Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN With Ariana's excellent map-reading skills, Freya's useful notes and the rest of Diamond dorm chipping in with helpful suggestions, it wasn't too long before the girls and their unicorns arrived at the centre of the maze. As they stepped into the Glittering Cavern, everyone fell silent. They all stared in wonder at the enormous cave. Ice-white stalagmites spiralled upwards to a ceiling embedded with tiny sparkling stalactites as bright and delicate as stars. Water tumbled down a pile of rocks into a glassy pool that shimmered with a blue

hue, and icebergs floated across it, looking like giant water lilies. Matilda's cheeks were turning mauve. "Now what?" she asked, her teeth chattering noisily. Rosa took in the whole cave. She was convinced that the model was hidden here somewhere, but there were so many nooks and crannies she didn't know where to start her search! "The model could be anywhere," she said. "Spread out and start looking." The girls and their unicorns fanned out across the cavern. "This could take ages," Crystal whispered to Rosa.

And we might not even find it, thought Rosa. The model could be hidden on any of the icy ledges, in one of the crevices, or even on top of one of the massive stalagmites. Rosa began to worry. How would they even see the model if it was on top of a stalagmite, let alone reach it? She and Crystal searched for ages and Rosa had almost given up hope of ever finding it,

when a flicker on the wall caught her eye. "Crystal, what's that over there? I can see something glimmering." "It looks like a candle," said Crystal. Carefully, she stepped around an ice-covered rock to get a better look. Suddenly Rosa noticed a hidden arched alcove, dotted with tiny blue crystals, set in the cavern wall. "Look!" Her voice rose in excitement. "There's the model!" Relief flooded through her. Their adventure hadn't been in vain. They'd found the model! Hopefully now everyone would forget she'd got them lost. "Let's get it," she urged.

Crystal took a step closer, but as she did so something shifted under her hooves. She sprang back, almost unseating Rosa. Rosa hung on to Crystal's mane, her heart galloping. She knew she wouldn't hurt herself if she fell off– the island's magic would protect her, catching her in a giant bubble and floating her down to the ground. But island magic wouldn't save Crystal if she fell into the dark pool of water that had

opened up centimetres in front of her hooves! "Rosa! What happened?" asked Violet, riding over on Twinkle. Rosa stared in surprise as the crack in front of them began to freeze over, concealing the water below. "I've found the model," she said. "It's up there. But it looks like it's been booby- trapped to stop anyone from taking it. If you go too close, the ice cracks." Jumping from Crystal's back, Rosa selected a large stone from the frosty ground. "Watch this." She threw the stone on to the ground in front of the alcove. A jagged line ran across the ice and it slid apart. With a plop, the stone fell into the dark waters and disappeared. Freya stared at the crack as the ice froze over again. "It looks like an enchantment. I've no idea how we can break it, though. We'll have to find a way to reach the model without touching the ice." "Can that be done?" asked Rosa doubtfully.