2022-2023學(xué)年神奇樹(shù)屋《MTH32WinteroftheIceWizard》

WinteroftheIceWizard

MagicTreeHouse#32

MaryPopeOsborne

DearReader,

WinteroftheIceWizardisthefourth"MerlinMission"intheMagicTreeHouseseries.Inthesebooks,MerlinthemagiciansendsJackandAnnieontheirtreehouseadventurestomythicallands.

InthefirstMerlinMission,ChristmasinCamelot,JackandAnniejourneytotheOtherworldtofindamagicalcauldronthatholdstheWaterofMemoryandImagination.TheninHauntedCastleonHallowsEve,theyrescuethestolenDiamondofDestinywiththehelpoftheirfriendTeddy.InSummeroftheSeaSerpentJackandAnnietraveltoanenchantedseacoast,wheretheyfindthehiddenSwordofLightwithTeddyandasealgirlnamedKathleen.

Now,onthefirstdayofwinter,JackandAnnieareabouttoheadoutonanothermagicalmission.Theyinviteyoutojointhem.Butbesuretowearwarmclothesandsnowboots.You'regoingtoaverycoldlandwhereveryweirdthingshappen....

--MaryPopeOsborne

Thefettersshallbreak

Andthewolfrunfree.

SecretthingsIknow

Andonwardsee.

--FromThePoeticEdda

CHAPTERONE

WinterSolstice

Acoldwindrattledthewindowpanes.Butinsidethehouse,itwaswarmandcozy.JackandAnnieweremakingChristmascookieswiththeirmom.Jackpressedastar-shapedcookiecutterintothedough.

"Hey,it'ssnowingoutside,"saidAnnie.

Jacklookedoutthewindow.Hugesnowflakeswerefallingfromthelate-afternoonsky.

"Youwanttogoout?"askedAnnie.

"Notreally.It'llbedarksoon,"saidJack.

"That'sright,"saidtheirmom."Today'sthefirstdayofwinter.It'stheshortestdayoftheyear."

Jack'sheartskippedabeat."Youmeanit'sthewintersolstice?"hesaid.

"Yes,"saidtheirmom.

Anniegasped."Thewintersolstice?"shesaid.

"Yes..."theirmomsaid,puzzled.

JackandAnnielookedateachother.Lastsummer,Merlinthemagicianhadcalledfortheirhelponthesummersolstice.Maybehewouldneedthemagaintoday!

Jackputdownthecookiecutterandwipedhishandsonatowel."Actually,Mom,itmightbefuntoplayinthesnowforjustafewminutes,"hesaid.

"Whateveryouwant,"theirmomsaid."Justdresswarmly.I'llfinishupwiththecookiesandputthemintheoven."

"Thanks!"saidJack.HeandAnnieracedtotheclosetandpulledontheirboots.Theythrewonjackets,scarves,gloves,andcaps.

"Behomebeforedark,"theirmomsaid.

"Wewill!"calledJack.

"Bye,Mom!"Annieshouted.

JackandAnnieslippedoutoftheirhouseintothesnowycold.TheirbootssqueakedastheyranacrosstheirwhiteyardandheadedtowardtheFrogCreekwoods.

Attheedgeofthewoods,Jackstopped.Hecouldn'tbelievehowbeautifulthetreeslooked.Whitepowdercoveredthebranchesofthehemlocksandpines.

"Look,"saidAnnie.Shepointedtotwopairsoffootprintsthatledouttotheroadandthenbackintothewoods."Somebodyelsehasbeenhere."

"Itlooksliketheywerewalkingoutofthewoods--butturnedback,"saidJack."Let'shurry!"Ifthemagictreehousehadcomebacktoday,hedidn'twantanyoneelsefindingitfirst!

JackandAnniewalkedquicklythroughthewoods,followingthetwosetsoffootprints.

"Stop!"saidAnnie.ShepulledJackbehindatree."Overthere!"

Throughthefallingsnow,Jacksawtwopeopleinlong,darkcloaks.Theywerehurryingtowardatalloak--andhighintheoakwasthemagictreehouse!

