Read Online Emily Feather and the Chest of Charms by Holly Webb - Free Book Online Page B

glare at her disapprovingly. “If we don’t stop Lory and Dan, everything could change! Dad could get in real trouble, couldn’t he?”
    Lory nodded. “If he didn’t do his duty properly, he could be called back. Someone else would be guardian instead. Dad could be put in prison, even.”
    â€œYes… And then you’d all have to go home,” Emily murmured, still playing with the sugar. “I don’t know if you’d even be allowed to take me.”
    â€œOf course we’d take you!” Robin gasped.
    â€œWould you? If Dad’s already in disgrace? He and Mum won’t exactly be in a good place for asking favours, will they? I’ve already got Lark and Lory into trouble. Lady Anstis is really powerful at court, isn’t she? What if she tells the king not to let them bring me?” Emily shrugged. “I mean, that’s not the only reason – I don’t want Dan to hurt Lory, or use her to do something awful. But I can’t help thinking about all this other stuff as well.” She tried to smile at Robin. “Total chocolate brownie shortage then. I bet they don’t know how to make them in your world.”
    â€œI don’t only love you because you make cake, you know!” Robin said crossly.
    â€œMm-hm, she makes really good biscuits as well.” Lark put her arm round Emily’s shoulders. “Stop playing with the sugar and look at us, stupid.”
    Reluctantly, Emily glanced up to find her brother and sister gazing down at her. They were half in their fairy form, their faces and their huge eyes glowing.
    â€œHow long have you known her?” Robin demanded, nodding at Sasha, who made a face back at him.
    â€œUm, well… Not long, really. A couple of weeks?”
    â€œExactly. And you didn’t leave her on the other side, in danger, did you? I know you’re a lot nicer than I am, Emily, but I’m not totally heartless.”
    â€œAnd Mum and Dad aren’t either,” Lark added. “No one is leaving you behind. Anyway,” she sighed. “I don’t know what I’d do if I had to choose. I can’t imagine living over there. But to stay here – I mean, in this world, but not in this house – without any magic at all, that would be too hard. We might all have to go rogue, somehow. Mum and Dad have been here so long I don’t think they’re true fairies any more. Not in the way they think, anyway.”
    â€œSo stop panicking about being left behind and go back to being the genius who spotted Dan’s plot,” Robin ordered. “Why didn’t we see what that song was?”
    â€œI was too busy stuffing my hair in my ears,” Lark muttered. “What are we going to do? She really has been gone hours now. At least three hours, I think.”
    Robin suddenly jumped up. “Did she definitely leave the house?”
    â€œI told you, I don’t know…” Lark began angrily. “Oh! The attic!” She flung herself away from the table so fast her chair tipped over, and leaped into the air, her wings exploding from her shoulders in a fountain of soft grey-brown feathers. She beat them furiously, swirling in the air, so that Emily’s curls lifted in the wind. Then she shot out of the kitchen, spiralling up the stairs like some huge trapped bird.
    â€œGo on!” Emily sighed. “You can fly, I don’t mind. We’ll see you up there.”
    Robin shrugged, tucking Brownie into the zip pocket of his camo shorts. “We’re already at least three hours behind Lory. Lark’s just being dramatic. I’ll walk. Stupid flying indoors anyway – I always hit things.”
    Emily, Robin and Sasha hurried up the stairs, finding the small dark door to the attic swinging open. The shadowy steps made Emily’s heart beat a little faster – she still loved the thought of a treasure trove full of magical secrets.
    â€œHmm.