by Julie Sykes
There was a flash of pink and the statue exploded. Chunks of marble flew through the air. Sunshine whinnied and scrambled backwards but she couldn’t move fast enough. A large stone wing came plummeting down from the sky towards Evie and Sunshine!
HAVE YOU READ?
Sophia and Rainbow
Scarlett and Blaze
Ava and Star
Isabel and Cloud
Layla and Dancer
Olivia and Snowflake
Rosa and Crystal
Ariana and Whisper
Matilda and Pearl
Freya and Honey
Violet and Twinkle
Isla and Buttercup
Lily and Feather
Phoebe and Shimmer
Zara and Moonbeam
Aisha and Silver
Lyra and Misty
LOOK OUT FOR:
Ivy and Flame
For Nusaibah and Lauryn, who are super
writers and know the magic of books.
“That was yummy,” Evie said as she licked crumbs of chocolate cake from her fingers. The girls from Ruby dormitory were having a picnic in a corner of the walled orchard while their unicorns grazed on the lush grass. It was late spring, the apple trees were covered with white blossom and the bright sunlight, dappling through the branches, warmed Evie’s face.
“OK,” said Lyra, packing away the picnic things and double-checking that no one else was in sight. “Now for the important business that we came here to discuss.”
“To solve the riddle on the treasure map!” said Sienna eagerly. She poked Ivy, who was lying on her back with her eyes shut. “Ivy, wake up!”
Ivy wriggled away. “I am awake. Have you got the map, Lyra?” She turned herself on to her tummy.
Lyra carefully pulled two yellowed squares of paper from her pocket. They crackled as she unfolded them and smoothed them out, placing them side by side on the picnic rug. Each one was part of a map that had been cut into four pieces. These two each had a small picture of a crying unicorn in their outside corners. Together they made up the top half of the map. They formed a picture of Unicorn Academy and, further down, part of a maze with half of a big X in the centre. The girls didn’t know what the treasure in the maze was but they were determined to find out!
They had discovered the first piece hidden in a secret room above their dorm and Topaz dorm. A riddle on the back had led them to the second piece, which they had found behind an underground waterfall in the school grounds. They hoped that the riddle written on it would direct them to the third piece.
“This riddle is really annoying!” said Lyra. “What does it even mean?”
Evie pushed her wavy brown hair behind her ears. She had already memorised the riddle and recited it for the others:
“In a new folly that phantoms keep safe
There’s a space you can enter and leave with no trace.
A cold place to rest hides the circular key,
Press once and enter the d-da-dark cavity.”
As Evie stumbled over the last few words, she blushed. Sometimes her mouth just couldn’t seem to keep up with her brain and her words came out muddled. Luckily her friends never mentioned it, but she hated when it happened. Similarly, when she was moving fast or playing sport, she often tripped over. But Evie didn’t mind about not being great at sport – she preferred reading and wanted to be a scientist when she was older.
“I don’t understand the first line,” said Sienna. “Phantoms are ghosts. But how can ghosts keep anywhere safe?”
“And what’s ‘a new folly’?” asked Ivy.
“‘Folly’ means foolish,” said Evie shyly.
“A new foolish that ghosts keep safe?” said Lyra. “That doesn’t make any sense.” She rubbed her forehead in frustration.
The word folly was bothering Evie too. She’d heard it before and thought it had another meaning but she couldn’t remember what.
“A cavity’s a hole,” said Sienna. “Could the dark cavity be the secret room where we found the first part of the map? You have to press a hidden circular button to open it up.” Her eyes lit up. “Yes, maybe that’s it!”
“But the secret room isn’t dark,” Lyra argued. “It has a window and it’s not really a cavity.”
Evie reached for the map but, as she did so, her arm knocked against her water bottle. She hadn’t screwed the top on properly and water splashed out. She tried to grab it but her fingers fumbled and instead she sent it rolling towards the precious paper.
“No!” shrieked Sienna.
Luckily Lyra swept up the pieces of map before the water could reach them.
“I’m sorry!” cried Evie, jumping to her feet as Ivy pulled some tissues out of her pocket and started to mop up the water.
