Maze Running and other Magical Missions Read Online Free

more slowly off the end.
    They laid him across his father’s back, then all five centaurs moved off in formation, one bearing his weight, the others holding him steady.
    As they galloped away, Helen watched her friend’s blood streak red down his father’s white flanks.

Chapter 4
    Helen couldn’t stand up.
    Now that the danger of the rescue, the terror of the trap and the horror of Yann’s injury were past, she could feel bruises on her elbow and ribs. The blood on her knees was cold and sticky. She shivered.
    Rona sat down beside her. “Centaur healers are used to battle wounds…”
    Then the baby unicorn woke up. She’d slept through threats, rockfalls and injuries, but when one of the adult unicorns whickered, she wriggled in Rona’s arms.
    A pale golden unicorn approached Helen and Rona on slim legs and pearly hooves. She called again and the baby replied. Rona opened her arms. The baby unicorn stood up, wobbling on her newborn legs, then staggered over to her mum. The baby reached her head up and the mother reached her head down, and they rubbed noses.
    Helen burst into tears. Which was a bit embarrassing, because it was usually Rona who cried.
    But Helen was scared that by trying to heal Yann herself she had delayed more useful treatment. Also, she was happy the unicorn was safe, she was sorein at least three places, her mum was going to ask impossible questions about that awful phone call, and she was nearly late for school.
    Rona hugged her. “Yann is strong. He’ll be fine.” But she was sniffing too.
    The mother unicorn raised her head and whinnied. Rona replied, “Thank you. I’ll tell him when he wakes.”
    Then the unicorns left, their glittery outlines vanishing into the shadows of the trees. The kelpies turned and galloped on the trail of the Master. The remaining centaurs collected Yann’s broken arrow and discarded bow, and followed Petros. Suddenly the friends were alone.
    Helen looked at the blood on the ground, and her smashed phone. “Let’s go after them. Let’s see if there is anything we can do.”
    She stood up, but Rona gripped her wrist. “Don’t be daft, Helen. Petros doesn’t like you near Yann at the best of times. He’s as big and strong as the Master, and he hates humans almost as much. It’s not safe for you in the centaurs’ grounds; that’s why Yann never takes you there. Perhaps once Yann is recovering, you can visit. But not while his blood is still flowing and his father’s blood is still hot. Anyway, you have to get to school.”
    “I can’t go to school! I have to find out how Yann is.”
    Catesby chattered angrily above her head.
    Lavender landed on Helen’s shoulder. “Catesby’s right. You have to act normally, or you’ll give too much away. Go home, tell your mother something shecan believe, then go to school. That might repair any damage you did to the secret existence of Scotland’s fabled beasts when you called her.”
    “I’m sorry!” wailed Helen. “I thought she could help. Anyway, how can I act normally at school when Yann might be dying ?”
    “You’ve faced monsters, Helen Strang, you can do anything.”
    “This is worse than any monster…”
    Catesby chattered again and Lavender translated. “Catesby will fly to the centaurs’ moor, and if Yann gets worse, we will get a message to you.”
    So Helen climbed onto the dragon and they all flew, hidden high in the clouds, to Clovenshaws.
    They landed behind the trees on the hill at the back of her house, and Helen hugged her friends goodbye.
    She didn’t bother cleaning the blood from her hands or the tear-streaks from her face. They were part of her story anyway.
    She ran down the hill, clambered over the wooden fence, jogged past the large animal surgery and crashed through the back door.
    Her family were sitting at the table, eating breakfast.
    “Helen!” her mum yelled. “Where were you? Why did you cut me off?”
    Helen took a deep breath. “The horse jerked and smashed my