Snowy Wishes Read Free Page B

familiar, warm prickling sensation down her spine as big gold sparks flowered in Storm’s fluffy white fur and his ears crackled with magical power.
    Something very strange was about to happen.

Robyn watched in complete amazement as Storm leaped out of her coat and sprang on to the deck, trailing a comet’s tail of gold sparks.
    He lifted one tiny front paw and sent a huge spray of glittering sparks whooshing into the icy air. Robyn saw them hang there for a second and then transform into grayish smoke, which sank down on tothe trolls in the thickest mist she had ever seen.
    “Hey! What’s going on?” one of them cried from the middle of the dense mist.
    “Oops, sorry,” said another one, as he tripped over his friend.
    They couldn’t see where they were going. Robyn could hear the disguised crew members staggering around and bumping into each other. The other passengers thought it was all part of theact and began laughing and cheering them on.

    But as the magical mist spread, they became swallowed up in it, too.
    “Follow me, Robyn! I will save you from the monsters,” Storm yapped. His little form glowed as brightly as a lantern as he scampered toward the door to the lower deck.
    “Come back, Storm!” Robyn called to him above all the noise. “They’re not real trolls. They’re people dressed up. It’s just for fun!”
    Storm stopped dead and then padded back toward her. In the little pool of light made by his magically glowing body, Robyn could see a shamefaced expression creep over his fluffy white face.
    “I am sorry. I thought that you were in danger,” Storm yapped quietly, flattening his ears.
    “It’s okay. I know you were only trying to protect me, but I think you’d better make the fog disappear now,” she said gently.
    Storm nodded.
    He sent a big spurt of bright gold sparks whooshing across the deck. The sparkles were like a powerful jet spray at a car wash, magically blasting the fog into thin strands. Seconds later it all blew away on the icy wind.
    The disguised crewmen stood there on the clear deck, looking puzzled. Their wigs were all crooked and their troll masks were dangling around their necks. But they soon recovered.Straightening their costumes, they skipped around the deck, roaring and waving their arms.
    Delighted applause broke out as more of the crew came on to the deck, holding trays of hot drinks, food, and snacks.
    “You must pay the price for entering our land,” one of the trolls boomed, grinning broadly. “We order you to feast with us on troll brew and hot troll soup!”
    As everyone began helping themselves, Robyn decided that this was a good time for her and Storm to make their exit.

    Later that afternoon after
Sea Princess
docked at the harbor, Robyn, Stormand her mom and dad went ashore. They caught a bus to the south of the city with lots of other people on the cruise.

    Robyn sat with Storm safely inside the shoulder bag on her lap. He stuck his head out to look at the broad, snow-covered streets and modern shops and offices.
    Robyn could see colored lights gleaming from house windows, and there were lots of green wreaths hungon doors. Here and there, they passed traditional wooden buildings, painted in shades of red, orange, or mustard.
    “Everything looks so Christmassy here. I love it,” she whispered. “I hope I can get some presents for Mom and Dad.”
    Storm twisted round and looked up at her. “What is Christmas?”
    “Oh, of course. I don’t suppose you have it in your world, do you?” Robyn realized. “Christmas is a special time when we celebrate the baby Jesus being born. We sing carols, and families all get together and exchange presents and eat lots of yummy food. Dad usually stuffs himself with turkey, stuffing, and pie and then moans about his pants being tight! At least, that’s what we usually doat home. It’s going to seem a bit different this year. We celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve aboard
Sea Princess.
”
    Storm looked a bit