“What’s going on?” Sunshine, Evie’s elegant unicorn, came trotting over with the other unicorns – Misty, Flame and Sparkle.
“Just Evie being a clumsy doughnut again,” said Sienna, grinning. “Honestly, Evie, I think we should ban you from being around food or drink. You always spill something!”
Even though Sienna was only teasing, Evie felt awful. She tried to help by brushing the remaining liquid from the rug but, as she stepped back, she tripped over Lyra’s bag and fell over.
“Oh, Evie!” groaned Sunshine. She was a very pretty unicorn with yellow, turquoise and deep-pink patterns on her white coat that matched her long mane and tail.
“Evie, please go and stand by Sunshine and we’ll clear up,” said Ivy.
Evie went over to Sunshine and stroked her mane to hide her blushes. She wondered if Sunshine wished she had been paired with a different student – someone who wasn’t so embarrassing. Sunshine hated being the centre of attention almost as much as Evie did.
How will we ever bond and graduate if Sunshine is embarrassed by me? Evie thought anxiously. During their time at Unicorn Academy the students learned how to become guardians of Unicorn Island. They couldn’t graduate until they had bonded with their unicorn and discovered their unicorn’s magic power. Bonding was the highest form of friendship and Evie would know when it happened because a lock of her hair would turn the same colour as Sunshine’s mane.
Lyra and Misty were the only ones in Ruby dorm to have bonded so far – Lyra now had a purple, yellow and green streak in her hair to prove it. Misty was also the only unicorn in Ruby dorm to have found her magic. She could form protective bubbles around people in danger. Evie couldn’t wait to discover what Sunshine’s magic was!
“I vote we go and explore the hidden room again,” said Sienna as Lyra and Ivy packed the rug and water bottles away. “But for now let’s make the most of the sun and have an obstacle race. I bet there’s some stuff in that shed we could use!”
Sienna ran to a nearby garden shed and began to pull things out. The others went to help but Sunshine stopped Evie.
“Let’s just watch,” she said.
Evie guessed Sunshine was worried that she would embarrass her if they tried to take part. “OK,” she said with a sigh.
The others came back laden with buckets, beanpoles, plant pots, hoops and beanbags. Sienna instructed everyone where to put everything, and when the course was set up she shinned up an apple tree with a beanbag and balanced it on a branch.
“Listen up!” she said, sliding easily back down the trunk. “This is the course. First you gallop to the line of poles. You weave through them then race to the upturned bucket where you have to reach down and pick up a plant pot. Next, ride to the pole near the apple tree, put the pot on top then climb the apple tree to get the beanbag. Once you’re back on your unicorn it’s a race to the end, jumping over the fallen log and throwing the beanbag through this hoop as you cross the finishing line. Fastest time wins. Evie and Sunsh
ine, you’re up first.”
Evie shook her head. “I’ll just keep the times for everyone.”
“Oh no, you’ve got to join in. We can all take turns at timing,” said Sienna.
“Yes, please take part,” said Ivy.
“Pleeeease, Evie!” begged Lyra. “It’ll be more fun if we all do it.”
Evie hated everyone focusing on her. “OK,” she said, giving in, even though she could feel a knot of anxiety tightening in her chest. She saw Sunshine give her an alarmed look.
“Evie, I don’t think this is a good idea,” said Sunshine in a low voice as Evie got on to her back.
Evie swallowed. “I promise I’ll try not to embarrass you,” she murmured.
“It’s not that. It’s—”
“Come on, they’re waiting for us to start,” interrupted Evie.
Lyra had the stopwatch. “Three, two, one, go!” she shouted.
Sunshine reluctantly set off. Evie gripped her mane as they cantered to the poles. Sunshine weaved gracefully between them and Evie could hear the others cheering her on.
So far so good, she thought as Sunshine galloped on to the bucket and pole by the apple tree. Leaning down, she picked up the plant pot from the upturned bucket. Don’t drop it, don’t drop it, she told herself. To her relief Sunshine stood absolutely still while she slipped it on top of the pole. Phew! Now for the tree!
