He said bring both the prisoners an’ we does as we’re told.’
Jack didn’t feel good. He heard a great gurgle coming from Camelin’s stomach. He didn’t think it was the charcoal this time. Teg grabbed one of the sacks, tipped the net upside down and shook Jack into it. He quickly tied the top then slung it over his shoulder.
Camelin was right, it was itchy inside the sack but at least Jack managed to peck a hole in the bottom so he could see out. He wondered about trying to escape as they made their way up the rock staircase, but he couldn’t leave Camelin on his own. He knew he’d broken the Law of Annwn and would have to face up to what he’d done. He wished he’d asked his Book of Shadows more questions about the law, but it wasn’t something he’d been planning to break.
By the time they entered the Glass Palace Jack felt seasick. He wished all the bouncing up and down would stop. It did, abruptly, when Teg came to a halt before two great golden doors. A guard, dressed in a yellow and red uniform stepped forward.
‘Prisoners for King Velindur,’ announced Teg.
The great doors swung open and Jack could see a beautiful chamber. Its circular walls were made of glass; they must be in one of the towers. A stern looking man sat on a throne towards the back of the room. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders and his thick eyebrows almost met in the middle. He looked neither old nor young. Jack didn’t think he looked very pleased to see Jed and Teg.
‘Enter,’ he commanded. ‘Put the prisoners in the cage and leave.’
Teg and Jed bowed low and then quickly made their way to a silver cage at the far end of the room. The cage looked big enough for a man to stand up in. As they opened the door a guard stepped towards the glass wall and drew a long curtain. Jed pushed Camelin inside and Teg threw the sack in after him. Jack landed with a thud on the stone floor. Camelin quickly bent over and untied the sack.
‘That will be all,’ the man told the guard.
It was the first time Jack had seen Camelin properly. It felt strange seeing someone he knew in a different body. If they’d been standing next to each other as boys, Camelin would have been a good head taller than Jack. His hair was very dark and thick. He looked more like a street urchin than a Druid’s acolyte, his long arms and legs were very grubby and the sack didn’t fit too well. Jack wondered if Camelin felt strange being a boy again as Jack had felt strange the first time he’d changed into a raven. His thoughts were interrupted when the man left the throne and circled around the cage. Was this King Velindur or one of the Blessed Council? Jack got his answer when the man spoke to Camelin.
‘I expect my subjects to bow before their King.’
Neither of them replied. Camelin stood with his mouth open.
‘No matter, there’s no place for anyone who spies or thieves in Annwn. You will both stand trial before the Blessed Council, they can decide your fate. But in the meantime, I’d like some answers.’
Velindur held up his hand and counted off the questions on his fingers, one by one, as he spoke.
‘Who are you? How did you open the Western Portal? Who sent you? Why did you come into Annwn? I’m going to leave you to think about those questions and when I return I will have your answers. Understood?’
Camelin nodded. Jack thought it was best to pretend he hadn’t understood any of the conversation. King Velindur turned and strode away. He passed through a smaller door that led into another chamber. As soon as he’d gone Jack heard the fluttering of wings above the cage, more than one pair of wings.
Timmery said: ‘Don’t look up and don’t say anything, just in case anyone’s watching. Charkle’s got some news.’
‘I was waiting by the dungeon door so I could get back in to tell you the good news. When the door opened you were coming out so I followed you here.’
Jack watched Camelin frown. He too wished Charkle
Jack didn’t feel good. He heard a great gurgle coming from Camelin’s stomach. He didn’t think it was the charcoal this time. Teg grabbed one of the sacks, tipped the net upside down and shook Jack into it. He quickly tied the top then slung it over his shoulder.
Camelin was right, it was itchy inside the sack but at least Jack managed to peck a hole in the bottom so he could see out. He wondered about trying to escape as they made their way up the rock staircase, but he couldn’t leave Camelin on his own. He knew he’d broken the Law of Annwn and would have to face up to what he’d done. He wished he’d asked his Book of Shadows more questions about the law, but it wasn’t something he’d been planning to break.
By the time they entered the Glass Palace Jack felt seasick. He wished all the bouncing up and down would stop. It did, abruptly, when Teg came to a halt before two great golden doors. A guard, dressed in a yellow and red uniform stepped forward.
‘Prisoners for King Velindur,’ announced Teg.
The great doors swung open and Jack could see a beautiful chamber. Its circular walls were made of glass; they must be in one of the towers. A stern looking man sat on a throne towards the back of the room. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders and his thick eyebrows almost met in the middle. He looked neither old nor young. Jack didn’t think he looked very pleased to see Jed and Teg.
‘Enter,’ he commanded. ‘Put the prisoners in the cage and leave.’
Teg and Jed bowed low and then quickly made their way to a silver cage at the far end of the room. The cage looked big enough for a man to stand up in. As they opened the door a guard stepped towards the glass wall and drew a long curtain. Jed pushed Camelin inside and Teg threw the sack in after him. Jack landed with a thud on the stone floor. Camelin quickly bent over and untied the sack.
‘That will be all,’ the man told the guard.
It was the first time Jack had seen Camelin properly. It felt strange seeing someone he knew in a different body. If they’d been standing next to each other as boys, Camelin would have been a good head taller than Jack. His hair was very dark and thick. He looked more like a street urchin than a Druid’s acolyte, his long arms and legs were very grubby and the sack didn’t fit too well. Jack wondered if Camelin felt strange being a boy again as Jack had felt strange the first time he’d changed into a raven. His thoughts were interrupted when the man left the throne and circled around the cage. Was this King Velindur or one of the Blessed Council? Jack got his answer when the man spoke to Camelin.
‘I expect my subjects to bow before their King.’
Neither of them replied. Camelin stood with his mouth open.
‘No matter, there’s no place for anyone who spies or thieves in Annwn. You will both stand trial before the Blessed Council, they can decide your fate. But in the meantime, I’d like some answers.’
Velindur held up his hand and counted off the questions on his fingers, one by one, as he spoke.
‘Who are you? How did you open the Western Portal? Who sent you? Why did you come into Annwn? I’m going to leave you to think about those questions and when I return I will have your answers. Understood?’
Camelin nodded. Jack thought it was best to pretend he hadn’t understood any of the conversation. King Velindur turned and strode away. He passed through a smaller door that led into another chamber. As soon as he’d gone Jack heard the fluttering of wings above the cage, more than one pair of wings.
Timmery said: ‘Don’t look up and don’t say anything, just in case anyone’s watching. Charkle’s got some news.’
‘I was waiting by the dungeon door so I could get back in to tell you the good news. When the door opened you were coming out so I followed you here.’
Jack watched Camelin frown. He too wished Charkle
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