Authors: Allan Frewin Jones

Fair Wind to Widdershins (12 page)

“Does that mean the phoenix bird knows a secret he’ll tell you if you give him his feather back?” asked Esmeralda.

“That’s what the old song says,” agreed Jack.

“What do you think, sir?” Trundle asked the Herald Pursuivant.

“I think the old song may well tell the truth,” said Percy. “I have certainly read ancient scripts concerning the mystical and magnificent phoenix bird. If I remember correctly, the phoenix is said to live inside a fiery mountain on a bleak and lonely island far from the sun.” He shook his head. “But as for how you are to get there—I’m afraid I have no idea at all.”

“
We
don’t need to know,” said Esmeralda. “The feather knows. Look!” She walked up and down, turning this way and that. “Do you see?” she said. “Whichever way I turn, the feather always wants to go the same way.”

She was right. No matter which way she moved, the fluffy tip of the feather twisted and strained as though desperate to fly off in one particular direction.

“The feather will lead us to the phoenix nest!” said Jack. “Oh, how wonderful!”

“And I bet the phoenix knows the location of the third crown,” added Esmeralda. “The Crown of Fire!”

“How very exciting!” exclaimed Percy. “I think you should go back to your skyboat and prepare to set sail immediately.”

“Yes! We will,” said Esmeralda.

Trundle felt a stab of guilt. He stepped up to the Herald Pursuivant. “Excuse me, sir, you’ve been so kind and helpful that I think we ought to make a confession.”

“And what might that be, my lad?” asked Percy.

“We knocked the door guard out,” explained Trundle. “He’s locked up in the guardhouse, tied up with his own trousers. Sorry about that.”

“We gagged him with a sock,” added Esmeralda.

“He was trying to cut us all into chunks with his ax,” said Jack. “So it was self-defense, really.”

“I see,” said Percy gravely. “That’s probably quite a serious offense.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Well, well, I can’t stand those guards, and I believe you to be good and honest beasts, so let’s say no more about it. But under the circumstances, I think it’s even more important that you get out of here as quickly as possible. I know a quiet little side gate you can slip out of.”

“Thank you,” said Esmeralda. “Listen, I know you’ve already helped us a lot, but I was wondering if you could do one more thing for us? It’s these crowns, you see. They’re not exactly easy to hide, and I’m worried that someone might come along and steal them from us. So I was wondering whether you’d be prepared to look after them for us?”

“I’m most flattered that you should trust me with something so important,” said Percy, “but I really can’t.”

“Oh, please do,” said Trundle. “Otherwise we’re going to have to carry them around with us wherever we go. And they’re not exactly light, you know.”

“And we have four more to find,” added Jack.

“Please?” asked Esmeralda.

“Well, if you insist, then I shall,” said Percy. “There is a chest in my office that is always kept locked. The only key is kept on a chain around my neck. I’ll put the crowns there for you till you return.”

“Thank you,” they all chorused. “Thank you so much!”

“One last thing,” said Esmeralda. “If a nice, kindly looking old Roamany lady comes by asking after us … don’t tell her a
thing
!”

“I shall deny all knowledge of you,” said the Herald Pursuivant. “And now, away you go, my fine young friends. Your quest awaits!”

He led them to a small gate and waved farewell as they made their way down the narrow, sloping streets of Widdershins.

Trundle waved back, glad to know that the two crowns would be kept safe.

The sun was just setting as they climbed on board the
Thief in the Night
. Jack unfurled the sail and Esmeralda took the tiller, and in no time at all they went darting up into the evening sky.

Trundle stood in the bows, the long red feather held between his paws. As Esmeralda turned the tiller, the feather writhed in Trundle’s grip and strained off away from the setting sun.

“To the world’s end!” cried Esmeralda as she turned the skyboat to follow the feather. “To the nest of the glorious phoenix bird, and to the hiding place of the Crown of Fire!”

And even as she spoke, the sails filled with the wind, and the
Thief in the Night
went skimming off to new adventures.

A
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR AND
I
LLUSTRATOR

A
LLAN
J
ONES
is the author of numerous fantasy books for both children and teens. He lives in London, England. www.allanfrewinjones.com

G
ARY
C
HALK
is an illustrator and model maker. He lives in France.

www.thesixcrowns.com

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C
REDITS

Jacket design by Sylvie Le Floc’h

C
OPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used to advance the fictional narrative. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

First published in 2010 in Great Britain by Hodder Children’s Books, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Books. First published in 2011 in the United States by Greenwillow Books.

The right of Allan Jones to be identified as the author and Gary Chalk as the illustrator of this work has been asserted by them.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Jones, Allan Frewin, (date).

Fair wind to widdershins / by Allan Jones ; illustrated by Gary Chalk.

p. cm.—(The six crowns)

“Greenwillow Books.”

Summary: Hedgehogs Trundle and Esmeralda, along with their new friend Jack Nimble, sail out into the Sundered Lands to find Esmeralda’s aunt, who they hope will help them unravel the clues to find the next of the six crowns.

ISBN 978-0-06-200626-4 (trade bdg.)

[1. Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. 2. Aunts—Fiction. 3. Prophecies—Fiction. 4. Badgers—Fiction. 5. Hedgehogs—Fiction. 6. Animals—Fiction.]

I. Chalk, Gary, ill. II. Title.

PZ7.J67795Fai 2011 [Fic]—dc22 2010049000

EPub Edition © SEPTEMBER 2011 ISBN: 9780062098405

11 12 13 14 15 CG/RRDB 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

FIRST EDITION

A
BOUT THE
P
UBLISHER

Australia

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Pymble, NSW 2073, Australia