Gunnar pushed at a thick wooden door that opened on a long, airy room with shuttered windows latched back to let in light. Tia wrinkled her nose at the sulphurous smell wafting in from the ring of volcanoes that surrounded Askarlend.

  Tables stood in a neat line down the centre of the room, some with papers, plans and charts on them and others with scales and measuring cups. They didn’t look magical, they looked practical.

  ‘Where are we?’ Tia asked.

  ‘In the Headwoman’s rooms. This is where she organises all that goes on in the castle.’

  ‘She must be very important,’ Tia said, wondering why Gunnar had brought her here.

  ‘She is!’ He grinned.

  A tall woman bustled in, a bunch of keys jingling at her waist. It was the woman from the courtyard who’d untangled Tia from the washing. Tia slipped behind the Horse Master.

  The woman didn’t even glance at her; she was too busy glaring at Gunnar. ‘What are you doing here, husband?’

  He gave a deep rumbling laugh. ‘I’ve brought my new stable hand to show you. Vanna, meet Sura.’ He pushed Tia forward. For a moment she feared she’d been tricked again, and that the woman would snatch her and haul her off to Hyldi. But Vanna smiled warmly.

  ‘She’s hungry,’ Gunnar told his wife.

  ‘Children are always hungry – what has this one done to earn her breakfast?’

  ‘Tamed Yufa.’ The Horse Master winked at Tia.

  ‘In that case,’ Vanna’s smile grew even broader, ‘you deserve two breakfasts!’

  ‘Could I have one breakfast and some apples for Yufa?’

  Vanna twitched her snowy white apron straight. ‘Frida!’ she called and a small, cheeky-looking girl rushed in.

  The Headwoman told her to bring to bring food. In no time at all Frida was back with a very large tray loaded with fresh bread, butter, cheese and fruit. Tia’s mouth watered. Frida cleared a space at one of the tables and they all sat down while Tia had breakfast.

  She hadn’t eaten or slept since the previous evening, before she was accidentally transported to Askarlend by the magic sapphire, and she was famished and exhausted. She ate ravenously while Gunnar and Vanna talked about castle affairs. Frida chipped in from time to time, making them laugh with her sharp comments.

  Tia’s head nodded, drooped and finally rested on the table. She fell fast asleep over her breakfast.

  Chapter Four

  Kettil

  ‘Wake up, Nadya!’ a voice said.

  Tia didn’t want to wake up. The bed she was lying on was soft and warm.

  ‘Nadya, time to get up,’ the voice insisted.

  ‘All right, I’m getting up!’ Tia mumbled. She opened an eye and saw Frida.

  ‘I knew you were that Nadya,’ Frida said.

  Tia yawned. ‘No I’m not. Where am I? What’re you doing here?’

  ‘You’re in the room next to mine. We’re near Vanna and Gunnar’s room. That way they can keep an eye on us.’

  ‘Why?’

  Frida tossed her red hair over her shoulder and grinned a crooked grin. ‘I’m apprentice Headwoman so I need to be close to Vanna. And you’re Nadya the thief so you need to be protected by Vanna and Gunnar.’

  ‘I’m not Nadya.’

  ‘Yes you are. I recognised you easily without the cap. And you answered me when I called you Nadya just now.’

  Tia opened her mouth to protest but Frida held up her hand so sharply that she couldn’t help shutting it again.

  ‘I won’t give you away. If Vanna wants to protect you, there’s a reason.’

  Tia had seen at breakfast that Frida worshipped Vanna and wouldn’t ever disobey her. She decided she could trust this loyal girl too.

  Frida handed Tia her cap. ‘We’re going out, Nadya. You’ll need this.’

  Tia took the cap. ‘Call me Sura,’ she insisted. ‘Where are we going?’

  Frida jumped off the bed. ‘You’ve slept far into the day. It’s too late now to start work so Vanna wants me to show you round the town. She’s given you some marks to spend. Come out when you’ve changed.’

  Then she was gone. Frida moved like a darting squirrel, faster than anyone Tia had ever known.

  Tia felt anxiously in her jacket pocket. The sapphire bracelet was still there. She glanced at it quickly before looking away. She knew that if she looked into the jewel’s blue heart she’d be horribly tempted to use it. She had to hide it.

