Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN Pearl cantered towards a bright orange bush at the edge of the clearing. Its twisted leaves looked like a roaring fire. "It's too small to hide us both!" cried Matilda. "We need something bigger!" Sparks shot up in front of them and a smell of burnt sugar filled the air. Matilda squeaked in surprise and Pearl skidded to a halt as the bush suddenly doubled in size. "What just happened?" gasped Matilda. "It's my magic!" said Pearl. "Those sparks came from my hooves. I was wishing the bush

was bigger and suddenly it was!" She dashed behind it. "I must have glamour magic– it means I can create illusions for a short time. My aunt has it too, it's awesome." "Glamour magic! Oh, wow!" That explained all the strange things Matilda had seen recently– the wings, the sleeping bag. But she didn't have time to think any more about it. "Shh!" she hissed as she peered round the bush and saw the hooded figure cantering into the clearing. "Um, Matilda, I don't know how long I can hold the glamour for," Pearl whispered, her breath tickling Matilda's ear. "My aunt always told me it's hard to control a glamour at first. Stay as still as you can, that should make it easier for me." Matilda nodded, pressing a finger to her lips. Her heart pounded loudly as she watched the person leap from their unicorn in a swirl of black cloth. Matilda tried to see their face but the hood hid it well.

Furtively, the figure glanced around and then walked over to the Heart Tree. They took out a round glass bottle from a bag tied at their waist

and set it at the foot of the Heart Tree. Then they drew something else from under their cloak. It flashed in the sunlight. Matilda almost gasped out loud. A knife! The figure made a long, deep cut in the tree's trunk. Tossing the knife on the ground, the figure lifted the bottle to the cut and caught the deep-red sap that oozed from the trunk. Matilda could hardly bear to watch as the magical sap drained into the bottle. The tree's branches drooped even further as their life force drained away, leaving just a few stray droplets glittering on the bark. If only she could get a glimpse of the figure. She leaned forward… "Matilda!" Pearl whispered in alarm. "Don't move! The glamour's fading!" Matilda's breath caught in her throat as the pretend bush hiding them started to tremble and dissolve. "Make another one!" hissed Matilda. "I can't," Pearl panted. "My magic's not

strong enough yet." "Then gallop!" screamed Matilda, vaulting on to Pearl as the figure glanced round. Pearl raced into the woods, heading for the track that led back to the campsite. Matilda dared to look back, expecting to see the dark figure and the unicorn with the golden mane chasing after them, but to her astonishment she saw that the chinchillas had come charging out from the bushes and had leapt at the person's cloak, hanging on to it with tiny claws and running up the sleeves. "No! Get off, you little pests!" It was a woman's voice but Matilda didn't stop to hear any more. Leaning forward, she urged Pearl through the dense trees until they broke out on to the track. Matilda realised that Pearl was not galloping as fast as normal– doing magic had clearly tired her out.

"Keep going," Matilda urged her. "Come on, Pearl!" She stroked Pearl's neck, hoping her unicorn would feel her love. Finding an extra surge of energy, Pearl raced along the track, leaving the sinister figure behind. "Look! There's everyone, up ahead." Matilda sat back and Pearl slowed down. "We're safe now. I don't think they followed us. Well done, Pearl. You did brilliantly."