“Thank you, Poppy,” said Long-shanks. “You’ve helped us so much.”
“What’s this, Daddy?” Quick-eye nosed at a box on the ground. Inside were two cogwheels, a chain and a sharp metal spike.
It was the magical-animal detector.
“Keep away from it!” barked Long-shanks. “It’s a wicked, nasty thing!”
Quick-eye jumped back and his ears flattened in alarm.
Poppy crept up to the machine. It had started whirring as it picked up on the foxes’ magic. What should she do with it? She couldn’t let Sir Fitzroy use it again, but she didn’t really want to touch it. Shuddering, she managed to lift it up. Then she stumbled to the river’s edge and threw it in.
The machine tumbled through the air. It gave a huge splash as it hit the water before sinking below the surface.
Little-paw gave a whoop and jumped round and round in a circle. “Splosh goes the machine! Poppy saves the day!”
Poppy grinned. It was lovely to see Little-paw so happy again.
“We must hurry. Those men may return soon.” Long-shanks began rounding up the cubs.
“Where will you go?” asked Poppy.
“I have cousins that live on the other side of the green marsh. It’s a swampy track and one that humans seldom use. I think we will be safe there.” Long-shanks bowed his head. “Farewell, Poppy. We will always remember your kindness.”
“Good-bye and good luck!” Poppy bowed to each fox in turn and then gave Little-paw a big hug. The cub rubbed her nose against Poppy’s neck. She stroked Little-paw’s ears. “I’ll never forget you, Little-paw!”
The scarlet foxes scampered over the bridge with Long-shanks leading the way. As they reached the other side, each one used their magic to disappear. Little-paw went last. With a swish of her three tails, she vanished.
Poppy gave herself a shake. There was no time to stand here feeling sad; she needed to help Natasha.
She hurried back along the riverbank, hoping desperately that Sir Fitzroy hadn’t caught her friend. Shouting came from her right, followed by a loud splash.
“Natasha?” she whispered. “It’s me, Poppy!”
“Over here!” Natasha’s face poked out from behind a tree. “Careful the guards don’t see you! Did you free the foxes?”
Poppy dodged behind the tree trunk. “Yes, they’ve escaped! What happened to the kite?”
“I brought it down when I decided to hide. Sir Fitzroy’s ordered his guards to search the bushes,” Natasha told her. “I think he’s suspicious about the dragon now. He knows he’s been tricked!”
There was another loud splash.
“What’s going on?” said Poppy. “I hope they’re not hurting some poor ducks.”
The girls crept out from their hiding place. Angry voices echoed up the riverbank.
“Well, clearly this was NOT the right direction!” Sir Fitzroy yelled. “Now I am COLD and WET!”
Poppy giggled, pointing. “I don’t believe it! They’ve fallen in!”
Sir Fitzroy was standing up to his waist in water with his hands on his hips. Two of the guards were also in the river. One was trying to climb the slippery, muddy bank.
“I’m sorry, sir!” said a guard. “I didn’t notice the water.”
“You’re SORRY!” Sir Fitzroy spluttered. “That doesn’t make up for it. You were the one who led us this way. What am I supposed to do if the water makes my armor rusty?”
Two guards took hold of the knight’s arms and tried to haul him up the muddy bank, but they lost their footing and all three collapsed into the water again.
Poppy giggled so hard her stomach felt fluttery. “Sir Fitzroy looks so funny when he’s angry, like a bull that’s ready to charge!”
Natasha grinned. “And the best thing is that while he’s stuck in there the foxes are getting away!”
Chapter Nine
A Good Sign
Poppy worked extra hard the next day to make up for not selling many candles the day before. She sold eleven Blue Whispers, fourteen Golden Sparkles and twenty of the elephant-shaped candles that her aunt had made. Everyone seemed to love them.
She sold out so quickly that she had to return to the workshop to pick up more. A box of gorgeous red-and-gold dragon candles stood by the door.
She picked one up, admiring the beautiful wings and tail. “I’ve never seen you make dragons before,” she said to her aunt.
“I’ve never tried,” her aunt replied. “But I dreamed about dragons last night and when I woke up I had to make them.”
“They’re lovely!” said Poppy.
The people of Penlee liked them too and they gathered round Poppy in the street to buy them. Poppy was so busy that she didn’t have a rest till lunchtime. Sitting down on a bench at midday, she noticed that the sign on the church gate had changed since the day before.
The sign that read MAGICAL ANIMALS ARE DANGEROUS had gone. In its place was a new sign written in large red letters. Poppy read it and a smile spread across her face.
Magical animals are special and they are welcome in our town. This sign was written by the people of Penlee.
Poppy hugged her basket, a lump in her throat. It wasn’t just her—lots of people in the town cared about magical creatures!
