plants to keep the water in? And Robyn, why donât you and I put shields round the badger sett until help arrives.â
âSure,â Robyn said.
While Ella got on with growing plants along the top of the bank to stem the flow of water, Lucy pointed at the badger sett. âShield be with me!â
Nothing happened.
âShield be with me!â repeated Lucy.
Still nothing.
She tried to pull power up from inside herself, but it just wouldnât seem to come. She looked round. Robyn was staring at her uneasily. âWhatâs the matter?â
âMy magic wonât work! Try yours!â
Robyn pointed at the sett. âShield be with me!â
A perfect shield formed round the badgersâ sett. The water reached it, but couldnât get through.
Lucyâs thoughts raced. Joanna wasnât there! So who was affecting her magic?
Suddenly she sensed that she was being watched. She swung round, feeling as if icy fingers were running down her spine. A rabbit hopped away into the bushes and then Joanna stepped into the clearing.âHello, girls. I just thought Iâd come and see how you were getting on.â
Lucy stared. How long had she been there? Before she could say anything, Allegra and Faye came swooping back to the clearing with four of the adults.
âGood work, Robyn!â Emma called, seeing the shield around the sett. âAnd Ella!â
Allegra suddenly seemed to see the shock and confusion on Lucyâs face. âAre you OK?â she asked in concern.
Lucy was desperate to talk, but not with everyone there. She looked round and saw Joanna watching her with an inscrutable expression on her face. As soon as she caught Lucyâs gaze Joannaâs face relaxed into a warm smile. Lucy waved and walked over to Robyn.
âWhatâs going on?â Allegra said.
âMy magic didnât work,â Lucy hissed. âAnd Joanna was in the trees!â
She glanced over and caught Robyn saying something in an urgent whisper to her mum. Joanna carried on smiling, but gave a quick shake of her head and then went to help the other adults. Lucy stared at Robyn. Robyn caught her gaze, flushed and looked away. Lucy felt fear and anger swirl inside her. Joanna was doing something to her and Robyn knew about it. She was sure!
At last the riverbank was shored up enough and the water was dried up by heat and wind. When Lucy tried to help the other summer spirits with the heating up, she was relieved to find that her magic was working again. But allthe time she was doing magic, she kept thinking about what had happened. Her magic hadnât worked. Joanna had been there. She remembered the look on Robynâs face when she had caught her gaze after Joanna had been talking to her. What did Robyn know?
Iâm going to find out
, Lucy thought determinedly.
When everything had been cleared up, the adults left to go and see how the others were getting on moving the fallen tree. âSee you later,â Joanna called.
As soon as the adults had gone, Allegra flew over to Lucy. âSo what happened?â she demanded.
Lucy ignored her and marched over to Robyn.
Be careful
, a voice said in her head,
her mum might be a dark spirit
. But she ignored it. âWhatâs going on?â she said hotly.
For a second, Robyn looked taken aback and then she smoothed her hair. âWhat do you mean?â
Lucy glared at her. âYour mumâs doing something to me!â
âDonât be stupid,â Robyn protested, but Lucy was sure she saw a look of guilt flicker across the other girlâs eyes.
Anger rose inside her. âSheâs stopping my magic from working,â Lucy said, aware that Ella, Faye and Allegra had gathered round and were listening.
âMy mum? No, she isnât!â Robyn said, but her voice was high and Lucy was sure she was lying.
âShe is!â she said. âSheâs a dark spirit!â
âLucy!â Ella