The Fog Boggarts Read online

  “She was a Fog Boggart, but they can cloak themselves so the Guardian’s powers don’t sense them,” Sophie explained. “They can control people’s minds and disguise themselves too.”

  Grandpa groaned, clutching at his temples. “I can’t believe I was fooled! I should have realised.”

  “You weren’t the only one she tricked,” Sophie reassured him. “Anyway, the important thing is she’s gone now.”

  “And we’ve got the gem!” added Sam.

  Grandpa looked astonished. “You’ve got the gem?” he echoed.

  Sophie grinned. “We’ve got so much to tell you, Grandpa!”

  Slowly, he started to smile. “It sounds like I should treat you both to an ice cream at Maggie’s Café , and you can tell me everything that’s been going on today. How does that sound?”

  “Brilliant!” Sophie and Sam chorused.

  Grandpa set off. Sophie nudged Sam as they followed him. “Pity Anthony’s not here,” she whispered. “I bet he’d have liked some i-scream.”

  Sam’s eyes twinkled. “I don’t know, maybe we could take him back a s-cream cake.”

  “Or a plate of custard s-creams!” said Sophie.

  Giggling together, they followed Grandpa down the sunny street.

  Chapter 9

  In the Woods…

  NOOOOOOO!” Deep in the Shadow Woods a loud cry rang out. “It can’t be true!” King Ug leapt off his tree-stump throne and marched around in a rage. “The Fog Boggarts can’t have failed. You’re lying!” he shouted at the three Ink Cap Goblins who were cowering before him.

  “We’re not, oh Great King Ug!”

  “We saw it happen, Your Most Handsome Majesty!”

  “Potato Nose got the key back!”

  “The key!” King Ug swirled round, his cunning eyes suddenly alight. “Where is it?”

  “Here, Your Great Majestical Ugness.” Potato Nose held out the metal key. “The Fog Boggarts dropped it when they dissolved in the sun.”

  King Ug swept the key out of his hands. “The precious key!” He held it close to his chest. “It shall open the gateway yet.”

  “Um, King Ug…” Big Feet raised his hand cautiously. “I’ve got an idea of who we can ask to help us get one of the last two hidden gems.”

  “An idea?” King Ug looked as if Big Feet had just said he liked knitting baby blankets for a hobby. “You don’t have ideas, you worm-brained fungus head!”

  “Sorry, Great King Ug.” Big Feet looked at the floor.

  “So what are we going to do, Your Majesty?” asked Potato Nose.

  King Ug marched up and down. “We will… um…” He frowned and changed direction. “Yes, let’s…. um…” He scratched his flaking head. “Hmmm, we’ll um…” King Ug hesitated and then strode over to Big Feet. He lowered his voice. “So, this idea of yours – what is it precisely?”

  Big Feet whispered a few words into his ear. For a moment, Ug stood very still and then a smile crept across his face and he nodded. He turned to Flaky Face and Potato Nose. “I have had an idea!” he announced grandly. “We shall ask for the help of the…”

  He lowered his voice and whispered two words.

  Flaky Face and Potato Nose caught their breath in excitement. “Brilliant, King Ug!” whooped Flaky Face.

  Potato Nose nodded. “The Guardian will never be able to stop them! That’s a great idea!”

  “It was my idea!” protested Big Feet. “I… ow!” He broke off as Ug tripped him over.

  “Oh, I am so very clever!” Ug chortled. “This time nothing shall stop us!”

  The other Ink Cap Goblins, even Big Feet, joined in with the laughter.

  “We’ll get the gem!”

  “We’ll open the gateway!”

  “That Guardian won’t know what’s hit her!”

  King Ug rubbed his hands in glee. This time, nothing but nothing could go wrong!

  What’s next in store for Sophie?

  The shadow creature narrowed its eyes. “Guardian, it is time for you to be afraid,” it squeaked. “Be very afraid.”

  There was a pause.

  The leader looked at Sophie expectantly.

  She cleared her throat. “Um, sorry,” she said, spreading her hands. “But I’m kind of having problems with your general scariness. You’re just so… so cute !”

  “Cute?” the leader spat. He drew himself up to his full height of fifteen centimetres. “I warn you, we strike terror into the hearts of those who know us, Guardian!”

  Sophie suppressed a laugh. “Yeah, if you’re a dormouse maybe!”

  “Um, Soph,” Sam said uneasily as the Icicle Imps started to jump off the branches and move in around them. “They’re getting quite close to us.”

  “So?” Sophie replied. “What are they going to do? Bite us?”

  As she spoke each of the Icicle Imps drew back their lips, and a set of pointed fangs popped out of their gums – fangs that reached down their fluffy chins and looked as sharp as carving knives!

  “Oh,” said Sophie slowly.

  “Attack!” squeaked the Icicle Imp leader.

  “Run!” yelled Sam…

  Copyright

  1

  SOPHIE AND THE SHADOW WOODS : THE FOG BOGGARTS Text copyright © Linda Chapman and Lee Weatherly 2011

  Illustrations © Katie Wood 2011

  Linda Chapman and Lee Weatherly assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  ISBN 978-0-00-741169-6

  EPub Edition © JULY 2011 ISBN: 9780007411702

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