Untitled Starfell #2 (Starfell #2) - Dominique Valente Page 0,56

her name silently, then swallow. His face blanched further when Pimpernell climbed quickly aboard, knocking back a shadow beast with her opal-topped cane, her wood-fire eyes glowing with warmth.

‘Well, hello there, wizard! This be a mighty interestin’ turn of events, you comin’ ter rescue us,’ she said. ‘Mayhap I should have believed yeh when yeh said yeh wasn’t gonna use yer new powers fer bad …’ She looked almost contrite. ‘A witch should admit when she’s done wrong … so I’m doin’ that now …’

Holloway blinked. ‘Um, thanks.’ His cheeks turned pink, and then he jumped into action, taking two banshee-wail canisters and loading them into the chute beneath the sail.

‘Cover yer ears!’ he commanded, and they did, as bloodcurdling cries split the air. The noise kept even the beasts back and the boat sped fast on its stumpy legs towards the black waterfall.

‘How on Great Starfell are we meant to get up that?’ cried Sometimes. ‘Will the banshee wails do it?’

Even Holloway looked uncertain.

‘I could try freezing it?’ suggested Essential. ‘That might work!’

They nodded – it might.

Essential closed her eyes and concentrated with all her might. Then she raised her hands and tried to freeze the downward tumble of the shadowy waterfall. At first it didn’t seem to work, then it sort of flickered a little.

Moreg put her hand on Essential’s, and there was something almost like a tiny lightning flash, and the whole waterfall froze, becoming a motionless wall of shadowy water.

The boat steamed ahead, powered by the twin banshee wails. Right before they reached the base of the waterfall, Feathering cried, ‘Hold tight!’ He heaved himself up and launched all his mighty weight against the stern, causing the boat to rock backwards and point its bow up the waterfall.

‘Thank you, dragon!’ yelled Holloway as the power of the banshee wails took over once more. ‘Perfect first-mate work.’ Then he nodded, clung to the wheel and said, ‘That’s right, Sudsfarer – all the way up, past the Mists, to the Knotweed River …’

As they climbed up the waterfall, Willow’s eyes became heavy. She was tired … so tired … Her body felt drained of energy.

Before she knew it, she was falling back into Sprig’s and Essential’s arms, fast asleep.

24

Home

Willow awoke to sunshine and the sound of marsh birds as the Sudsfarer glided up the Knotweed River towards home.

All the colours were bright and bold. The water shone and shimmered. The sky was a brilliant blue, and along the riverbanks Willow could see the marsh grass, knotweed, the butterflies and the bees.

‘Welcome back,’ said Moreg, taking a seat next to her.

Willow had been placed on a mound of cushions on the deck. She sat up, blinking in the afternoon light. Near the stern, she could see Nolin Sometimes leaning against the railing as he chatted to Essential and Oswin, who was looking at the world through the copper spyglass. In the sky above, she could see Feathering keeping pace with the boat.

‘We were worried about you,’ said the witch.

Willow felt a wave of fatigue wash over her as she tried to sit up.

‘Relax, you’ve used a lot of magic – you need to rest.’

Willow nodded. She looked at the witch and frowned, opening then closing her mouth.

‘What is it?’ asked Moreg.

‘Why didn’t you just send me a message to tell me not to come to Netherfell?’ Willow asked finally.

‘I should have – but I couldn’t be sure if you would have listened, knowing that your friend’s life was at stake. I thought it best to try and keep you safe. The problem was I couldn’t rely on my seeing ability – I can’t see what happens in Netherfell, just like Umbellifer can’t see what happens in the world above. That’s why I was unable to predict what Sprig was going to do – his actions were careful, and the fact we were often in different worlds clouded my vision.’

As if he had been waiting for Willow to wake up so that he could speak to them both, Sprig approached them now. He looked unsure of himself. There were deep shadows beneath his eyes, and he bit his lip.

‘I’m so sorry about everything. I didn’t want to betray you,’ he said, looking at Moreg. ‘I believed Umbellifer when she said it was for the best – that we could prevent a war this way. I knew she was going to use your powers, but I never thought she would try to keep anyone in Netherfell for good.’

The witch frowned. She