if they can. If it’s an important feast they’ll have more than one down there.’
‘But I thought the feast was tomorrow night,’ gasped Jack.
‘That’s what they said,’ confirmed the Dorysk. ‘Let me go see what I can find out.’
‘Can you see in this light?’ Jack asked Timmery.
‘No problem at all, it’s only like dusk or dawn, not too bright at all, I can see just fine.’
‘That’s a relief,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘After I brought you all this way it’d be such a shame if you had to wait outside in the dark.’
‘This is getting us nowhere fast,’ said Jack. ‘We need to act quickly and get back to Glasruhen as soon as we can, preferably with two dragonettes.’
‘I’ll send Timmery back as soon as we find them,’ the Dorysk said as he changed into the form of a moth. They were both soon lost from sight as they flitted off down the tunnel.
Jack leant against the wall. He’d thought of a plan while they’d been flying but he wasn’t sure it would work. He knew he couldn’t do it on his own and was going to need Camelin’s help.
‘How much weight can you carry in your beak?’ Jack asked as innocently as he could.
‘Lots, I can lift Nora’s small cauldron when it’s empty.’
‘So, do you think you could fly with a dragonette in your beak?’
‘No need, why would you want to carry a dragonette when it can already fly?’
‘You’d have to if it was sealed inside a lantern like Charkle was.’
‘You mean … we’re going to … that’s brilliant … but can you fly all the way back to Glasruhen with a dragonette, a lantern and your wand in your beak too?’
This was the question Jack had been asking himself. It was the only problem he could see with his plan. He didn’t know if he had the strength to fly all the way back with an extra passenger. The only way he’d find out was if they successfully rescued the dragonettes.
They seemed to wait in the tunnel for ages. Jack was worried about Pyecroft showing up and demanding his coat back but the only sound they heard was a low rumbling coming from deep within the hillside.
‘They’re all eating,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘I can’t smell cooking any more.’
Jack sniffed the air. He was sure Camelin was right as he knew more about food and how it was cooked than Jack did but he was more worried about the Dorysk and Timmery than his stomach.
‘Do you think they’re alright? They seem to have been gone ages.’
‘They’ll be fine, how couldn’t they be? A shape-shifter and such a brave bat…’
‘Oh, so kind, so kind,’ came a voice from the mouth of the tunnel. ‘Now, are you two ready? The coast is clear and the Dorysk has found the dragonettes. The good news is they’ve not been roasted. The bad news is they’re in the Spriggans’ larder, in a big cauldron full of marinade.’
‘Are they hurt?’ asked Jack. ‘Did you ask them their names?’
‘I didn’t see them or have time to talk to them but when I left the Dorysk was explaining about the rescue, so maybe he’s asked them.’
‘What kind of marinade?’ asked Camelin.
Jack glowered at him.
‘Are you coming or would you rather stay here?’
‘Just asking, a raven’s allowed to ask the odd question isn’t he?’
‘Lead the way Timmery, we’re coming.’
Jack was grateful the little bat had such a good sense of direction. The tunnels twisted and turned downwards. The small lights on the sides of the tunnels gave out a warm glow and made it easy for them to follow Timmery. Even though Jack could see where he was going he knew he wouldn’t be able to find his way back without a guide. Timmery didn’t even hesitate when they came to a junction. It meant they were able to move deeper into the hill quickly and quietly. Eventually Timmery stopped outside the doorway of a well-lit room.
‘It’s too bright for me in there. I’ll wait out here and keep watch. This is the larder, the others are inside.’
Jack cautiously crept into the
‘But I thought the feast was tomorrow night,’ gasped Jack.
‘That’s what they said,’ confirmed the Dorysk. ‘Let me go see what I can find out.’
‘Can you see in this light?’ Jack asked Timmery.
‘No problem at all, it’s only like dusk or dawn, not too bright at all, I can see just fine.’
‘That’s a relief,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘After I brought you all this way it’d be such a shame if you had to wait outside in the dark.’
‘This is getting us nowhere fast,’ said Jack. ‘We need to act quickly and get back to Glasruhen as soon as we can, preferably with two dragonettes.’
‘I’ll send Timmery back as soon as we find them,’ the Dorysk said as he changed into the form of a moth. They were both soon lost from sight as they flitted off down the tunnel.
Jack leant against the wall. He’d thought of a plan while they’d been flying but he wasn’t sure it would work. He knew he couldn’t do it on his own and was going to need Camelin’s help.
‘How much weight can you carry in your beak?’ Jack asked as innocently as he could.
‘Lots, I can lift Nora’s small cauldron when it’s empty.’
‘So, do you think you could fly with a dragonette in your beak?’
‘No need, why would you want to carry a dragonette when it can already fly?’
‘You’d have to if it was sealed inside a lantern like Charkle was.’
‘You mean … we’re going to … that’s brilliant … but can you fly all the way back to Glasruhen with a dragonette, a lantern and your wand in your beak too?’
This was the question Jack had been asking himself. It was the only problem he could see with his plan. He didn’t know if he had the strength to fly all the way back with an extra passenger. The only way he’d find out was if they successfully rescued the dragonettes.
They seemed to wait in the tunnel for ages. Jack was worried about Pyecroft showing up and demanding his coat back but the only sound they heard was a low rumbling coming from deep within the hillside.
‘They’re all eating,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘I can’t smell cooking any more.’
Jack sniffed the air. He was sure Camelin was right as he knew more about food and how it was cooked than Jack did but he was more worried about the Dorysk and Timmery than his stomach.
‘Do you think they’re alright? They seem to have been gone ages.’
‘They’ll be fine, how couldn’t they be? A shape-shifter and such a brave bat…’
‘Oh, so kind, so kind,’ came a voice from the mouth of the tunnel. ‘Now, are you two ready? The coast is clear and the Dorysk has found the dragonettes. The good news is they’ve not been roasted. The bad news is they’re in the Spriggans’ larder, in a big cauldron full of marinade.’
‘Are they hurt?’ asked Jack. ‘Did you ask them their names?’
‘I didn’t see them or have time to talk to them but when I left the Dorysk was explaining about the rescue, so maybe he’s asked them.’
‘What kind of marinade?’ asked Camelin.
Jack glowered at him.
‘Are you coming or would you rather stay here?’
‘Just asking, a raven’s allowed to ask the odd question isn’t he?’
‘Lead the way Timmery, we’re coming.’
Jack was grateful the little bat had such a good sense of direction. The tunnels twisted and turned downwards. The small lights on the sides of the tunnels gave out a warm glow and made it easy for them to follow Timmery. Even though Jack could see where he was going he knew he wouldn’t be able to find his way back without a guide. Timmery didn’t even hesitate when they came to a junction. It meant they were able to move deeper into the hill quickly and quietly. Eventually Timmery stopped outside the doorway of a well-lit room.
‘It’s too bright for me in there. I’ll wait out here and keep watch. This is the larder, the others are inside.’
Jack cautiously crept into the
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