Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT. "I don't understand. Why is Dr Briar searching the folly?" said Sienna as they got into their beds that night. They had decided to get some sleep before setting off at midnight when everyone else in the school would be in bed. "I mean, how did she guess there's a piece of the map there?" "I don't know," said Lyra, pulling her red-spotted duvet cover up to her chin. "You didn't say anything when you were helping her, did you, Evie?" "Evie wouldn't," said Ivy loyally. Evie felt uncomfortable. "I didn't say anything but it might have been my fault that she guessed about the folly." Her friends looked at her as she confessed. "I bumped into Dr Briar that time I went to the library and she saw me taking out the book on follies. She must have decided that I was interested in the school folly. I'm really sorry I wasn't more careful." She glanced up, wondering if the others were going to be cross with her, but they all just shrugged. "It's not your fault. There's no way you could have known Dr Briar was going to be in the library as well," said Ivy. "Or that she'd realise why you had a book on follies." "And if you hadn't borrowed that book, we might never have known about the folly ourselves," Sienna pointed out. "I'm glad you went to the library that day," said Lyra. Evie felt a rush of relief. "If it's anyone's fault, it's mine and Sienna's," Lyra went on. "We were the ones who were shouting about treasure. I bet Sam told Dr Briar about it and that made her suspicious. I reckon she was listening in when we were talking about going to the folly. Remember there was that noise outside our door? It could have been her." "Or Sam," added Sienna. "You've definitely not got anything to feel bad about, Evie," said Ivy,

smiling at her. "If it hadn't been for you, we'd never have found the secret button at the folly." "Or the one that opened the staircase to the hidden room," said Lyra. "I only found those buttons by falling over," said Evie. "It's a very special talent, Evie," Sienna said. "I'd call it unique," Lyra joined in with a grin. "Definitely!" chuckled Ivy. Evie saw the warmth in her friends' eyes and the knot of anxiety in her chest loosened. For the first time she started to believe that the rest of her dorm really didn't care that she was always having accidents and that maybe they did like her just the way she was. "You're so clever, Evie," Ivy said, yawning as she turned off the light. "We wouldn't know nearly as much as we do now if we didn't have you." I wish Sunshine felt the same, Evie thought as she snuggled down In bed. Sunshine had been fine with her when they'd been riding out to the tower but she'd been quiet on the way home and when they got back she'd seemed keen for Evie to leave her. Evie remembered all the times in the last week when Sunshine had wanted her to go away. I wish she liked me more, she thought sadly, but I bet she wishes she had another partner. She comforted herself by remembering what her friends had just said. I love being in Ruby dorm, thought Evie happily, and with a smile she fell asleep. At midnight the girls got out of their beds, dressed and crept down the stairs. Evie was glad of her warm coat as she stepped outside. The night was chilly. Unseen creatures rustled and squeaked from the bushes and somewhere nearby, an owl hooted. Evie glanced back and saw a shadow move behind one of the upper windows where the staff bedrooms were. Her heart leapt into her throat. Was someone there, watching them? But no. When she looked again, the shadows behind the window were still. "Come on!" Ivy grabbed her hand and they ran silently across the dew- soaked grass to the stables, Ivy's grip tightening on Evie's whenever Evie's feet tripped on a tuft of grass. Entering the stables, Evie's cheeks tingled with the sudden warmth. She went quickly to Sunshine's stall, treading softly so as not to disturb the

other unicorns, snuffling and snoring in their sleep. Sunshine was awake, her dark eyes full of anxiety. "We're still going then?" she asked Evie. "Yes." Evie sensed her unicorn's reluctance. "Why? Don't you want to?" Sunshine looked awkward. "I do. It's just…" She trailed off. Evie braced herself, sure that Sunshine was worried she was going to embarrass them in some way tonight. "What is it, Sunshine? Please tell me what's bothering you." Sunshine glanced at her through her eyelashes. "I'm… I'm scared of the dark, Evie!" Evie blinked. Of all the things she had been expecting Sunshine to say, it wasn't that. Hiding her surprise, she stroked Sunshine's cheek. "Really? But why?" "I always have been." Sunshine shuddered. "The copse was bad enough

by day; it's going to be even more scary at night." "But Lyra's got a torch, so we'll have light,' said Evie gently. "And we'll all be together. Nothing will happen to you." As she reassured her, she felt a rush of relief. So this was why Sunshine had been quiet on the way home. It wasn't because she had been worried about Evie embarrassing her; it was because she'd been feeling scared about going back in the dark. "I'm really glad you told me," she said softly as Sunshine nuzzled her hands. "Thanks for not laughing at me, Evie," Sunshine said gratefully. "I didn't want to say anything because I was worried that you'd think I was stupid." "I'd never think that," said Evie, stroking her. Sunshine blew softly at Evie's face. "I'm really glad that you're my partner, Evie. Look, there's something I need to tell you—" "Are you two ready?" interrupted Lyra, looking into Sunshine's stable. "We haven't got much time," she added. Evie sent Sunshine an apologetic look. "Tell me later," she whispered. They followed the others outside and, mounting their unicorns, they set

off at a gallop. When they reached Spiny Copse, they stopped. A bat swooped past chasing a moth as Lyra shone her powerful torch down the path. Sienna gulped. "What if we see that ghost thing again?" "It wasn't a ghost," said Lyra firmly. "So what was it? It certainly sounded spooky. Whooooo," said Sienna, mimicking the sound. "I don't know what it was, but I promise you it wasn't a ghost," said Lyra, and she rode Misty into the trees. Evie felt Sunshine hesitate and stroked her neck. "Don't be scared," she whispered. "Just focus on the light of the torch." Sunshine nuzzled her leg before trotting after the others. To Evie's relief they reached the clearing with no ghostly encounters. When they got there, they saw that Dr Briar had secured the tower's wooden door with a sturdy new padlock. "Hopefully we won't need to use the door," said Lyra. "Where's that button, Evie? Let's press it and see what happens." Evie slipped off Sunshine and crouched by the bench. Her fingers found the round indentation underneath it. "Here goes!" She pushed it in. There was a creaking, rumbling sound and part of the outer wall of the tower juddered slowly back. "Oh, wow! There's a secret space between the tower's inner and outer walls," said Lyra, jumping off Misty and going over. "A cavity!" exclaimed Sienna. "Just like the riddle said." The space inside was as black as ink. Evie felt very impressed as she peered inside. Ms Evergreen must have been a brilliant engineer to have constructed such a thing. "I'm going in," said Lyra excitedly. They all followed– unicorns too. "Everyone look for the map!" Evie's eyes followed the beam of the torch as Lyra shone it around. The cavity ran all round the outside of the tower. High above them was a window with no glass. It had a wide, thick window ledge and there was something bulky on it, but it was impossible to see what it was in the darkness. "Lyra, shine your torch up there," she said.

Lyra did so and Evie saw a large nest of twigs. Four spectre owlets with fluffy grey baby feathers that glowed in the moonlight peered over the top, their large round eyes glowing in the torch beam. Just then there was a hooting noise– "WHOOOO-OOOO"– and the mother owl flew in through the window, the feathers on her silvery wings shimmering. She landed on the nest and peered down curiously at the girls. Evie burst out laughing. "I think we've just found our ghost!" "It was a spectre owl!" said Ivy, her face a picture of relief. "They glow in the moonlight." Sienna heaved a sigh. "Phew!" "I wonder if Ms Evergreen encouraged spectre owls to nest here all those years ago," said Evie. "To make people think the folly was haunted." Lyra swept her torch away from the nest so as not to disturb the owls any longer and they continued to explore round the wall.