Free The Last Phoenix by Linda Chapman

as much as knowing you’re all safe, of course.” She blinked up at him through her eyelashes.
    â€œWe’re fine,” Michael said gruffly.
    She gave him an expectant look and he tentatively stroked her head. “Oooh, that hits the spot, lovie, oh, yes…”
    Michael scratched a bit harder and Fenella, in her enjoyment, spun about on the spot—and suddenly, her tail burst into flames.
    â€œWhoa!” Michael yelled, leaping backward.
    â€œOh, my goodness me,” squawked Fenella in alarm. “I just can’t control my body heat at the moment—I’m like that kiln, you can’t turn me off! None of you were hurt, were you?”
    Michael sucked his burned fingers. “Nothing a bit of gold wouldn’t cure.”
    â€œDon’t be so rude,” Jess hissed.
    â€œThat’s not rude, Jess, lovie, it’s forthright!” Fenella winked at Michael. “Isn’t it, my pet?”
    Michael grinned and presented the feather to the phoenix. The crystal at the base of it glowed and sparkled.
    Fenella clapped her wings together. “A shaft of tomorrow’s sunshine—just what the genie egg-doctor ordered!”
    â€œWe had to go a few days into the future, is that okay?” asked Jason anxiously, remembering it had been his idea.
    â€œOh, that’s just fine,” said Fenella gaily. “A ray of sunshine from any old tomorrow will do. Silly me, forgetting to mention that! I don’t know what my mind’s doing at the moment.” She placed the feather on the workbench beside her. “Now, gather around, my little ducklings!”
    They all moved closer, exchanging looks of anticipation.
    Fenella walked once around the feather, rustled her wings and then began to sing. Her voice was beautiful, low and soft, but gradually rising. The crystal started to vibrate, golden light swirling round inside it like a mini tornado. It began to hum. For a few seconds the phoenix and the crystal held the same note and then Fenella stopped singing and touched her beak to the top of thecrystal. It continued to shake and hum and she pulled a long golden strand out of the crystal with her beak. The children watched in astonishment as she extracted more and more of the gold, passing it down to her left foot and, from there, to her right. Michael couldn’t stop staring as Fenella’s talons started to flit about in a lightning-quick dance, the gold thread passing from one foot to another almost as if she was knitting at superspeed with her claws. Milly tried to see what she was doing but the phoenix was moving too quickly now, her beak constantly passing down a new supply of the seemingly endless gold thread.
    â€œLook!” Milly said as from under Fenella’s right claw a small rectangle of smooth gold began to emerge.
    â€œShe’s turning the thread into solid gold!” whispered Jason.
    Fenella glanced at him. “ Weaving is the correct expression, lovie,” she said around the strand in her beak, before turning her attention back to the task.
    â€œWhatever it is, it’s amazing!” said Jess.
    Michael nodded, his eyes fixed on the gold rectangle. “Awesome…”
    On and on Fenella went, and soon there was a pile of golden rectangles—each the size and shape of a credit card—and a neatly rolled up ball of gold string, tied up tightly.
    The light in the crystal flickered and went out. Fenella lifted her beak from the feather. She looked proud but tired. “Phoenix gold!” she said in a low, breathless voice. “The string’s for my nest but the sheets are for you. I said I’d pay you well for your efforts to help me, dearies, and here you are—three bars each. Priceless, they are. Priceless!”
    Jess gulped. “You…you don’t have to pay us, you know.”
    Milly nodded. “We’re glad to help you. You’re amazing.”
    â€œAs are you , my pets,” said