Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE An hour later, Scarlett rubbed her eyes. Closing the book in her lap, she tucked it under her arm then climbed the ladder for the umpteenth time to put it back on the top shelf. She didn't know how many books she had read but none of them had said anything about removing a freezing spell. Replacing the book, Scarlett reached for its neighbour, but someone else got there first. "Layla!" Scarlett put a hand on the book. "I really need this. Can I borrow it first?"

"Why don't we look together?" said Layla. "I spend a lot of time in here, reading about unicorns." Scarlett had wanted to solve the problem of the lake by herself, to make it up to Isabel and to prove to everyone, particularly Layla, that she could be serious when it mattered. But Layla was clever and she clearly meant well, even though she could be incredibly annoying. Maybe she could help her. "OK, let's work together," Scarlett said. She explained her suspicion about the freezing spell. It hardly took Layla any time at all to work out which book they needed. Minutes later, they were sitting on purple cushions with a massive book on seasonal and elemental spells on their knees and their backs to the reading tree– a real tree with multicoloured leaves that magically grew in the library. Scarlett couldn't believe how quickly Layla could read, her eyes rapidly skimming over the pages. They found a chapter

on freezing spells near the end. "Breaking a freezing spell sounds really complicated," Scarlett said doubtfully as they read through the chapter. "There are so many different spells and potions you can use." "And they all need such strange ingredients to work," said Layla. "Wait!" she added. "What's this? It says here that any water- freezing spell can be broken if a diamond from the Diamond Glacier in the Frozen Wastelands is placed upon the frozen water."

Scarlett caught her breath. "So if I could get one of those diamonds, I could break the spell on the lake." "You could, but the Frozen Wastelands are miles away," Layla pointed out. "It would take days to get there." An idea popped into Scarlett's head. "Not if I used the magical map in the hall!" The magical map in the centre of the school hall was a miniature model of Unicorn Island. It had tiny mountains, valleys, ice, sea and even Unicorn Academy complete with a lake and fountain. The map was extremely powerful and could take you anywhere on the island if you just touched the place you wanted to go. "But you can only use the map with Ms Primrose's permission," Layla reminded her. "And she only lets people use it in emergencies." "This is definitely an emergency. I'm going to go and ask her right now," said Scarlett,

jumping to her feet. She thought about asking Layla if she'd go with her but quickly changed her mind. Layla wasn't brave enough for this adventure. "Will you really go to the Wastelands if Ms Primrose says you can use the map?" Layla asked. Scarlett nodded. "I have to." Layla twisted her plait around her hand in a thick coil. "I'd better come with you. We should ask Blaze and Dancer along too." "Really? You'll come with me?" said Scarlett Layla didn't look totally sure but she squared her shoulders. "Absolutely." Scarlett's eyes sparkled. "Thanks! Let's go and see Ms Primrose." But when they knocked on the headteacher's door there was no answer. Layla looked relieved. "Oh well, I suppose we'll just have to wait until Ms Primrose comes

back." "No!" said Scarlett. "I'm sure Ms Primrose won't mind us using the map without asking. After all, if we're right about the spell, we could save the whole island by getting this diamond!" "I really don't think we should go without checking with her first," said Layla doubtfully. "You can stay here if you want." Scarlett's mouth set in a determined line. "I'm going." "But you can't go on your own! The Wastelands are the coldest, bleakest part of the island. There's nothing there except steep glaciers and dangerous man-eating bears." Layla shivered. "No, if you're going then I'm going too!" Scarlett was surprised but didn't want to waste time talking about it any more. "OK, let's go!" They ran to the stables and explained their plan to Blaze and Dancer– Layla's small, slightly shaggy blue and silver unicorn. Both