Dragon Seeker by Anne Forbes Page A

counting six witches on either side of their leader.
    â€œYou’re right,” Clara said, counting them. “Thirteen! That’s a bit unusual, isn’t it?”
    Neil nodded, for the earth witches, whose underground castle was nearby, usually travelled across the countryside in twos or threes. He could tell they were earth witches. They were all dressed in black; black dresses, black cloaks and black squishy hats that ended in drooping points. They were, actually, the least attractive of all the witches, their faces bold, strong and cruel. Even the wind witches were better looking, their features elegant and refined and their dresses a shimmering rustle of grey silk. Of them all, however, the snow witches were the most beautiful. White skinned and raven-haired, their dresses were gorgeous robes of chiffon and ivory brocade.
    Both children stopped to look at the earth witches as they soared over the fields towards them in a perfect V formation. Well, almost, Clara grinned slightly, for the last witch, a lot smaller than the others, was way out of line.
    At the last moment, they curved downwards and, wheeling with mathematical precision, landed gently in the road beside them — apart, that is, from the littlest witch at the end who, fortunately unseen by the others, lost her balance and fell into the ditch.
    Clara looked at them nervously for of all the magic people they knew, the witches were in a class of their own and weren’t their friends. Maritza, Queen of the Earth Witches, dismounted from her broomstick and stared at them through eyes as black as night. Clara’s heart sank and she moved closer to Neil for she knew that the queen hadn’t forgiven her for stealing the
Book of Spells
from her castle under Witches’ Wood.
    Maritza, however, her eyes darting here and there, seemed to have other things on her mind for she, too, was looking rounduneasily, as were the rest of the coven. Clara relaxed thankfully. Maybe they might be able to explain what was going on, for it was pretty obvious that something strange was happening.
    â€œBow!” breathed Neil into her ear. As she and Neil bent low to the Queen of the Earth Witches, Maritza’s face relaxed slightly. At least they knew how to behave, she thought approvingly , and inclined her head in acknowledgement.
    Neil had no idea how to address a witch but decided that a bit of flattery wouldn’t come amiss. Both he and Clara knew that the Lords of the North had forbidden the witches to harm them but, nevertheless, he could well imagine their fury when they had discovered that their precious
Book of Spells
had disappeared. Better, he thought, to keep relations on a good footing. “What’s going on, Milady?” he asked, gesturing worriedly.
    Maritza scanned the land and the sky and shook her head slowly. “There’s definitely magic around somewhere,” she said. “I can feel it. Strong magic!” she said, suddenly alarmed. Her witches felt it, too, and lifted lightly off the ground, ready to take off.
    â€œCome,” she said harshly, “you’d better come with us. Harriet, take the boy and Clara, you come with me. Quickly, sit on my broomstick and I will take you to safety!”
    The thought of flying on a broomstick with the Queen of the Witches was too much for Clara. She took a frightened step backwards, her eyes suspicious. Was all this a trap set up by the witches to capture her? “No,” she said, her mouth suddenly dry, “no, no, I won’t.”
    â€œStupid girl,” Maritza said coldly. “I mean you no harm!”
    Clara looked at her doubtfully and it was as she hesitated that an enormous shadow fell over them.
    Neil glanced upwards, his eyes widening in horror as he sawa monstrous black bird swooping down on them from the sky, its talons outstretched to grab Clara. Instinctively, he pushed her violently towards Maritza who, seeing the bird and aware of the