"Oh,no!"saidJack.

Thetreehousewasback!Andsomeoneelsehadfoundit!

"Hey!"Jackyelled."Stop!"ThetreehousehadcomeforhimandAnnie--nooneelse!

Jackstartedrunning.Anniefollowed.Jackslippedandfellinthesnow,buthescrambledupandkeptgoing.BythetimeheandAnniegottothetreehouse,thetwopeoplehadclimbeduptheropeladderanddisappearedinside.

"Comeout!"Jackyelled.

"Thisisourtreehouse!"shoutedAnnie.

Twokidspokedtheirheadsoutofthetreehousewindow.Theybothlookedliketheywereaboutthirteenyearsold.Theboyhadtousledredhairandfreckles.Thegirlhadsea-blueeyesandlong,curlyblackhair.Theircheekswererosyfromthecold.TheylaughedwhentheysawJackandAnnie.

"Excellent!"saidtheboy."Wecametofindyou,butyouhavefoundusinstead."

"Teddy!"criedAnnie."Kathleen!Hi!"

TeddywastheyoungsorcererwhoworkedwithMorganinherlibraryinCamelot.Kathleenwastheenchantedselkiegirlwho'dhelpedJackandAnnieonthesummersolsticebymagicallyturningthemallintoseals.

Jackwasstunned.HehadneverimaginedthattheirtwofriendsfromCamelotmightsomedayvisitFrogCreek!"Whatareyouguysdoinghere?"heshouted.

"Climbupandwewilltellyou!"saidTeddy.

JackandAnniehurrieduptheropeladder.Whentheyclimbedinsidethetreehouse,AnniethrewherarmsaroundTeddyandKathleen."Ican'tbelieveyoucametovisitus!"shesaid.

"Itpleasesmetoseeyou,Annie,"saidKathleen."Andyoualso,Jack."Herlargeblueeyessparkled.

"Itpleasesme,too,"Jacksaidshyly.HestillthoughtKathleenwasthemostbeautifulgirlhehadeverseen.Evenwhenshe'dbeenaseal,she'dbeenlovely.

"Wewentlookingforyou!"saidTeddy."Weclimbeddownandwalkedthroughthewoodstoaroad."

"Buttheroadwasfullofmonsters!"saidKathleen."Abigredcreaturenearlyranoverus!Itmadeahonkingsound!"

"Thenbeforeweknewit,agiantblackmonsterchargedatus!Ithadaferociousgrowl!"saidTeddy."Wecamebackheretogatherourwits."

"Thoseweren'tmonsters!"saidAnnie,laughing."Theywerejustcars!"

"Cars?"saidTeddy.

"Yeah,theyhavemotorsandpeopledrivethem,"saidJack.

"Motors?"saidTeddy.

"It'shardtoexplain,"saidAnnie."Justremember--inourworld,youhavetowatchoutforcarseverytimeyoucrossaroad."

"Indeedwewill,"saidTeddy.

"Whyhaveyoucomehere?"askedJack.

"WefoundamessageforyouinMerlin'schambers,"saidTeddy,"anddecidedtodeliveritourselves."

"SoweclimbedintothetreehouseoutsideMorgan'slibrary,"saidKathleen."TeddypointedtothewordsFrogCreekinthemessageandmadeawishtocomehere.Thenextthingweknew,wewerehereinthesewoods."

Teddypulledasmallgraystonefromhiscloak."Andthisisthemessagewebroughtyou,"hesaid.

JacktookthestonefromTeddy.

Themessagewaswrittenintinyhandwriting.Jackreaditaloud:

ToJackandAnnieofFrogCreek:

MyStaffofStrengthhasbeenstolen.

Onthewintersolstice,journeytothe

Land-Behind-the-Clouds.Traveltowardthesettingsunandretrievemystaff--orallwillbelost.

--Merlin

"Oh,wow,"saidAnnie."Thatsoundsserious."

"Yeah,"saidJack."Butwhydidn'tMerlinsendusthemessagehimself?"

"Wedonotknow,"saidTeddy."NeitherMerlinnorMorganhasbeenseenfordays."