“Hello, Poppy!” Mr. Lott came out of the bakery. “Have you sold many candles this morning?”
“Yes, lots!” Poppy started to say. She broke off as Sir Fitzroy marched up the street, his armor clanking.
The knight stopped next to the new sign and scowled. “What’s this? Who took my sign away? And who wrote this other one?”
“It says who wrote it,” said Mr. Lott mildly. “It’s by the people of this town.”
“This is outrageous!” shouted Sir Fitzroy. “This is treachery! The queen shall hear of this.”
A crowd began to gather. Natasha came out of the shoemaker’s shop. She smiled at Poppy. Sir Fitzroy’s guards ran to his side and waited, as if uncertain what to do.
“Tell the queen then!” called Natasha. “We don’t mind.”
“I SHALL tell the queen,” replied the knight. “You’re all disobeying her royal orders. I shall make sure I tell her all about it.”
Mr. Lott folded his arms over his floury apron. “Good! When you do, make sure you say that we are loyal subjects, but we don’t believe magical animals should be captured. Perhaps if she left her castle to meet some of the creatures, she would understand them better.”
“Meet them!” echoed Sir Fitzroy in horror. The rest of his words were lost as the crowd gave Mr. Lott a round of applause.
Sir Fitzroy’s face darkened like a rain cloud. He ripped the new sign off the gate, crumpled it up, and threw it on the ground. “Guards! Get the horses!” he snapped. “We’re leaving this awful town right now.”
The crowd began to scatter and Natasha came to sit on the bench beside Poppy. “I don’t think anyone will miss him!” she said, glancing at Sir Fitzroy.
“I know I won’t!” said Poppy. “I’ll miss Little-paw though.”
“But maybe we can visit her or look for new magical animals to make friends with,” Natasha smiled. “I’ve heard that sky unicorns sometimes stop by the river to drink. Or if we walk a bit farther we can reach the Whispering Forest and meet a star wolf.”
“That’s a good idea!” said Poppy, cheering up. “Come on, I’ll buy you a slice of cake.”
The girls wandered into the bakery and gazed at the rows of delicious buns and cakes behind the counter.
“That chocolate cake with the swirly icing looks nice,” said Natasha.
“Two slices of chocolate cake, please,” Poppy told Mr. Lott.
The baker parceled their cake into white paper bags. “Here you are, Poppy. Have you got any new candles for sale?”
“Yes, my aunt made these dragon ones.” Poppy picked one out of the basket to show him.
“Dragon candles! Your aunt has a good imagination. Look at those wonderful red wings.” Mr. Lott turned
the waxy dragon in his hand. “It’s funny—Mr. Denton the shoemaker looked out of his window last night and he says he’s sure he saw a dragon flying over the river. He could see its fiery breath.”
“Really? You don’t often see dragons round here.” Natasha took a bite of her chocolate cake.
Mr. Lott looked closely at the girls. “I don’t suppose you girls know anything about it, do you?”
“Um. . .” began Poppy.
“Well. . .” started Natasha.
“Actually, I don’t think I really need to know.” Mr. Lott winked at them. “Take care, girls. I must check on the bread in the oven.” He went whistling into the back room.
Natasha took another bite of cake. “Thanks for the cake. It’s really delicious!”
Poppy smiled. “I’ve got to go back to the workshop. Would you like to come with me and see how the candles are made?”
“Yes, please!” Natasha grinned back. “Especially the Red Flamers!”
Poppy linked arms with Natasha as they climbed the hill to her house. She felt so lucky to have a stone that let her talk to magical animals, and a friend to share adventures with!
Don’t miss another secret rescue!
Can Emma help a star wolf cub
keep the stars shining?
About the Author
PAULA HARRISON began inventing stories and writing them down as a child, including one about a magical land inhabited by talking bookworms. She lives with her husband and two children in England.
Aladdin
Simon & Schuster, New York
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DON’T MISS A SINGLE RESCUE!
The Sky Unicorn
The Storm Dragon
The Baby Firebird
COMING SOON:
The Star Wolf
The Sea Pony
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
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First Aladdin hardcover edition November 2017
Text copyright © 2016 by Paula Harrison
Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Sophy Williams
Originally published in Great Britain in 2016 by Nosy Crow Ltd.
Published by arrangement with Nosy Crow
Also available in an Aladdin paperback edition.
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Jacket designed by Steve Scott
Interior designed by Nina Simoneaux
The text of this book was set in ITC Clearface.
Library of Congress Control Number 2017941297
ISBN 978-1-4814-7620-1 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4814-7619-5 (pbk)
ISBN 978-1-4814-7621-8 (eBook)
The Magic Fox Page 4
