Read Online The Puzzle Ring by Kate Forsyth - Free Book Online

Donovan said. ‘You want Max for that. Besides, I kind of like it.’
    To her dismay, Hannah felt heat rise in her cheeks. ‘So did that magpie.’ She turned to stare down into the pool, deep, green and mysterious. Faded ribbons and scraps of material had been tied to the yew branches overhanging the pool, and Hannah could see a few coins shining in the murk at the bottom of the pool.
    â€˜Let’s climb the hill first,’ Donovan said. ‘We can see the sun going down over the loch. Then you can make your wish at sunset. That’s a good time for wishing.’
    As they walked up the path to the top of Fairknowe Hill, Donovan jerked his head towards a great boulder that half concealed a narrow cave in the hillside. ‘That’s where they burnt the witch, you know. One of the first witches burnt in Scottish history.’
    â€˜Where?’
    â€˜Just in front of that big rock. It’s meant to guard the gateway to fairyland. Miss Underhill said she was really afairy that had been locked out, and the locals caught her and burnt her for being a witch. Miss Underhill wants to put a plaque there, but Lady Wintersloe won’t let her.’
    â€˜That girl at the shop . . .’
    â€˜Scarlett?’
    â€˜Yes, her. She said the witch haunts the castle.’
    Donovan gave a little snort. ‘Miss Underhill would have told her that. She’s always telling ghost stories at Halloween. She’s really into all that sort of stuff, ghosts and witches and fairies. I mean, really into it. Not just playing at it. Scarlett says Miss Underhill is really a witch herself. A modern-day witch. Wicca, it’s called.’
    Hannah nodded to show she had heard of it, though she was much too puffed to speak. It was a steep climb to the top. To her chagrin, Donovan was not short of breath at all. He climbed with long easy strides, the wind blowing back his dark hair from his face.
    They had a spectacular view over the countryside from the crown of the hill. Ben Lomond glowered from clouds to the north, and lights sparkled here and there on the far shore. The sun was spilling liquid flame onto the clouds along the horizon. It had grown so cold it hurt to breathe. Hannah shivered and hugged her arms about her.
    They did not speak. Everything was too grand and beautiful for words.
    Once Donovan touched Hannah’s arm, then pointed. An owl flew past on muffled wings.
    Hannah stepped back, turning her head to follow its flight. She gave a little cry as her arm brushed against the dagger-sharp barbs of the great twisted hulk of blackthornbehind her. ‘Ouch!’ she said, and tried to pull her sleeve free. It was snagged on the thorns.
    Donovan snapped the twig off, heedless of the sharp tips, and handed it to her.
    â€˜You know this bush has not bloomed in more than four hundred years?’
    â€˜The gardening lady said something about that.’
    â€˜There’s a prophecy that says it won’t flower until the true king sits on the throne under the hill. The fairy king, you know.’
    â€˜So I guess it won’t be flowering any time soon,’ Hannah said, then regretted her cynicism. It seemed so magical up here, at the very edge of night, with the world spread out under their feet. The first star shone out over the mountains.
    Donovan shrugged. ‘I guess not.’ There was a long pause. ‘It’s a magical bush, though. Miss Underhill says witches make their wands out of its wood. And if you cast a blackthorn twig behind you it grows into an impenetrable hedge that nothing can cut through. She says the thorns around Sleeping Beauty’s castle were probably grown that way.’
    He shrugged one shoulder, as if embarrassed to be caught talking about such things. ‘Come on! It’ll be too dark in a sec.’
    Hannah thrust the blackthorn twig deep into her cardigan pocket, heedless of the thorns, and followed Donovan down the hill, laughing as