"Wheredidtheygo?"askedAnnie.

"'Tisamystery,"saidTeddy."LastweekIjourneyedtotheselkiecovetobringKathleentoCamelot.SheisgoingtobeahelperinMorgan'slibrary.Butwhenwereturned,wecouldnotfindMerlinorMorgan."

"Weonlyfoundthismessageforyou,"saidKathleen.

"Aye,andIthoughtthatwhenMerlindoesreturn,"saidTeddy,"hewillbegreatlypleasedtohavehisstaffback.Muchofhispowercomesfromitsancientandmysteriousmagic."

"Wow,"saidAnnie.

"Inhismessage,hetellsustogototheLand-Behind-the-Clouds,"saidJack."Where'sthat?"

"'Tisalandfarnorthofmycove,"saidKathleen."Ihaveneverjourneyedthere."

"NorI,"saidTeddy."ButIhavereadaboutitinMorgan'sbooks.'Tisasbleakasafrozenwhitedesert.Iameagertoseeitformyself."

"SoyouandKathleenarecomingwithus?"saidAnnie.

"Indeed!"saidKathleen.

"Great!"saidJackandAnnietogether.

"Ifweallworktogether,wecandoanything,aye?"saidTeddy.

"Aye!"saidAnnie.

Ihopeso,thoughtJack.

AnniepointedatthewordsLand-Behind-the-CloudsinMerlin'smessage."Okay,ready?"shesaidtotheothers.

"Yes!"saidKathleen.

"Iguessso,"saidJack.

"Onward!"saidTeddy.

"Iwishwecouldallgothere!"Anniesaid.

Thetreehousestartedtospin.

Itspunfasterandfaster.

Theneverythingwasstill.

Absolutelystill.

CHAPTERTWO

Land-Behind-the-Clouds

Jackfeltthesharpbiteofanicywind.Helookedoutthewindowwiththeothers."Oh,man,"hewhispered.

Thetreehousewasnotinatree--fortherewerenotreesanywheretobeseen.Instead,itwassittinghighontopofasteepsnowdrift.Otherdriftsroseandfellacrossavastsnowyplain.Beyondtheplainwerehillsandmountains.

"Thebookswereright,"saidTeddy,histeethchattering."'Tisbleakhereindeed."

"No,'tislovely,"saidKathleen."'Tisthelandwherethenorthernsealpeoplelive."

"Cool,"saidAnnie.

Jackdughishandsintohispockets.HeagreedwithTeddy.Thelanddidseembleak--andfreezing!"IwonderwhereMerlin'sStaffofStrengthis,"hesaid,shivering.

"Letusbeginoursearch!"saidKathleen."Themessagetellsuswemusttraveltowardthesettingsun."

Kathleenclimbedoutofthetreehousewindow.Shegatheredhercloakaroundherandsatdownontopofthesnowdrift.Thenshepushedoffandsliddownthesteepslope.

"Oh,wow.Waitforme!"calledAnnie.SheclimbedoutthewindowandfollowedKathleen.Whooping,sheslidtothebottomofthesnowdrift."Comeon,youguys!It'sfun!"sheshouted.

JackandTeddylookedateachother."Shallwe?"saidTeddy.Jacknodded.HepulledhisscarftighteraroundhisneckandfollowedTeddyoutofthewindow.

JackandTeddysatdownsidebyside.Theypushedoffandsliddowntheicysnowdrift.Jackcouldn'thelpwhooping,too.Itwasfun.

Atthebottomofthedrift,JackandTeddyscrambledtotheirfeet.Jackbrushedthesnowoffhisclothes.Hecouldseehisbreathinthefrigidair.

"It'sj-justalittlechilly,"saidAnnie,huggingherself.

OnlyKathleenseemednottomindthecold.Shewassmilingasshelayontheground,gazingupatthesky.Hersealnatureprobablykeepsherwarm,Jackthoughtwithenvy.

Teddypeeredacrossthesnowyplain."Ibelievenotonelivingcreatureisherebutus,"hesaid.

