A Raucous Time (The Celtic Cousins' Adventures) by Julia Hughes Page A

the book, eyes scanning as he turned pages rapidly.
    Rhyllann rubbed at his face wearily. ‘I thought this was too good to be true. She doesn’t say where she stashed the treasure does she?’
    This earned him a rueful look.
    ‘She meant this book for her brother, Henry. Or his heirs, the future kings of England. There must be a hidden message in this text.’ Wren speculated. ‘See – if this had fallen into the wrong hands –even her priest could have taken it for the church. She had to be obtuse.’
    Rhyllann mulled this over. ‘Obtuse. So – does she give any hints about the treasure?’ He asked, trying not to sound sarcastic. Wren patted the book.
    ‘Reading this, I’ve learned a lot about Joanie.’ He flicked at the notes taken from the net. ‘She represented her husband at her father’s court. Both were crafty old warriors. John entrusted her with the royal regalia. She was smart Annie. Real smart.’
    Rhyllann could practically hear his mind ticking over.
    ‘And?’
    ‘And I’d bet money this isn’t the only clue she left. There’s probably been others, maybe lost forever, maybe locked away, maybe even laying in someone’s attic.’
    Rhyllann handled the book again, stroking the covers with a sense of wonderment. This could so easily have been overlooked. Would have been, if Wren didn’t hang with old man Stern.
    ‘So what next?’ he asked.
    ‘Photo-copy the book. I’m gonna read through again, I’m missing something.’
    Rhyllann felt cheated. There should be a beautifully drawn treasure map, with a large X marking the spot.
    ‘Your princess wasn’t that clever. She let Llwellynn catch her with another man!’ He said spitefully.
    Wren stared. ‘What!’
    ‘Read it yourself! There – see! Llwellynn hung him, and exiled her.’
    Wren grabbed the print out from him, and read, open mouthed.
    ‘Cornwall – he banished her to Cornwall. But he took her back. Forgave her. Annie – do you think …’
    That was Wren’s trouble; he thought too much.
    ‘Whatever. I’ll photocopy your book, then I’m gonna get something to eat.’
     
    *
     
    Waiting for the photocopier to warm up, Rhyllann examined the book again. According to Wren it had been written by a scribe, the equivalent of a business person dictating to a typist. Although Wren claimed it was handwritten, the letters were so perfectly formed they seemed printed. As the machine spat copies out Rhyllann tried and failed to make sense of them. No wonder most people were illiterate in the Middle Ages. His attention was drawn back to the little animals which embellished the initial letter every fifth page or so. The scribe had given them fine detail, foxes winked slyly, snakes slithered and lions snarled. Thankfully there were only thirty pages. Rhyllann shuffled them all together neatly and turned only to collide with Wren who was staring at him as though he’d grown an extra head.
    ‘Excuse me!’ He said when Wren continued to stare.
    ‘Say it again.’ Wren slurred, eyes glittering feverishly.
    Rhyllann thrust the photocopies at him as he pushed past.
    ‘I said excuse me.’
    Wren dragged him back, fanning out the papers on top of the photocopier, stabbing at each miniature picture.
    ‘Fox! Hedgehog! Viper! Lion!’ He squealed, pointing to each in turn.
    Rhyllann played along, not realising that only moments ago he’d been unconsciously naming the animals himself.
    ‘Yes. Moo moo. Woof woof.’
    Wren clasped a hand to his forehead. ‘It couldn’t be that simple. Could it? It couldn’t be that easy!’ He traced the air with one hand, eyes fixed in the distance. His gaze refocused as he began thinking outloud.
    ‘Annie – we need the Latin names for these animals. I’ll make a list – you run back to the library.’ His fingers drummed the pages as his mind continued to tick over. ‘I don’t think it’ll be quite that simple either. We still need the keyword.’ His voice trailed off. Once again he clutched