  The room was small, just a living and sleeping chamber with a little washing annex. It was furnished with a bed, a chair and a table – with her backpack and a bag of apples on it – a cupboard, and a small couch with cushions. Tia grabbed a cushion, bit open one end of a seam and pushed the bracelet inside. She put the cushion back on the couch.

  She changed into the fresh clothes piled on the end of her bed and put her jacket back on. She was just pushing her feet into her boots when Frida poked her head round the door. ‘Come on, plodder!’

  Tia picked up the bag of apples and followed Frida into the town.

  Askarlend was a noisy, brash trading centre, near to the port of Roornhof on the coast of the Southern Sea. The town was full of merchants and visitors from over the seas, all dressed in brightly coloured clothes. Stalls selling every kind of goods were packed along the streets and in the squares. Tia and Frida wrinkled their noses as they hurried past fish stalls. Further on they stopped to buy honey cakes.

  As well as food, stallholders sold silk and leather, metalwork and costly gems. One stall sold sunstones from Kulafoss and another precious saffron from Stoplar. Smaller stalls sold cheaper goods such as trinkets and games while even smaller booths, painted with moons and stars, promised to tell fortunes if you came inside.

  ‘Don’t bother with them,’ Frida said scornfully. ‘Let’s go and see the fire-eaters.’

  ‘Fire-eaters!’ Tia liked the sound of that.

  ‘And jugglers and acrobats,’ Frida said. ‘They’re in West Gate Square.’

  When they got there Tia recognised the square as the one she’d arrived in last night. Today it was packed with excited people gasping as acrobats performed impossible feats and fire-eaters breathed out streams of flame.

  Tia was most impressed by the acrobats. She could make fire just by snapping her fingers, but she couldn’t balance on one hand at the top of a pyramid of people.

  She and Frida wandered through the noisy crowds until they found themselves near a gigantic statue of a troll.

  ‘This statue is very mysterious,’ Frida said. ‘It appeared from nowhere last night.’

  Tia tried not to laugh. She knew all about the troll because she’d brought it with her by accident from Iserborg. Once it reached Askarlend, the magic that made it live had drained away and it had turned back into an ordinary statue once again.

  ‘It is mysterious,’ Tia agreed, looking up at the troll’s snarling face. A black bird landed on the troll’s head. Tia squinted. It was Loki.

  Tia snatched off her cap and waved it, jumping up and down in excitement at seeing her friend at last.

  The jackdaw hopped down onto the troll’s arm. ‘There you are,’ Loki squawked.

  ‘Put your cap on,’ Frida hissed. ‘You’ll be recognised if you’re not careful!’

  Tia tugged it back on.

  ‘Bet I can get that bird,’ a voice said behind her.

  Tia turned. A hulking boy at the front of a group of children was swinging a sling, his eye on Loki.

  ‘Go away, jackdaw,’ Tia yelled. ‘You’re in danger!’

  He flew off, zigzagging through the air so that boy couldn’t get a good aim. His stone went wide. Some of the children jeered but most looked away or said, ‘Bad luck.’ He pushed them aside and marched angrily towards Tia and Frida.

  The boy thrust his face in front of Tia’s. ‘What d’you warn that bird for?’

  Tia laughed and stood straight even though the boy was taller and heavier than her. ‘You think I can talk to birds?’

  The boy flushed. Some of his gang tittered. ‘You know what I mean – your shouting scared it off.’

  Tia shrugged. ‘You probably wouldn’t have hit it anyway. You were aiming all wrong.’

  ‘What do you know?’ he sneered.

  Tia pulled her sling out of her pocket. ‘I bet I can beat you any time.’

  The group of children gasped and Frida stepped up beside Tia. ‘Leave her alone, Kettil,’ she said to the boy.

  Kettil’s face twisted in a sneer. ‘Why should I?’ he said to Frida. ‘Just because you’re apprentice Headwoman?’

  ‘Because if you don’t I’ll report you to Gunnar.’

  Kettil’s face burned red with anger. His fists bunched and his eyes bulged. Frida and Tia stood their ground. Kettil grunted and swung away, his gang huddled protectively round him.

  ‘I’m not sure I should’ve spoken that way,’ Frida said. ‘He might want revenge for making him look silly.’