"Nottrueatall,"saidKathleen.Shepointedupward."Iseesnowgeeseandwhistlingswans."

"Icanalmostseethem,too,"saidAnnie.

Kathleenstoodup.Sheshieldedhereyesandgazedacrosstheplain.Thecoldsunwaslowinthesky.Itcastlongblueshadowsbeneaththesnowdrifts.Shepointedintothedistance."Andsee?Awhitehareisleapinghomebeforedark,"shesaid.

JacklookedwhereKathleenpointed,buthecouldn'tseeanythingmovingatall.

"Iseeasnowyowl,too,"saidKathleen,"and--oh,no!"

"What?"saidAnnie.

"Wolves,"Kathleensaidwithashudder."Theyjustdisappearedbehindasnowdrift.Mypeoplegreatlyfearthewolves."

"Youneednotbeafraid.Ishallprotectyou,"saidTeddy.HetookKathleen'shand."Come!Letusmakehastetowardthesun!"

Together,TeddyandKathleenheadedacrossthesnow-coveredplain.Theirwoolencloakswavedbehindthem.AnnieandJackdugtheirhandsintheirpocketsandquicklyfollowedthemtowardthesettingsun.

AsTeddy,Kathleen,Jack,andAnnietrudgedacrossthefrozenplain,thesunsankcloserandclosertothehorizon.Itslastrayspouredpurple-pinklightoverthesnow.

ThewindblewagainstJack'sface.Helookeddownandkeptwalking.Thecoldfeltlikeneedlesonhisskin.Eachicybreathwaspainful.HehopedtheyfoundMerlin'sStaffofStrengthsoon.Hecouldn'timagineanyonesurvivingforlonginthislonely,freezingland.

Jack'sthoughtswereinterruptedwhenheheardAnniecalling.Helookedup.Thesunhadcompletelyslippedbehindthehorizon.Inthecoldtwilight,thesnowhadfadedfrompurple-pinktoadarkshadeofblue.

"Jack!Comelook!"Anniecalled.She,Teddy,andKathleenwerestandingontheslopeofahugesnowdrift.

Jackhurriedtojointhem.

"Look!"saidAnnie.

"Oh,man,"Jacksaidsoftly.

Ontheothersideofthesnowdriftwasaglimmeringpalacemadefromhugeblocksofice.

Beneaththerisingmoon,itsgleamingspirespiercedthebluedusk.

"Iwonderwholivesthere…"saidJack.

"Letusgoandfindout!"saidTeddy.

Teddyledthewaydowntheslopetotheicepalace.Longicicleshunglikespearsinfrontoftheentrance.

"Itseemsnoonehasvisitedthisplaceinquiteawhile,"saidKathleen.

"Indeed,"saidTeddy.Hebrokeoffseveralicicles,andtheyclatteredtotheground."Onward?"hesaid.

Theothersnodded.

Kickingasidethechunksofice,Teddyledthemallintotheicepalace.

CHAPTERTHREE

TheIceWizard

Theairinsidethepalacewasevencolderthantheairoutside.Moonlightfloodedthroughtallarchesinthewalls.Thefloorshinedlikeaskatingrink.Thickcolumnsofsparklingiceheldupadomedceiling.

"WELCOME,JACKANDANNIE,"boomedavoicefrombeyondthecolumns.

Jackgasped."IsthatMerlin?"hewhispered.

"ItdoesnotsoundlikeMerlin,"whisperedTeddy.

"Buthowdoesheknowournames?"whisperedAnnie.

"COME,JACKANDANNIE.IHAVEBEENWAITINGFORYOU,"bellowedthevoice.

"MaybeitisMerlin!"saidAnnie."Maybehe'sjustusingadifferentvoice!Comeon!"

"Annie,wait!"Jackcalled.ButAnniehadalreadydisappearedintothesparklyroom."Wehavetofollowher,"hesaidtoTeddyandKathleen.

ThethreeofthemhurriedafterAnnie.Beyondthecolumns,stepsmadeofcarvediceleduptoaplatform.Sittingonathroneontheplatformwasahugebeardedman.

