Untitled Starfell #2 (Starfell #2) - Dominique Valente Page 0,57

didn’t seem angry, just disappointed perhaps. ‘You of all people should have known better. She’s not someone who plays fairly,’ she said. ‘But there was something else that was motivating you, wasn’t there?’

Sprig looked down at the floor of the boat. ‘Yes,’ he admitted.

Willow thought of the small throne that had appeared next to the queen’s. ‘You wanted to rule with her?’

He shook his head. ‘Not exactly rule, no. I just wanted to belong. I’ve always felt a little lost, with one foot in both worlds. Out here, in this world, there have been many who were afraid of me, my powers … the scent of death. Umbellifer made me a promise that I would find where I belonged.’

He looked at Willow and gave her a small, shy smile. ‘I did find where I belonged … but it wasn’t down there. I hope we can be friends, Willow.’

Willow felt tears prick her eyes. She nodded. ‘I’d like that very much.’

‘Very well, boy,’ said the witch. ‘It was a foolish thing you did, but I can understand why. However, if you cross me again, you will regret it. Leave us for now.’

Sprig swallowed, nodding, then turned to join Essential and Sometimes.

The witch looked at Willow and seemed almost to grin. ‘It’s always useful to send a gentle reminder that a witch is not someone to cross … Remember that,’ she said, tapping her nose, and Willow couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped her lips.

Moreg continued. ‘Speaking of witches, we dropped Pimpernell off a little while ago. I’ve had a chat with her, told her that she needs to make some changes, get an assistant – speak to other witches. She means well, I suppose; she just goes about things the wrong way. I think seeing that Holloway had been telling the truth, that he wasn’t going to use his new ability for evil, also opened her eyes. She wouldn’t go so far as to admit guilt for locking up someone for a year – not when she believed she was in the right – but I think she can see that maybe she was getting too extreme. The Enchancil will start to look in on her more. It’s not good for anyone to have nobody to answer to – like Umbellifer in her own way.’ The witch touched Willow’s shoulder. ‘I should have known one thing, though – that should have been obvious.’

‘What’s that?’

‘That if anyone could save us, it would be you.’

Willow didn’t know what to say to that. She felt a blush rise to the roots of her hair. She looked up at the witch. ‘I don’t know about that. Um, actually, about my magic – how my grief made things disappear – do you think that could happen again?’

Moreg frowned. ‘I don’t think it was grief that was making it happen.’

Willow stared and the witch explained.

‘I think the grief was preventing you from using your usual ability. But I have a feeling that something else happened when we were in Wolkana. When you got the spell scroll from Silas, it shouldn’t have worked because he’d used a protective spell.’

Willow blinked. ‘Why did it then?’

‘Because magic wanted you to succeed,’ said Moreg.

‘What?’ breathed Willow. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘The magic of Starfell,’ she said. ‘It knew what was happening. Maybe it even knew what was coming, based on what had gone before, when it was almost ripped out of the world. Perhaps it sensed that you were trying to help. So it took a chance, and decided to break its own rules. It decided to trust you.’

‘It trusted me?’

‘Yes, and magic like that always leaves a trace. It touched you and gave you something in return – the other side of your ability perhaps. So you can now make things appear and disappear. Very useful, once you learn how to control it.’

Willow blinked in amazement.

‘It also makes you dangerous, which is something you need to be careful about. The Brothers of Wol have been hatching their plans to seize witches and wizards, and Silas is out to steal magic from the world for himself. We will need to be ready.’

Willow nodded. They would.

25

Moss Cottage

A while later, they heard Feathering’s trumpeting cry as he signalled his farewell.

‘Must get back to baby Floss – he’ll be wondering where I am. Come and have some pepper tea with me soon, friends. I’ll try to convince the plant to come back …’

They waved him off, Nolin Sometimes laughing his loud, barking laugh. ‘Good luck