  It was just like being back in Drakelow with the dragonets tormenting her for being a witchbrat. Kettil even reminded her of Torkil, the worst of the dragonet bullies. Tia sighed, then grinned. She’d always got the better of Torkil – she could do the same with Kettil.

  Chapter Five

  The Race

  ‘Let’s forget about Kettil and take Yufa the apples,’ Tia said.

  Frida agreed and the two of them made their way to the stables. By this time the other horses were stabled too but the hands had finished for the night and no-one else was about.

  Frida looked warily at Yufa. ‘Won’t she won’t bite you?’

  Tia shook her head and stepped up to the bars.

  ‘Hello, Yufa. I’ve brought you those apples I promised,’ she said.

  Yufa gave a whicker of pleasure.

  Frida drew in a sharp breath of surprise and Yufa flattened her ears.

  ‘It’s all right,’ Tia reassured the horse. ‘That’s my friend Frida.’

  ‘I don’t want her to come in,’ Yufa insisted, rolling her eyes.

  ‘She’s a bit nervous,’ Tia fibbed to Frida. ‘Why don’t you wait over there?’

  Frida stepped back several paces. Tia unlatched the box-stall door, confident that Frida was too far away to hear what she was going to say to Yufa.

  ‘Don’t go in, it’s too dangerous!’ Frida called, clutching her hands together as if she were wringing out washing.

  Tia ignored her and went inside. She took an apple out of the bag and offered it to Yufa. The horse’s soft lips nuzzled at her palm as they picked up the fruit.

  ‘I’m going to be looking after you from now on,’ Tia said. You’ll let me ride you, won’t you?’

  The little golden mare agreed she would and finished off the apples.

  Tia slapped her gently on the rump and left the box-stall. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’ she said through the bars and Yufa breathed a smell of apples and sweet hay over her.

  ‘How did you get her to behave?’ Frida said, as they left the stables. Her eyes were wide with awe.

  ‘It’s the Trader way.’ And Tia refused to say any more.

  When they reached the castle Frida said, ‘I’ll show you around. It’s easy to get lost in all the corridors and tunnels.’

  Though Frida led Tia through the castle at dizzying speed she took care to explain the different levels. The ground floor was for daily living with places to eat, entertain, do business and sleep. Below that was a floor devoted to kitchens and food storage and under that, places for training soldiers. Under that again were more storage rooms.

  Frida didn’t mention the cavern of the red time bubbles.

  Gunnar kept Tia busy for the next few days. She followed the daily routine: mucking out Yufa, exercising, feeding and grooming her. She rose early, did her jobs and ate breakfast with the other stable hands. She got on well with all of them, except for Kettil and his friends. They only glared at her without speaking as she went about her work.

  She spent the evenings in the town with Frida and went to bed tired out. Tia badly wanted to give the sapphire to the jackdaw so that he could take it to Finn for safekeeping. And even more, she longed for news of the little dragon. But although she spotted Loki several times they never had a chance to speak.

  Gunnar observed her closely as she worked with Yufa. Tia was sure he had some plan in mind, and she was right.

  One morning, when the horses had been walked back from their exercise, the Horsemaster said to Tia, ‘We’ll try racing Yufa tomorrow.’

  ‘A race!’ Tia’s eyes sparkled. She’d raced against Trader children at Drakelow where she lived with the dragons, but never on a horse as swift as Yufa. She couldn’t wait.

  And neither could anyone else. The whole castle was buzzing with gossip about Yufa taking part in the coming race. Tia wasn’t the only one who hardly slept for excitement that night.

  The next day was sunny and crisp with a clear sky. Even the volcanoes were only smoking gently without rumbling and shaking the ground.

  When it was time for Tia to walk Yufa to the cinder track outside the castle, the little mare danced in excitement.

  ‘Don’t be too eager,’ Tia said. ‘Remember what we planned – let another horse take the lead, stay close and then pass.’

  Yufa tossed her head making her creamy mane wave. ‘I just want to run and run!’ she said.

  Tia patted the horse’s neck. ‘I just want to win!’

  ‘You won’t.’ A boy on a chestnut horse sneered as he peeled off from the other riders and rode closer to Tia. It was Kettil. ‘At least, not if you know what’s good for you.’