ThemanonthethronewasdefinitelynotMerlin.Hewasdressedinawornrobetrimmedwithdirtyfur.Hehadarugged,weather-beatenface,abushybeard,andablackeyepatch.HeleanedforwardandglareddownatAnniewithhisonegoodeye.

"Whoareyou?"hedemanded."IwasexpectingJackandAnnieofFrogCreek."

Anniesteppedtowardthethrone."IamAnnieandhe'sJack,"shesaid."AndtheseareourfriendsTeddyandKathleen.Wecomeinpeace."

"Annie?Jack?"themansnorted."YouarenotAnnieandJack!Youarefartoosmall!"

"We'renotsosmall,"saidAnnie."I'mnine.Jack'sten."

"Butyouarechildren!"themansaidwithscorn."JackandAnnieareheroes!"

"Well,Idon'tknowifI'dcallusheroes,"saidAnnie."ButwesometimeshelpMerlinandMorganleFay."

"Annie,shhh!"saidJack.Hedidn'ttrustthemanonthethroneandworriedthatAnniewassayingtoomuch.

ButAnniewenton."Infact,MerlintoldustocometotheLand-Behind-the-Cloudstoday,"shesaid."Hesentusamessagewrittenonastone."

"Ah…"saidthemanonthethrone."PerhapsyoureallyareJackandAnnie."Heleanedforwardandspokeinalowvoice:

ToJackandAnnieofFrogCreek:

MyStaffofStrengthhasbeenstolen.Onthewintersolstice,journeytotheLand-Behind-the-Clouds.Traveltowardthesettingsunandretrievemystaff--orallwillbelost.

Jackdidn'tunderstand."How...?"

"HowdoIknowwhatwasinMerlin'smessage?"themansaid."IknowbecauseIwroteitmyself!Ihopeditwouldfinditswaytoyousomehow."

Jacksteppedback.SoMerlinhadn'tsentthemonthismissionatall.Theweirdmanonthethronehadtrickedthem!

"Whoareyou?"demandedTeddy.

"IamtheIceWizard,"saidtheman."TheWizardofWinter."

Teddygulped.

Oh,no!thoughtJack.TheyhadheardaboutthiswizardontheirpastMerlinmissions.ItwastheWizardofWinterwhohadputaspellontheRavenKingandwhohadstolentheSwordofLight!

ThewizardglancedcoldlyfromTeddytoKathleen."Andwhoarethetwoofyou?"

"IamTeddyofCamelot,"saidTeddy."IamanapprenticetoMorganleFay,intrainingtobeasorcerermyself."

"Asorcerer?"saidthewizard.

"Yes,"saidTeddy."Myfatherwasasorcerer.Mymotherwasawoodsprite."

"AndIamaselkie,"saidKathleen,"oneoftheancientsealpeople."

"Soyouarebothfrommyworld,"saidtheIceWizard."Youareofnousetome."HelookedbackatJackandAnnie."Iaminterestedonlyinthetwomortals,JackandAnnieofFrogCreek."

"Whyareyouinterestedinus?"saidJack.

"BecauseofwhatyouhavedoneforMerlin!"bellowedtheIceWizard."ForMerlin,youfoundtheWaterofMemoryandImagination!ForMerlin,youfoundtheDiamondofDestiny!ForMerlin,youfoundtheSwordofLight!NowIwantyoutofindsomethingforme."

"Whatdoyouwantustofind?"askedAnnie.

TheIceWizardgrabbedtheblackpatchcoveringhislefteye.Heyankeditoff,revealingadark,emptysocketunderneath.

"Yikes,"Anniesaidsoftly.

"Iwantyoutofindmyeye,"theIceWizardsaid.

"Oh,man,"saidJack.Hewashorrified.

"Are--areyouquiteserious?"saidTeddy.

"Youwantthemtofindyoureye?"

Thewizardcoveredhisemptyeyesocketwiththepatchagain."Yes,"hesaid."IwantJackandAnnietofindmyeye--andbringitbacktome."

