The Heir of Mistmantle (39 page)

Finally getting home to her burrow, Apple stopped to watch it float from the sky. Padra and Arran, emerging into the cool night air, saw it. So did Juniper, Fingal, and Needle, all turning in the boat to watch its progress. Sepia, wrapped in a quilt and wide-eyed with wonder, leaned forward at the nursery window to watch it.

“Good night, Captain Lugg,” she thought, and looked down to see Urchin on the shore.

Crispin and Cedar at their window saw it and gasped in surprise, holding up Catkin to see it, too. Brother Fir smiled with joy, raised a paw in blessing and went to bed with peace and warmth in his heart.

Urchin, standing at the water’s edge on the spot where he had been found, followed the star’s slow, sure progress until it disappeared into the sea, and felt as if it were something to do with Lugg, and with himself. It was as if it came from the Heart and had somehow lodged in his own heart. A single star, merging into the sea at the end of its time.

He was one of the Circle now. As a child he had dreamed of such a thing, but never expected it to happen. But he still felt the same inside. He hoped he’d still have the chance to run up trees, to skim stones and splash about, to be young.

He wasn’t surprised to find Crispin at his shoulder. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world that Crispin, who had made his dreams possible, should be here now.

“Find the king, find the queen, find the Heir of Mistmantle,” said Crispin. “I think you’ve done your bit, Urchin. Have some fun before we expect you to start giving orders.”

“Giving orders?” said Urchin, and Crispin laughed.

“Race you back to the tower?” said Crispin. He turned and pointed. “There’s an open window onto the Gathering Chamber corridor, d’you see it?”

They leaped over sand, scrambled over rocks, sprang through bushes and treetops, recklessly jostling each other for the best branches and claw-holds until they launched themselves at the tower wall, skimmed up the stone, and tumbled side by side through the window.

“Ouch!” said Crispin.

“Guards!” yelled Needle, picking herself up. “Oh, Your Majesty, I didn’t realize it was you. And Urchin. I might have known.”

“Well guarded, Needle,” said Crispin, and dusted himself down. “Sorry, did I knock you over?”

“I think that was a draw, Your Majesty,” said Urchin.

“Good night, both of you,” said Crispin, and turned toward the royal chambers.

Urchin leaned his paws on the window ledge and smiled gladly up at a sky full of stars that would ride and dance across the sky when their time came. There was joy in his heart, sea air in his breath, and a sky full of stars above him.

It was only starting.

Praise for The Mistmantle Chronicles

“McAllister creates a beautiful world where animals are carried away by the gentle waves of the sea and others are born on nights of riding stars. It’s hard not to root for little Urchin and his friends when some very big evil threatens to ruin their beautiful world.” –
The Washington Post

“[Urchin’s…] adventures twist and turn beautifully. McAllister continues to build an enchanting world on Mistmantle. –

VOYA

About the Author

M.I. McAllister is the author of all the books in the Mistmantle Chronicles. She is married to a minister and has three grown children. She lives in England. Learn more at
www.margaretmcallister.co.uk.

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