Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN Isla and Buttercup left the stables to go to the drill ride practice. I'll tell Diamond dorm about Valentina's letters just as soon as I get a chance to speak to them on their own, thought Isla. Diamond dorm were ahead of her, laughing with the boys from Topaz dorm as Matilda and Miki tried to trip each other up. Ms Nettles came marching towards the stables. "Matilda! Stop that this instant!" she shouted. "Sorry, Miss," said Matilda, giving her an apologetic grin as Miki stumbled.

"It was my fault too, sorry, Miss," said Miki. Ms Nettles ignored him. "Matilda, you will not ride this afternoon. Instead you'll write out a hundred lines saying I must behave more appropriately." Matilda gaped in shock. "But… I said sorry and we're about to practise the drill ride…" "Silence or I shall make that two hundred lines!" Isla and Violet exchanged astonished looks. The teachers were all uptight about finding Ms Willow, especially Ms Nettles, but she was never usually so fierce or unfair. Matilda looked close

to tears. "Please, Ms Nettles. We've so little time left to practice," Rosa begged. "Can't Matilda do lines later?" "One hundred lines for the whole of Diamond dorm!" Ms Nettles barked. Everyone gasped. Ms Nettles looked around. "Anyone else?" she enquired. No one dared to move. She nodded. "Diamond dorm, take your unicorns back and go inside now. The rest of you get on with your practise. Oh, and Valentina?" "Yes?" Valentina looked at her warily. Ms Nettles was her aunt, but she never showed Valentina any special favours. "I would like you to have a starring role in the drill ride." Valentina blinked. "But I'm not ready to graduate." Isla knew that at the start of the year, Valentina would have loved to have a main role. Now she looked almost upset. "Shouldn't I just do what everyone else does?" Valentina went on. Ms Nettles smiled at her. "Always so modest, Valentina. No, you deserve this role. Come to my

study straight after dinner and we'll have a quick chat about it." She turned and strode away. As soon as Ms Nettles was out of earshot everyone started to talk at once. "What's going on?" hissed Himmat from Topaz dorm. "I've never known the Nettle Patch to be so prickly!" "It's not fair," said Miki. "I'm as much to blame as Matilda and Ms Nettles didn't give me lines." "I'm sure she'll give you some if you want," said Jake with a grin. "Just go and ask her." "Maybe not," said Miki, rolling his eyes. "But I do feel bad for Diamond dorm." Isla glanced at Valentina. Did she know why her aunt was in such a bad mood? Valentina looked up. "What are you staring at?" she demanded. "Nothing," Isla said hurriedly. When afternoon lessons were over, Isla went to the barn to meet up with Diamond dorm. "Did

you get your lines done?" she asked them. They all nodded. "I still don't understand why Ms Nettles was so mean," said Violet. "It was very weird," Rosa agreed, "but we're here to discuss Ms Willow and how we're going to find her. We're running out of time." Isla felt suddenly hot. This was her moment to tell the others about Valentina's letters and the conversation she'd overheard between Valentina and Golden Briar. But now the moment was here, doubts filled her mind again. What if she'd made a huge mistake? She'd look like a complete idiot! "The good thing is, Ms Willow can't get into the school grounds," said Ariana. "The teachers have put protection spells on the boundaries to keep her out." Isla hesitated. If Ms Willow couldn't get into the grounds then how could Valentina be planning on meeting her? Ms Willow couldn't be the mystery letter writer. Isla swallowed and kept silent.

After dinner, Isla left the table at the same time as Valentina. "We're going to the barn with the unicorns," said Violet, as Isla passed her. "Are you coming?" "I'll join you in a bit," said Isla. Valentina had been unusually quiet over dinner and she wanted to see if she could find out why. Maybe she'd had another letter? As Isla followed Valentina up the stairs, Ms Nettles appeared. "There you are, Valentina. Are you ready for our meeting? I hope so. Tonight, I want to help you." Valentina smiled as she and Ms Nettles went down the teachers' corridor together. Something bothered Isla as she watched them. What was it? Tonight, I want to help you. The words echoed in her head. They were the exact same ones that had been written in Valentina's mystery letters. Could it be a coincidence? Surely Ms Nettles couldn't be the letter writer, could she? Isla hurried along the corridor, tiptoeing the last few metres up to Ms Nettles' study. The door