"But--why?"saidJack."Evenifwefoundit,wecouldn'tmakeitwork.We'renotmedicalexpertsoranything."

"Andanyway,whycan'tyougetyoureyeyourself?"saidAnnie."You'reawizard!"

"DONOTQUESTIONMYORDERS!"thewizardroaredather.

"Hey,don'tyellatmysister!"saidJack.

Thewizardraisedabushyeyebrow."Youarebrotherandsister?"hesaid.

"Yes,"saidJack.

Thewizardnoddedslowly.Hisvoicegrewsofter."Andyouprotectyoursister,"hesaid.

"Weprotecteachother,"saidJack.

"Isee,"whisperedthewizard.Thenhisvoiceturnedgruffagain."Longago,ItradedmyeyeforsomethingIwantedverymuch.ButInevergotwhatIwanted.SonowIwantmyeyeback."

"Whodidyoutradewith?"askedAnnie.

"TheFates!"saidthewizard."ItradedwiththeFates!Buttheycheatedme!AndthatiswhyIsentforyouandJack.YoumustgototheFatesandfindmyeye,andyoumustgoalone."

"Whyalone?"askedJack.

"BecauseonlymortalscanundoabargainwiththeFates,"saidtheIceWizard,"notwizardslikeme--norsealgirls,northesonsofsorcerers,likeyourtwofriends."

"ButJackandIsucceededinourothermissionsbecauseTeddyandKathleenorMorganandMerlinhelpedus,"saidAnnie.

"Whatkindofhelpdidtheygiveyou?"saidthewizard.

"Well,mostlymagicrhymesandriddles,"saidAnnie.

"Ah.ThenIshalldothesame,"saidthewizard.Hethoughtforamoment,thenleanedforwardonhisthrone.Inagrowlyvoice,hesaid:

Takemysleigh

Andfindyourway

TotheHouseoftheNorns

Inthecurveofthebay.

Paythemwhatever

Theytellyoutopay.

Andbringbackmyeye

Bybreakofday.

Thewizardreachedintothefoldsofhisraggedrobeandpulledoutathickstringwitharowofknots."Thiswind-stringwillspeedyouonyourjourney,"hesaid.HetossedthestringtoJack.

What'sawind-string?Jackwondered.AndwhoaretheNorns?

BeforeJackcouldaskanyquestions,theIceWizardpointedathim."Nowlistencarefullytothiswarning,"hesaid."Bewarethewhitewolvesofthenight.Theymayfollowyouonyourquest.Neverletthemcatchupwithyou.Iftheycatchyou,theywilleatyou!"

Jackfeltachillrundownhisspine.

TheIceWizardpickedupacarvedwoodenstickfromthefloorbesidehisthrone.Itssmooth,polishedwoodglowedinthemoonlight.

Teddygasped."'TisMerlin'sStaffofStrength!"hesaid.

"Indeed,"saidthewizard.HeturnedtoJackandAnnie."Gonowandfindmyeye,"hesaid."OryouwillneverseeMerlinandMorganleFayagain."

"Whathaveyoudonewiththem?"criedAnnie.

Thewizardstaredathercoldly."Iwillnottellyou,"hesaid."Youwillseethemagainonlyifyoureturnmyeyebeforethebreakofday."

"But--"saidAnnie.

"Nomorequestions!"saidthewizard."Beonyourway!"Beforeanyofthemcouldspeak,theIceWizardslashedtheairwithMerlin'sStaffofStrengthandshoutedaspell--"OW-NIGH!"

Aflashofbluefireshotfromtheendofthestaff.Inaninstant,Jack,Annie,Teddy,andKathleenfoundthemselvesoutsidethepalaceinthefreezingnight.

CHAPTERFOUR

TakeMySleigh

Jacksatonthefrozenground.Annie,Teddy,andKathleensatnearby.Theywerealltooshockedtospeak.Thenightwasquiet.Overheadthefullmoonshinedbrightly,andafewcoldstarstwinkledintheclearsky.

FinallyAnniebrokethesilence."IwonderwhathedidtoMerlinandMorgan,"shesaid.