“Please be very careful,” Sunshine begged her as Evie dismounted and ran over to it, skirting carefully round daffodils at the base of the trunk. Gritting her teeth, Evie pulled herself up until she reached the branch where the beanbag was balanced. Keeping one arm wrapped round the tree trunk, Evie stretched out to retrieve it.
Beneath her, Sunshine pawed at the ground anxiously. “Be careful, Evie!” she whinnied.
With a shriek, Evie overbalanced and hung underneath the branch, clinging on desperately with her hands and feet. She heard a faint popping noise and suddenly the tree shook violently as if it had just been hit. Evie gasped as her grip on the trunk loosened and she fell …
“Evie!” her friends yelled.
Sunshine whinnied and leapt forward to try to catch her but Misty was already stamping her hoof and using her magic. A large shimmering bubble formed round Evie and carried her gently to the ground where it came to a stop before popping. Evie sat on the grass, her heart pounding. If Misty hadn’t used her magic, she could have been badly hurt.
“Are you OK?” Lyra, Ivy and Sienna demanded, galloping over on their unicorns.
“I’m fine!” said Evie, knowing her face was as red as a tomato. She looked at the daffodils she had crushed when she landed. “I don’t know what happened.” She was sure she’d felt the tree shake when she’d been hanging on but maybe she’d imagined it. She’d probably just been dizzy because she’d been upside down. “Thanks, Misty.”
“No problem,” said Misty.
Sunshine seemed scared and embarrassed as she nuzzled her. “I’m really glad you’re not hurt.”
Lyra helped pull Evie to her feet. “Do you want to finish the course?” she asked.
Evie shook her head. “I think I’ll head indoors,” she said, pulling a twig from her hair.
“I’ll come with you,” Ivy offered.
“It’s OK. I’ll be fine.” Evie’s eyes smarted. Why couldn’t she just be normal like everyone else? Her foot throbbed as she hobbled back to Sunshine. In silence they walked to the stables.
When they were back, Sunshine finally spoke. “Next time there’s an obstacle race or something like that I think we should just watch, Evie.”
“OK,” Evie muttered. She certainly didn’t want to embarrass Sunshine any further.
After topping up Sunshine’s hay net and fluffing up her straw bed, Evie left the stables. As she walked towards the school buildings, she felt her unhappiness lift. It was hard to be miserable when Unicorn Academy was so beautiful. The gardens were bursting with spring flowers and the glass and marble towers of the school sparkled against the clear blue sky. Evie’s chest filled with pride. I might not be good at sport but I’m a good student and I’m great at science and maths, she reminded herself as she went inside. There’s no reason I can’t be an excellent guardian of Unicorn Island.
Sam, one of the boys from Topaz dorm, was coming along the corridor pulling a suitcase on wheels. A lady with a dark shoulder-length bob and lots of jewellery was walking beside him pulling a much larger case. Evie recognised her as Dr Angelica Briar, Sam’s aunt and a famous archaeologist. She’d visited the academy earlier in the year to give a talk on her work and afterwards the Ruby girls had shown her the first part of the map they had found. Dr Briar had told them it was about a hundred years old but that it wasn’t worth anything.
Sam whispered something to his aunt and then greeted Evie. “Hi there!”
“Hi, Sam,” Evie said. “Hello, Dr Briar.”
Dr Briar smiled warmly. “Evie, isn’t it? You were one of the girls who found that old piece of paper, weren’t you?”
Evie was thrilled that Dr Briar had remembered her. “Yes, that’s right.”
“Aunt Angelica is staying for a few weeks to help document the paintings and artefacts in the school,” said Sam proudly.
“So, have you and your friends found any other bits of old paper that you want me to take a look at?” Dr Briar’s eyes twinkled merrily.
Evie only just stopped herself from saying that they had found a second piece. She’d like to have told Dr Briar, but Lyra had made them promise to keep the map secret.
“Well?” pressed Dr Briar, her eyes curious.
“No.” A blush crept up Evie’s cheeks as she lied. To hide her discomfort she blurted out a question. “Dr Briar, do you know what ‘folly’ means?” She’d been pondering that ever since she’d been in the orchard.
