The Emerald Quest by Gill Vickery Read Free Book Online

it round and let the stone fly. It sent the soldier tumbling backwards through the doorway and down the stairs. Tia raced to slam the door shut again. This time she saw a bar propped against the wall and slotted it into place across the door.
    â€˜Yes!’ She leapt into the air, waving her arms in excitement, and the too-large ring shot from her finger. Loki swooped down, caught it and flew away over the castle walls.
    â€˜Loki!’ Tia shrieked. It was too late. He was gone. The jackdaw had stolen the ring and the soldier would report to Malindra as soon as he could.
    Tia really was trapped now.
    She shivered. It was still early in the night time and it was growing colder. She hauled the flag down from the pole, wrapped it round herself and huddled against the wall. What was she going to do?

    â€˜Nadya!’
    The voice woke her.
    â€˜Nadya!’
    Of course
, Tia thought dreamily,
I told everyone my name is Nadya. I wonder who’s looking for me?
She opened her eyes and saw the silver moon struggling to shine from behind dark clouds. Where was she and why was she so cold?
    She remembered! She scrambled to her feet, fingers and toes numb. She had no idea how long she’d been asleep.
    There was a hammering at the door. ‘You may as well open it, Nadya. If you don’t, my soldiers will break it down.’
    â€˜Malindra!’ Tia whispered.
    The door shuddered, then smashed as the soldiersbattered it down. Two of them advanced with Malindra in between them. She was white with rage and her pale blue eyes burned like ice. ‘Where is my emerald?’ the witch snapped.
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Tia said truthfully.
    â€˜Bring her to me,’ Malindra ordered the soldiers
    Tia ran for the flagpole and shinned up to the top. ‘I haven’t got your stupid ring!’ she shouted.
    â€˜Fetch her down,’ Malindra commanded.
    The soldiers aimed their arrows at Tia.

    â€˜Don’t shoot, you fools! I want her alive,’ Malindra shrieked.
    The soldiers tried to climb the pole and grab Tia’s feet but she kicked as hard as she could and they slid back down.
    â€˜Idiots!’ Malindra cried. She began to chant a spell, her eyes rolling back into her head till they showed only the whites.
    Tia had never felt so alone and so frightened. The flagpole swayed and tilted over the castle walls. It was a long way down into the darkness. She closed her eyes. Malindra went on chanting.
    She wouldn’t try to hurt me if she knew who I am
, Tia thought.
Perhaps if I tell her I’m her niece, she’ll stop…
    Tia opened her eyes and saw Malindra, arms raised, the wolf’s head on her shoulder looking up.
    No,
Tia decided.
I’d rather die than be like HER.
    Something landed with a soft thud on top of the pole. It was Loki! In his beak he had a piece of bark with runes scratched on it. Tia snatched it from him and read:
    Trust loki
    Finn
    Tia nodded at the jackdaw to show she understood. Loki hopped onto the top of the turret wall and swept his wings out in a gesture that meant,
Come here
.
    Below Tia, Malindra was chanting faster and Tia felt a magical tug that pulled her a little way down the pole. Loki hopped frantically, flapping his wings. Tia felt another tug.
    She took a deep breath and leapt for the top of the wall.
    â€˜Catch her!’ Malindra shrieked.
    Tia ran round the turret wall, dodging the hands of the soldiers. One climbed on the wall and blocked her way. This time there really was no escape.
    Loki dug his claws in her hair and pulled so hard that she tottered backwards. ‘What are you doing?!’ she yelled, trying to regain her balance.
    Loki pulled her hair again. She felt her feet go from under her.
    â€˜Nooooo!’ she cried as she fell backwards into the darkness.

Chapter Ten
Back to the Forest
    T ia felt herself snatched up in strong scaly forelegs.
    â€˜Hold on,’ a familiar voice said as she was carried swiftly away