"Iwonderwhereyouwillfindhiseye,"saidTeddy.

"Iwonderhowwe'llcarryitaround,"saidJack.

"AndIwonderifthewolvesarenear,"saidKathleen.Shestoodupandlookedaround,pullinghercloaktightlyaroundher.

"Well,doesanyoneremembertheIceWizard'srhyme?"saidTeddy.

"Yes,"saidKathleen.Sherepeatedtherhymeperfectlybyheart:

Takemysleigh

Andfindyourway

TotheHouseoftheNorns

Inthecurveofthebay.

Paythemwhatever

Theytellyoutopay

Andbringbackmyeye

Bybreakofday.

"WhatareNorns?"askedJack.

"IhavereadabouttheNornsinMorgan'sbooks,"saidTeddy."TheyareknownastheSistersofFate.Theyspendtheirdaysweavinggreattapestries.TheirweavingdeterminesthefateofallwholiveintheLand-Behind-the-Clouds."

"SotheNornshavehiseye?"saidJack."That'swhohemeantwhenhesaidhe'tradedwiththeFates'?"

"Itwouldseemso,"saidTeddy.

"Hesaidweshouldtakehissleightofindthem,"saidAnnie."Where'shissleigh?"

"Look,"saidKathleen,pointing."'Tisthere."

"Oh,wow,"saidAnnie.

Notfaraway,astrange-lookingsilversleighglidedsilentlyfrombehindasnowbank.Thesleighlookedlikeasmallsailingshipwithshinyrunners.Noonewassteeringit,andnohorsesorreindeerwerepullingit.Fromitsmast,awhitesaildroopedinthestillair.

Asthesleighslidtoastop,aneeriehowlshatteredthecalmofthewindlessnight.

"Wolves!"criedTeddy."Letusmakehaste!"

Kathleengrabbedhisarm."Donotrun,"shesaid."Ifwerun,theywillchaseus."

"Yes,ofcourse,"saidTeddy."Theymustnotseethatweareafraid."

Anotherhowlshatteredtheair."Run!"criedTeddy.

Theyallchargedacrossthesnowtothesleighandscrambledintoit.JackandKathleenstoodatthefront,andAnnieandTeddystoodattheback.

"Theretheyare!"criedTeddy,pointing."Thewhitewolvesofthenight!"

Jackturnedandsawtwolargewhitewolvesdashingacrosstheplaininthemoonlight.Asthewolvesrantowardthesleigh,theirbigpawsscatteredsnowaroundthem.

"Go,go,go!"Jackcried,clutchingthefrontofthesleigh.

Butthesleighdidn'tmove.Andthewolveskeptcoming."Howcanwemakeitgo?"criedJack.

"Usethewind-string!"saidTeddy.

Jackpulledtheknottedstringthewizardhadgivenhimoutofhispocket."Useitnow!"heshouted.

"Untieaknot!"saidTeddy.

Jackpulledoffhisgloves.Hisfingersweretremblingashetriedtountieoneoftheknots.Thisiscrazy!hethought.Howcanuntyingaknotinastringhelpus?Butsoonhemanagedtoloosenoneoftheknots.

Acoldbreezebeganblowingfrombehindthesleigh.Itruffledthesailoverhead.

"Untieanother!"shoutedTeddy."Hurry!"

Jackquicklyuntiedasecondknot.Thebreezegrewstronger,andthesailfilledoutabitmore.Thesleigh'sshinyrunnersbeganslidingacrossthesnow.

"Yay!"calledAnnie."Itworks!"

'Yes,butnotnearlyswiftlyenough!"saidTeddy.

Jacklookedback.Thetwowhitewolveshadalmostcaughtupwiththem.Theywereyelpingandrunningbehindthesleigh.Theirmouthswereopen,showingtheirsharpteeth.

Jackquicklyuntiedathirdknot.Acoldwindblastedthesail.Itopenedwithasnap,andthesleighshotforward!

"Standfast!"criedTeddy.