“Why, yes I do,” said Dr Briar. “It means foolish, but it’s also the name given to a structure that’s built for fun and which has no practical purpose. Many years ago rich people liked to build follies in the grounds of their houses. They could be towers or even miniature castles.”
Of course! Evie suddenly remembered reading about a secret folly in a book. Her eyes widened. Maybe the new folly in the riddle was a building – a place that had recently been built when the map was drawn.
“Why do you ask?” Dr Briar asked, studying her.
“Oh, n-no reason,” Evie stammered. “I just heard the word somewhere and didn’t know what it meant.” Evie felt uncomfortable under Dr Briar’s scrutiny. “Right, well, I’d better go,” she gabbled. “Nice to see you, Dr Briar. Bye, Sam!”
She didn’t stop until she was back in Ruby dorm at the top of the north tower. She sank down on her bed, impatient for the others to come back so that she could tell them what she’d found out!
A little while later, Lyra and Sienna came bounding up the stairs with Ivy following more slowly.
“I won!” Sienna announced gleefully. “Ivy couldn’t get the beanbag through the hoop and Lyra and Misty knocked a pole over.”
Ivy flopped down on her bed. “I’m exhausted!”
“Is your foot OK?” Lyra asked Evie. “You looked like you were limping earlier.”
Evie could hardly contain her excitement. “It’s fine now. But I’ve got something to tell you all! I saw Dr Briar earlier and—”
“Dr Briar!” Lyra broke in. “Why’s she back here? I know she’s Sam’s aunt but there’s something about her that I don’t trust.”
“I know what you mean,” Sienna added. “Remember when we showed her the first piece of the map and she looked like she wasn’t going to give it back?”
“Yes, and—”
“Shush, you two!” interrupted Ivy. “Evie said she’s got something to tell us. Go on, Evie.”
Evie gave Ivy a grateful look. It was sometimes hard to get a word in edgeways when Sienna and Lyra got talking. She took a breath. “Dr Briar is here to document the paintings and stuff. I asked her if she knew what a folly was
and she told me it’s a building like a tower, often built in the grounds of a big house, that’s just for fun.”
“So there could be a folly here in the academy grounds?” said Lyra, her green eyes lighting up.
Evie nodded. “Or the riddle could mean elsewhere on the island.”
“A folly guarded by ghosts,” breathed Sienna.
They all looked at each other in excitement.
“This might be what we need to solve the riddle!” said Lyra. “You’re a star, Evie!”
“Yes, you’re absolutely a-mazing!” declared Sienna.
Evie glowed in delight at the praise.
Sienna grabbed Lyra’s shoulder. “We’re going to find the treasure map,” she chanted.
“We’re going to find the treasure!” Lyra sang back.
The door, which the girls had left ajar, opened and Nawaz, Archie and Reuben from Topaz dorm looked in.
“What are you lot shouting about?” asked Nawaz.
“Nothing!” Lyra said hastily.
Sam appeared behind the other boys. “What’s going on?”
“The girls have gone loopy,” said Reuben. “They were shouting about finding treasure.”
Sam’s face stiffened. “Treasure?”
“Lyra and Sienna were just messing around,” said Ivy hastily.
“Hey, we were hoping to catch you,” said Sienna. “We wanted to challenge you to a crossnet match tomorrow.”
Evie smiled to herself – Sienna was so quick at making things up. It was the first she’d heard about a crossnet match.
“Ruby versus Topaz,” added Lyra.
“Cool,” said Archie.
They discussed the details and agreed to meet at ten the next morning at the crossnet pitch. But as the boys left, Evie saw Sam give the girls an intent look very much like the look Dr Briar had given her in the corridor earlier.
“Whoops, that was close!” whispered Sienna, as Lyra shut the door.
Lyra pulled a face. “I can’t believe we were stupid enough to shout about treasure. Did you see the way Sam was looking at us as he left? I hope he doesn’t suspect anything. Remember when someone ransacked our dorm just after we found the first piece? We thought it was a prank but what if Dr Briar was lying when she said that the map wasn’t valuable? What if she or Sam searched our dorm trying to find it?” She patted her pockets. “From now on these are never leaving my sight – we’re not letting anyone else find the treasure!”