  Tia ignored him. She was going to enjoy this ride.

  They reached the starting line Gunnar had laid down with a thick stripe of white ash and lined up as best they could. A noisy crowd gathered round, watching the riders jostle their horses into position. Kettil forced his chestnut horse, Folski, next to Yufa. ‘I warned you, don’t try and win,’ he threatened.

  At that moment Gunnar started the race. The crowd cheered and the horses shot away. Yufa flew ahead of the field. This wasn’t the plan! But at least they’d left Kettil behind. Tia grinned. He wouldn’t like that. She crouched over Yufa’s neck and concentrated on the race.

  They flew round the first of the two laps and started on the second. Yufa was still out in front, only two horses closing the gap between her and the rest of the field: Kettil’s Folski and a white horse called Drifa.

  The sound of drumming hoofs grew nearer, voices yelled. Tia risked looking round. Folski was gaining fast, Drifa not far behind.

  Tia gripped her knees tighter, bent lower over Yufa’s neck. ‘C’mon, half a lap – we can do it!’ she shouted against the wind streaming in their faces. Yufa was too intent on hurtling to the winning post to answer.

  ‘Ow!’ Something stung Tia’s leg and she almost lost her grip. The sting came again, more fiercely this time.

  Kettil! He’d drawn level and was hitting her with his whip. The next blow came harder still and Tia struggled to keep on Yufa’s back.

  Kettil hit her again. She felt herself slipping.

  Suddenly Loki was flapping and darting round Kettil’s head. Folski shied in alarm, and bucked Kettil off. The bird soared away.

  ‘Now’s our chance!’ Tia yelled to Yufa, who took the bit in her mouth and ran like a winter wind. They thundered over the line far ahead of Drifa and the rest of the field.

  ‘Yes!’ Tia yelled as they slowed down. ‘We won!’

  ‘I told you we would,’ Yufa panted. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I think so.’ Tia slid from the horse’s back and took a few steps. She was fine apart from her painful leg. ‘It’s just bruises.’

  She led Yufa back to the line and the cheering crowd. Gunnar was waiting at the front, the High Witch beside him.

  When Yufa saw Hyldi she stopped and refused to budge another inch. Hyldi’s face tightened with anger.

  ‘You girl, come here,’ she ordered.

  ‘Yes, Lady,’ Tia said politely. She turned to Yufa and whispered, ‘Let the man hold you while I talk to the witch.’

  Yufa wasn’t happy about it but she stayed still when Tia passed the reins to Gunnar.

  ‘How is it that you can ride this horse?’ Hyldi demanded.

  ‘I was raised by Traders, Lady, and know their way with horses. They trust me, as they trust all Traders,’ she added remembering what Shandor had said to the witch.

  Hyldi must have remembered too. ‘So they all say,’ she muttered. She gripped Tia’s shoulder hard. ‘Child, you will train this horse to obey me.’

  Tia wanted to shout, ‘Never!’ but reporting to Hyldi now and then might help her work out how to steal the ruby and free Shandor. ‘I’ll try my hardest, Lady,’ she said meekly. ‘It may take some time.’

  ‘Time? Time is nothing to me.’ The High Witch sneered and swept away, flanked by two guards. They made her look even smaller and sillier as she swaggered back to the castle.

  Gunnar stroked his bristly chin thoughtfully. ‘Take Yufa back to the stable and make her comfortable, then take yourself back to your room,’ he told Tia. ‘I’ll tell Vanna to draw you a hot bath to ease those bruises Kettil gave you. We all saw what happened. It’s no way for a rider to behave. I’ll deal with him. And you can have the rest of the day to yourself.’

  He handed the reins back to Tia. ‘It was strange about that bird though. It looked as if it deliberately flew at Kettil to stop him hitting you. Never seen anything like it.’

  Shaking his head, Gunnar went to see the other riders and their horses.

  Tia led Yufa back to the stables, washed her down, groomed her thoroughly and gave her food and water. When she’d straightened the little mare’s bed she said, ‘We showed you really can race.’

  ‘I know,’ Yufa said smugly through a mouthful of hay.

  Smiling, Tia closed the box-stall door and limped wearily off for a warm bath to soothe her aches and pains.

 

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