Lug stared at her for a moment, and then glanced around the playground as if making sure nobody was listening. He beckoned her closer until his mouth was just inches from her ear. ‘The treekeepers are probably working on a plan,’ he whispered, ‘but they’re taking their time about it. I’ve heard of another way, though. Top secret. A way to kill Bitterblight without having to sacrifice the Undrentree.’

‘What?’ Liska lowered her voice too, even though she half-thought this strange boy might be crazy. ‘Tell me what it is!’

‘Not here,’ whispered Lug, looking all around again, his eyes full of fear. ‘Come to my house after school. I’ll tell you all about it then. And don’t mention it to anyone.’

Before Liska could reply, Master Ambrose appeared at the doorway again, this time with a hand bell which he rang loudly. On cue, the children began to shuffle back into the classroom to hear more tedious tree histories. Whatever Lug’s deadly secret was, it would have to wait.

Chapter 3

The rest of the day passed so slowly, Liska felt she was one of the dead prehistoric insects frozen forever in the amber beads of Master Ambrose’s necklace.

From her place in the farthest corner of the classroom she cast glances across at Lug, but he was absorbed with the notebook in front of him. Scribbling and doodling away. Liska hoped he might be writing a message for her detailing his secret plan, but none came.

She did catch Odis, the arbomancer’s son, looking at her though. His lip was curled in a sneer that grew deeper each time she saw him. Liska matched it with a snarl of her own. Fancy trying to stare down a shapewalker, she thought. Us mountain warriors invented glaring.

Finally, finally, Ambrose’s voice trailed off and he dismissed them from the classroom with a wave of his hand. Liska and Lug waited until Odis and his friends were gone before making their way out between the desks.

‘Do you think he’s going to ambush me?’ Liska asked. ‘Jump out from behind a tree? Because I’ll be ready if he does.’ She was thinking about shifting into her griffyx form, just in case. Let him try and wrap her in vines when she was swooping through the air, snapping at him with her jaws . . .

‘Bless my wrigglers, I hope not!’ Lug began peering at the shadows all around him. That little vein in his forehead had started pulsing again.

‘Relax,’ said Liska. ‘He won’t really. He’s a bully, and bullies are nearly all cowards. He won’t try anything if he thinks there’s a chance I’ll hurt him.’

‘I suppose so,’ said Lug. He took some deep breaths to calm himself. ‘Besides, he’s probably run home to avoid all the gossips. Everyone is still wondering where his father is.’