Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE Isla ran faster than she'd ever run in her life. I have to stop Valentina. The thought drummed through her brain, over and over again. Getting closer to the lake, Isla saw Ms Willow on a tall unicorn with a golden mane. Golden Briar had stopped next to Ms Willow's unicorn, and Ms Willow was smiling at Valentina and reaching for her hand. "Come with me, my dear." "I didn't realise we were going somewhere." Isla thought she could hear an edge to Valentina's voice, a sudden quiver of concern. "Where are you taking me?" "To the Frozen Lagoon!" Ms Willow's fingers closed on Valentina's.

"No!" shrieked Isla, bursting out of the shadows and grabbing Valentina's foot. For a second, she saw Valentina and Ms Willow's shocked faces, and then there was a flash of green and the world fell away. Isla hung on to Valentina with all her strength. She spun round and round and then suddenly dropped to the ground, landing with a thud on a glassy, freezing surface. The sky was packed with glittering stars. Isla blinked, realising she was on a thick layer of ice above a lagoon that swirled eerily beneath it. This had to be the mysterious Frozen Lagoon where Ms Willow was storing the magic stolen from the island. Isla scrambled towards the bank. "You!" Ms Willow hissed. "What are you doing here?" She swung round to Valentina. "Did you tell her about meeting me?" "No!" Valentina exclaimed, looking at Isla in astonishment. Ms Willow flicked a bolt of magic at Isla. Isla cried out in pain as it smacked into her and sent her flying backwards across the lagoon. As she landed all the breath was knocked out of her.

"Isla!" she heard Valentina cry. "Ignore her!" snapped Ms Willow. "She is no threat to us. I'll deal with her in a minute. Prancer, make sure she does not leave the ice until I am back." The golden-maned unicorn nodded obediently. "I'll go and fetch the ribbons so that you can bind Golden Briar to prove your loyalty." It was Valentina's turn to nod, and Isla felt a rush of hatred as Ms Willow stalked away towards a hut near the lagoon. As soon as Ms Willow disappeared inside, Valentina slid from Golden Briar's back. She looked briefly towards where Isla was scrambling to her feet and then ran over to Prancer. Pulling something from her pocket, she grabbed Prancer's mane. Isla saw a flash of moonlight on metal.

"Valentina! Stop! Don't, whatever you're doing! You mustn't help Ms Willow!" she cried. "Help Ms Willow!" Valentina spluttered. "For

goodness sake, Isla! As if I would!" "What? You can't deny it!" said Isla. "She's getting the binding ribbons right now!" "I had to agree so I could do this!" Valentina held up a pair of scissors triumphantly and a clump of ribbons fell to the ground. "It was my plan all along."

"I'm free of the binding!" whinnied Prancer, shaking her mane. "The ribbons are gone! Oh, thank you, Valentina!" "Did you really believe that I would bind Golden Briar to me?" Valentina exclaimed. "I'd never do that!" "Oh!" Isla's eyes were wide as she scrambled off the ice. "So, you aren't in league with Ms Willow?" "Don't be silly! I was stringing her along. I thought if she believed I would join with her then I could find a way to trap her. I wasn't expecting her to bring me here though!" said Valentina. "It's true!" Golden Briar agreed. "I didn't want Valentina to meet her at first, but she insisted." "I was sure I could find a way to stop her," said Valentina. "Oh," said Isla, realising she had misjudged her. "I should have trusted you." "Yes, you really should've!" said Valentina. She turned to Prancer. "Do you know where my aunt is imprisoned, Prancer?" "Ms Willow shut her and her unicorn in a shed