gave no other sign that she’d heard Oswin. This was her standard approach to him.
It wasn’t, however, for Camille. ‘Look, just because you’ve convinced your monster doesn’t mean it actually happened,’ she snorted dismissively. ‘He’s usually hiding away in a bag or under your bed. You could tell him almost anything had happened and he’d probably believe you.’
Oswin shot out from under the table to glare at her. ‘WOT? Such LIES! Such undeservedable SLEWS against me fine koboldish character! A curse upon yeh … yeh harpy-hag – a CURSE!’
‘Control your monster!’ snapped Camille. ‘Or I’ll send him away!’
Willow felt her temper go from simmer to boil, and she stood up fast. ‘You will NOT touch him. It IS NOT A DELUSION and I haven’t LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY. Oswin WAS there!’
She took a deep, calming breath, which didn’t work, and tried again to get them to see reason. ‘It really happened, you just don’t remember it – but that’s only because you weren’t THERE! Because you didn’t want to help then EITHER!’
Camille gave a derisive snort, flinging her midnight hair back. ‘Oh really, Willow … like we’d not help save the world!’
Juniper made a huffing, dismissive sound too.
Willow sighed. ‘Well, you didn’t because you wouldn’t believe me then either. But that’s not the point. The way you’re all reacting now doesn’t make sense because you’ve seen what happened. You SAW Moreg – she came here after Granny’s funeral. You saw her speak to me and bring me my broom, Whisper, which I only got because I was helping her! How else would I have it? And, before she came, you saw the DRAGONS, so you must know that I’m telling the truth. How else would I have known her, or met a cloud dragon? How else would you explain that?’
There was a long moment when no one spoke.
Then, over the sound of Willow’s thundering heart, her mother let out a deep sigh. ‘Oh, Willow. You probably don’t know this, but Moreg was a family friend. I grew up with her sister, Molsa, you see. Moreg thought very highly of Granny Flossy. As you know, your grandmother was once the best potion-maker in all of Starfell, which is why Moreg came to pay her respects to all of us when she passed. I believe that she brought you your broom as a gift, to take your mind off Granny’s death. I mean, granted, Moreg is not generally known for, erm, spontaneous acts of kindness … but that’s what it was – a kind act to a child at a difficult time. I’m afraid that, with all the shock and upset, you’ve got a bit muddled and turned it into something else … some wild story about saving the world with her, as well as an imaginary friend needing your help, and trees that move and deliver letters … Oh, Wol.’
She gave a short, humourless laugh. ‘Which is DEEPLY worrying for all of us, don’t you see? Because not only do you seem troubled, it’s dangerous to be around you as it’s affected your magic in a rather violent way. We have to get you help, and soon!’
Willow stared at her mother through eyes that were misted by sudden angry tears. There was a lump in her throat, making it hard to speak. She’d never needed Granny Flossy more than she did in that moment. Granny would have made them see, made them hear, somehow. She would probably have known the truth about the trees – she knew things like that, things no one else did – and she would have gone outside to try talking to the oak, even if they all thought that was bonkers. She would have trusted Willow, or at least tried to. But Granny Flossy was gone, and there was nothing Willow could do.
Her chin started to shake, and in a very small, choked voice she tried one last time to make them see that she was telling the truth. ‘B-b-but you heard what Feathering the dragon said, Mum. About how I helped him. Please can you just –’ she sniffed – ‘try to believe me?’
Raine spoke to her in a soft, kind voice, which only made things worse. ‘I do believe that, of course I do – the big dragon said that you helped him find his egg. I mean, I think that’s a WONDERFUL thing to have done.’
She shot Juniper and Camille a look and they both quickly nodded too. ‘We all do,’ continued her