Jack,Annie,andKathleenheldtightlytothesidesofthesleightokeepfromfallingout.Teddygrabbedtherudderandsteeredthemoverthesnow,awayfromtheicepalace.

Thewizard'ssleighzoomedacrossthefrozenground,leavingthewhitewolvesinitswake.Theiryelpingnoisesgrewfainterandfainter,untiltheycouldbeheardnomore.

Thewindkeptpushingthesilversleighovertheiceandsnow.Therunnersmadeswish-swishsoundsastheyslidoverthemoonlitplain.Thesquaresailbillowedinthewind,likethesailofaVikingship.Withthewolvesfarbehind,theridewasreallyfun,butcold.

"Howdidyouknowuntyingknotswouldmakethewindblow?"JackaskedTeddy.

"'Tisanancientmagic,"saidTeddy."Ihavereadofwind-stringsbuthadneverseenone."

"It'sagoodthingyoureadsomuch,"saidAnnie.

"Oh,look!"saidKathleen."Haresandfoxes!"

"Where?"saidAnnie.

"There!"Kathleenpointedintothedarkdistance."Playinginthesnow!Andlisten!Whistlingswans--overhead,behindthatcloud."

"Wow,"saidAnnie.

JackwasamazedbyKathleen'spowertoseeandhearsomanythings.Asbefore,themoonlitlandscapeseemedcompletelyemptytohim.

"Whereareyousteeringus?"AnnieaskedTeddy.

"Ihavenoidea!"saidTeddy,laughing.

"We'resupposedtogotoacurveofabaytofindtheNorns,"saidAnnie.

"Thenturnleftandfollowtheswans!"saidKathleen,pointingacrossthesnowyplain."Theyareflyingtowardthesea!"

Teddyswervedthesleightotheleft.Forawhile,theybouncedupanddownoverthesnow.Thentheridegrewsmoother.

"Weareonseaicenow!"saidKathleen."Sealsarebeneath!Iseetheirbreathingholes!Perhapsweshouldstop."

"Indeed!"saidTeddyastheywhizzedalong."Buthow?"

"Trytyingaknot!"saidAnnie.

"Excellentidea!"saidTeddy."Jack?"

Jackyankedoffhisgloves.Withcold,shakyfingers,hetiedaknotinthestring.Thewindlessenedabit.Thesleighbegantoslowdown.

Hetiedanother.Thesailstartedtodroop."Hooray!"saidAnnie.

Jacktiedathirdknotandthewindcompletelydiedaway.Thesleighglidedtoastop.

"Welldone!"saidTeddy.

"Thanks,"saidJack.Hetuckedthestringbackinhispocketandlookedaround."IwonderifthisiswheretheNornslive."

"Iwillask,"saidKathleen.

Askwho?thoughtJack.

Kathleenclimbedoutofthesleigh.Shewalkedovertheseaice,studyingitclosely.Thenshestoppedaboveasmallhole.

Kathleenkneltdownandspokesoftlyinselkielanguage.Thensheputherearclosetotheholeintheiceandlistened.

Amomentlater,shestoodup."Thesealtoldmethecurveofthebayliesjustbeyondthosesearocks,"shesaid,pointing."ThatiswherewewillfindtheNorns."

"Great,"saidAnnie.

Jack,Annie,Teddy,andKathleencrunchedoverthefrozenseaunderthebrightmoon.Theywalkedthroughanarrowpassagebetweenthesearocks.Whentheysteppedoutfromthepassage,theystopped.

"There'tis,"saidTeddy.

Aboutfiftyyardsawaywasalarge,snowywhitemound.Smokewascomingfromachimneyontopofthemound.Lanternlightflickeredfromasmall,roundwindow.

"IknowyoumustbargainfortheIceWizard'seyealone,"saidTeddy."ButIwouldatleastliketotakeapeekattheNorns."

Hemovedquietlytothewindowandpeeredintothehouse.Theothersjoinedhim.Theysawalargefireburningonahearth.Initsrosyglow,threestrangecreatureswereweavingatabigloom.Jackcaughthisbreath.Theirappearancewasshocking.

ThethreeSistersofFatewereasskinnyasskel