“Yes, Sarge!” said two eager voices.

Rosa’s heart sank at the sound of heavy feet traipsing away and the two guards talking in low voices outside the door.

She shivered as she looked around her. The room was very small with no windows.

Rosa bit her lip. How could she have been silly enough to think she could get into the castle so easily? She was trapped!

And what about King Rat? What would he do to her? And how would Nutmeg feel when she realised Rosa was missing? If the fairy had seen her being captured she would be so worried. Rosa felt awful. She had let her new friend down. There she’d gone again, just charging in without thinking.

I should never have headed off like that, she thought in despair. I’ve just made it all worse.

She looked at her shoes, hoping they might sparkle and whisk her away somewhere, but nothing happened. And Nutmeg couldn’t rescue her by magic because she had told Rosa that her magic didn’t work in the castle. If I’m going to get out of here, I’m going to have to get myself out, Rosa realised.

She thought hard. There were guards on the other side of the door but only two.

She went to the door and banged on it.

“Shut up!” snarled a mouse’s voice from the other side of the door.

“If you want food, there isn’t any,” said a higher pitched voice.

Mangy Tail, thought Rosa recognising the guard’s voice from earlier.

“I don’t want food,” she said. “I don’t feel very well.” She started to make sounds as if she was about to be sick as loud as she could. “Yuck!” she heard Whiskers exclaim. “If she’s sick in there I bet we’ll have to clear it up!”

“I just need some fresh air,” said Rosa, acting for all she was worth. “I’m sure I’ll be fine then but if I don’t get some fresh air I think I’ll be sick EVERYWHERE!”

“Come on, come on, let her out,” said Mangy Tail hurriedly.

Rosa heard the sound of the bolt sliding back and saw the door starting to open. She leaped to one side and crouched down in the shadows, staying as still as possible till the mice stepped into the doorway.

“Where are you?” Whiskers demanded, looking round.

Rosa leaped up, yelling as loudly as she could and the two mice jumped in alarm. Then Rosa charged at them, waving her hands about. It wasn’t exactly a well-thought-out plan but hopefully it would do!

“Whoa!” Whiskers yelled, staggering into Mangy Tail and knocking him over. Rosa leaped lightly over Mangy Tail’s fallen body, landing in perfect balance, before pushing Whiskers with all her might. He tripped over Mangy Tail, and they both rolled into the room.