Someone knows Natalie is special. He knows her mother came from Earthaven, the mysterious world that lies beyond the Thrallstone. He knows her father is a Thrall who sells spells between the two worlds. And now the exiled Spellmage wants her power.

But when he kidnaps Natalie, she manages to escape. Guided to the Thrallstone by a mysterious hound, she slips through the gateway! Earthaven is a place of breathtaking wonder where unicorns roam, giant trees talk, magicians control the powers governing two worlds — and she has a very special destiny. No sooner does Natalie learn of her magic powers than she realizes she must put them to use. Earthaven is under siege by Hawk, the exile. Now Natalie must use her magic to foil his plot before he destroys the soultree — the very heart of Earthaven and the only place where Natalie can still connect with her beloved mother.

Chapter Eight

Merlin took his time fetching Spider's clothes. With the girl recovering in the attic and his father and the rest of the spellclave practicingdown at the archery range, no one would know what he was about to attempt. If it didn't work, he wouldn't get into trouble. And if he did, he'd be free. He felt a bit guilty as he remembered the price of that freedom. But he didn't see what he could have done to help Spider and it was all over now. Not even his father could turn back the clock.

He thrust the girl to the back of his mind and waited in his room, listening to doors slam and feet crunch down the path until everything was quiet. Then he crept to the window and peered through a crack in the shutters.

His room looked out on the shed where the goshawk lived, the idea being that Hunter should keep an eye on Merlin. But it worked both ways. He watched his father shut the bird in, then take a shortcut across the garden, swinging his stick at the undergrowth. He'd put a braid in his hair and fastened it with a black-barred feather. As he passed beneath Merlin's window, he looked up and smiled. Merlin ducked, heart banging. But footsteps crunched away along the gravel path and when he dared looked again his father had gone.

He let out the breath he'd been holding and hurried down to the hall. Faint bronze glimmers behind the coat hooks betrayed the locations of dying spells, but Merlin ignored these and went for the big one. As he'd hoped, Hawk had replaced the dead spell in the keyhole with a fresh, live one. Shining in the gloom like an emerald star, its illusion reached all the way to the gates, making the Lodge appear uninhabited to human eyes. A little shiver ran down Merlin's back. Very carefully, he began to ease the spell free.

"What are you doing?" demanded a voice behind him. The spell dropped to the mat. Merlin whirled, desperately trying to think of an excuse. As always on these occasions, hid mind was a complete blank." I—" He broke off, staring. He couldn't help it.

In her white dress, her silver hair shining in the shadows, Spider stood on the landing at the top of the first flight of stairs. She was wearing her glasses and looking at him in a very peculiar manner. Merlin's heart gave a little jump.

"I thought you were supposed to be getting my clothes?" she said, frowning at the mat.

Merlin came to with a start, retrieved the spell, and hurriedly stuffed it under his sweater. His cheeks burned. "I...er...was just getting them," he said. "I thought you were still asleep." She should have been asleep. Even Claudia had slept for nearly two days after Hunter ate her familiar.

"I've had quite enough sleep, thank you very much! I'm cold and I want my clothes back. Your father said I could have them."

He noticed she was shivering. As she spoke, some of the haughtiness seemed to run out of her. She came down the rest of the stairs, still frowning. "What were you doing with that spell?"