The Secret of Moonacre - SECRECY

Chapter 27

"Come Wrolf. We must find my little white horse" I told Wrolf as we ran out of Silverydew, headed towards the edge of the forest. Wrolf whined slightly. "I am sorry boy, you won't be fast enough" he groaned and continued bouncing along next to me.

We finally reached the edge of the forest and my little white mare appeared. I quickly climbed on and underneath me appeared the black saddle and the reins in my hand. "To the manor" I instructed out loud. Wrolf transformed into his lion form and let out a small roar. My mare started to gallop as quickly as the wind and I bent down as low as I could side saddle and gave her her head so that I wasn't pulling back. We were rushing through the forest dodging trees, jumping logs and streams which I found all so exciting with an element of seriousness. I knew that entering the manor would be dangerous, I could be killed on the spot at any moment but I needed to find out where that box would be hidden.

Soon enough the manor was insight through the trees and we slowed down to a brisk trot.

But I heard voices and footsteps "She knows. Her and her farmyard crew were spotted running through the forest. I want the whole manor on lockdown. No one gets in an no one gets out" The man instructed.

I was stuck. We stopped where we were and Wrolf looked at me. It was that look 'I know where to go, follow me' Wrolf bounded off into the forest and my mare and I closely followed.

We ended up at Loveday's old home in the huge twisted tree trunk. "Wrolf, you're a genius!" I praised him. The tunnel from the tree led right into my room at the top of the manor. I dismounted my mare and she melted off into the scenery around us.

I jumped down into the hole and went straight to the door. It had been years since I was in that tree. It was the first time I met Loveday. I pushed open the door and went straight up some little steps to Loveday's room which was empty and opened a little hatch. It was a little dusty and dark but light enough that you could see where you were going. Wrolf became his dog self again and followed me into the tunnel. We walked for at least a quarter of an hour until we reached the door that led to my room. I pressed my ear against it and listened for any voices but the room was quiet so I opened up the door and walked through. My room was exactly how I left it and it felt so good to be back after so many months. I went to the main door and pushed down the handle but it would not open. It was locked.

Wrolf had managed to sniff something out in one of my drawers and had the spare key that I put there many years ago hanging in his mouth. "Thank you" I told him rubbing his head. I took the key and put it through in the lock and the door opened immediately. We tiptoed out and down the tower steps until we reached the next corridor that was thriving with guards. We hid behind the wall so we were out of sight.

"What do we do now?" I whispered, sighing to Wrolf.

Wrolf bounded out into the corridor barking and looking like he wanted to play with the guards who all stared at the tawny dog. "It's that demon dog!" One man shouted and they all ran after Wrolf as he bombarded down the West wing. It was my time to run down the corridor to the main staircase where even there was filled with more guards. I didn't have Wrolf to distract them this time. I sank down and leaned against the balcony thinking of where the box could be and the shortest way to it. I suddenly thought of the smallest room in the manor that contained no windows and only a door accessible through the library. But was Duncan clever enough to have found that?

I would have thought so. The Library was directly at the bottom of the staircase which meant it wouldn't be too hard to get there if I could distract the guards. I looked for some source of distraction around me and I found a brick that had been there for years dismantled in the wall. I used all my strength to pull the brick out and then to throw it over the balcony. The guards looked in shock as it made a loud bang and cracked the floor. I ran to hide around a pillar as the guards rushed up the stairs and down the corridor to see where it had come from. They were out of sight so I took my turn to run down the stairs and into the library, locking the door behind me. I sighed in relief for I was almost there.