Free Emily Feather and the Chest of Charms by Holly Webb Page A

door,” Sasha whispered apologetically, dropping one sparkling water droplet from her finger into the corner of Lark’s mouth.
    Emily watched her sister’s cheeks flush a little pinker and her eyes grow brighter from Sasha’s magic, and frowned. “We’d better go and get them back, then.”
    Emily crept a little closer, looking sideways at the chest. It seemed slippery and dangerous, as if she would fall right through the magical doorway if she dared to look at it straight on.
    The chest was made of a dark wood, bound with heavy iron bands – as though the contents had to be sealed tightly inside. The lid was thrown back against the hinges, and squinting sideways into the open chest, Emily could see the world beyond – great masses of trees, and the river flowing along between them, glimmering. “It leads into the forest again,” she said. The doors she had opened before had been the same, opening on to dark pathways between the trees.
    â€œAll the doors do,” Robin murmured, leaning cautiously over to look. “The forest is the heart of our world. All the strength and life comes from the trees and the river. Dan will still be in among the trees somewhere, I bet. He’ll need to gather his magic before he attacks the king.”
    Emily swallowed fearfully. “Do you think we might be able to stop him, then? I mean, I was just hoping we could get Lory away from him, but do you think we could stop the plot as well?”
    Robin looked at her and shrugged helplessly. “What, you and me?”
    Emily sighed. “I suppose not.”
    â€œMe too,” Sasha whispered faintly.
    â€œYou can’t!” Emily reminded her, shaking her head. “The hunt, remember? If they catch your scent, they’ll go back to chasing you again. It isn’t safe for you to go through.”
    â€œAnd it’s safe for you?” Sasha hissed crossly. “If you go, I go, Emily! You don’t know the forest and I do! I’ve rescued you once, and you’ve rescued me. We’re evens. I’m not going to let you get snapped up by some nasty little wisp who wants that scrap of magic inside you for her own!”
    â€œWhat about the hunt then?” Robin demanded.
    Sasha shrugged. “We’d better just find your sister fast, I suppose … and keep an eye on the door back. Let’s hope he hasn’t taken her far.”
    â€œYou can track her,” Lark whispered faintly. “Look. She left a message. Caught in the hinges.”
    â€œWhat?” Robin and Emily peered closely at the wooden chest, Emily squeezing her eyes into slits to see better. The chest seemed to waver between their world, where it was a battered wooden box, and the fairy land, where it opened out into the forest, a great dark rent torn through a hollow tree.
    Caught in a crack in the bark was a golden feather, silken and glinting. A feather from a fairy’s wings.
    Emily ran her finger down the rippled edge of the feather and her mind filled with panicked images. They were jumbled and hurried but eager, as though Lory had been desperate to pass her message on.
    Emily could see Lory had passed through the door, feeling the strong magic of her homeland, and that she had come to her senses. Suddenly, she realized what she had done.
    The feather twisted and quivered under Emily’s frightened fingers, and her eyes filled with tears as she saw its message.
    Lory had summoned all her magic, but too late. Dan had been too strong and she couldn’t escape. The feather had been torn out in a last desperate gasp as she fought the enemy dragging her through the door.

“If you take it,” Lark whispered weakly, “you should be able to track her.”
    â€œHow?” Emily asked, looking curiously at the feather.
    â€œThe same way the hunt works,” Robin explained. “And how I could feel Lory had been here. Everyone’s magic is different, and you