The windows flew open. The music soared. And now all the dancers of the Fair Family were spinning and turning and laughing, and Seren was spinning with them till her head was dizzy and she was quite lost and sure they would snatch her away anyway. But at the last minute she held onto the doorknob tight and stamped her foot angrily.

‘There is no such place as away,’ she said.

Instantly, everything was changed.

She blinked.

The ballroom was just their ordinary drawing room, with the furniture all taken out. The gauzy curtains drifted in a warm summer breeze. The dancers were the local village people in their Sunday clothes and they were all stopping, breathless, as if the dance had gone on too long. The musicians stopped playing with huge relief. They looked around as if something had happened and they had missed it.

And Lady Mair and Captain Jones were standing at the fireplace, smiling happily.

Lady Mair clapped her hands. ‘Supper is served!’ she said. ‘In the next room. And then we will have a very special announcement!’

A murmur. All the farmers and their wives hurried out.

Someone grabbed Seren’s hand; turning, she saw it was Mrs Villiers.

‘Goodness, Seren, where have you been and why aren’t you wearing your party dress? And you, Master Tomos, your face is quite smudged with dirt! Go and smarten yourselves up the pair of you. And Denzil! Why are you in here? Surely the guests’ horses and carriages need…’

‘Just going to see to it, ma’am.’ Denzil was already out of the chair. He looked at Seren. ‘Going, at once, now that everything is good here in the Plas.’

She smiled back at him, but she didn’t feel that happy.

As he went out and Mrs Villiers turned away, she slipped after him.

‘Denzil,’ she said softly.

‘What, Seren?’

But all of a sudden she couldn’t answer. It was the Crow who said, ‘We need a bonfire.’

14. Cinders and ash

14

Cinders and ash

Through the sadness, through the fire,

we will find our hearts desire.

In her room she put on a new midnight blue dress that Mrs Roberts from the village had made, and the little bracelet Tomos had once given her of berries and an acorn. She felt as if she needed all her special, magic things at a time like this. Looking at herself in the mirror she said firmly, ‘Whatever happens, if the Crow is human again it will be worth it.’

Then she gave herself a determined nod, slipped out and ran downstairs, through the party room, onto the terrace and down the steps.

‘Seren!’ The whisper was Gwyn’s. He was peering round the lilac bush. ‘Over here.’

She ran over and went round the bush.

‘It’s in the stable yard,’ he said. ‘But why do you need a bonfire?’

Seren shook her head. ‘You’ll see.’