms Willow? I'll just look at a few lines, Isla thought. Feeling guilty for prying but too worried not to look, Isla picked up the top letter and scanned it. You're so much smarter than all the other students, Valentina. You understand how things work. You know I want to make Unicorn Island great and you are the one student who I believe can help me. In return, I will help you and

Golden Briar graduate. Think about it, Valentina. That is what you want most in the world, isn't it? There was no name or signature on the bottom. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, Isla shoved the letter back in the drawer and ran to her bed. She picked up her hairbrush as Molly, Anna and Valentina walked in. Isla's mind spun round and round. Who were the letters from and what did they mean? Valentina picked up the new envelope from her pillow. She quickly opened and read it, then shoved it into her drawer with the others. Then she sat down on her bed, facing away from Isla. "Are you OK?" asked Isla. "Why wouldn't I be?" Valentina said sharply. "Who was your letter from?" "None of your business!" Valentina glared at her. "You won't share your secrets with me so I won't share mine with you!" Not fair! thought Isla, stung. I'm trying to protect Unicorn Island. Can you say the same? The bell rang and everyone left together to go to afternoon lessons. Isla pretended that she'd

forgotten her pencil case and ran back to the dorm. When she got there, she pulled out the letter Valentina had just received from the top of the pile. It simply read: Tonight, I want to help you. It is time to prove your loyalty. A feeling of foreboding shivered down Isla's spine. What should I do? she thought. If I tell the others, they might confront Valentina and she'll know I've read her letters. And what if it's nothing? I'll have falsely accused Valentina of something bad… Isla hesitated a moment longer, before pushing the letter back in the drawer and running to her lesson. Later, as Isla got ready to practise the drill ride her dorm would perform in front of the parents, she watched Valentina through the partition that separated Buttercup's stable from Golden Briar's. Valentina was whispering and Golden Briar was shaking his head emphatically. Isla moved closer to the partition. "We've got to go, Golden Briar," she heard Valentina plead.

"No, Valentina, we can't!" "But this could be our only chance to—" "What's up, Isla?" Buttercup called out. "Why are you standing over there?" "No reason," said Isla, hurrying back to her. She thought about what Valentina had said: We've got to go. Go where? She bit her lip. If the letters were from Ms Willow, did that mean Valentina was planning on meeting with her? Another shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the letter she had read: Tonight, I want to help you. It is time to prove your loyalty. "Are you sure you're all right?" Buttercup nudged her. "You seem distracted." Isla bit her lip. "Buttercup, if you suspected someone was going to make a really big mistake would it be right to tell your friends? Even if there was a chance you were wrong and might be falsely accusing that person, as well as making yourself look stupid?" Isla suddenly realised she trusted Buttercup's opinion. They were very different but together that made them stronger. "You should definitely tell your friends," said Buttercup immediately. "Imagine if you didn't