before the window in time closes?’
‘Now that’s the good news. It doesn’t close from the other side. It doesn’t matter how long we’re there. We can fly back at any time.’
‘Well that’s a relief,’ laughed Jack.
Camelin bowed his head and looked thoughtful.
‘I was training to be a Druid you know. I was Gwillam’s acolyte but then everything changed. Gwillam was killed and I became a raven. I’d only been with him a few years. It took twenty-one years to train to be a Druid. Reading and writing didn’t come until near the end, and that’s why I never learnt. Anyway, I can see how useful reading could be now.’
‘Oh it is,’ agreed Jack. ‘I can find you some great books to borrow.’
Camelin pulled his face.
‘I was thinking more about the menu from the Chinese takeaway, unless you’ve got any good food books.’
Jack laughed.
‘I’ll see if I can borrow a cookery book. You’ll love the pictures.’
‘Before I forget, Nora gave me a message. She said you’ve got to remember to bring the golden acorn with you on Friday. She can’t perform the ritual without it.’
‘I wish she’d take it back. I’m frightened I might lose it.’
‘I think it’s what you’re supposed to do, you know, as The One . You’ve got to keep it safe, look after it to prove you’re worthy.’
‘Is there anything else you haven’t told me?’
Camelin pretended to think hard then shook his head. Just then Grandad called upstairs. Jack’s supper was ready.
‘It must be my supper time too, my stomach’s really empty.’
Camelin’s stomach always seemed to be empty. Jack wondered if he’d feel hungry all the time once he’d been transformed into a raven.
‘See you tomorrow,’ he called as Camelin took off.
Jack watched Camelin as he showed off his brilliant skills again; a backwards loop the loop followed by an amazing twisting dive. Jack sighed; it would be great to fly. He just wished he didn’t feel so afraid.
It was nearly bedtime before Jack got back to his room. He took out his wand, opened his Book of Shadows and was about to write to Elan when he heard a loud crash. It came from the greenhouse. Jack held his wand up at the window so he could see better, then hid it quickly when he saw Grandad making his way down the garden path. There was another crash, this time from the kitchen. It wasn’t Grandad; he was still outside. With his wand unlit, he cautiously made his way to the top of the stairs. Someone or something was definitely in the house. Jack carefully took one step at a time. If it was Peabody, he wanted to sneak up on him. The back door was wide open. Jack could still see Grandad’s torch shining inside the greenhouse. Another crash from the kitchen was followed by a strange chittering sound. Jack stopped. Whatever it was in there wasn’t alone. He was about to take his wand and burst into the kitchen when Motley came running through the back door. He stood on his back legs and started frantically telling Jack something.
‘Hold on, let me put my wand in the other hand.’
Motley started again.
‘They’ve got Orin. I told her not to come… she wouldn’t listen and now they’ve got her. They’ll make her into a hat.’
Motley paused for breath. He was very upset and frightened.
‘Who are they and who’s Orin?’
‘Spriggans… in the kitchen… they want to make Orin into a hat. Oh, my beautiful Orin… my baby sister… she should never have followed us tonight.’
‘What are Spriggans and why would they want to make your sister into a hat?’
‘No time to explain… you’ve got to save her.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Get her back… make them give her back. Do whatever it takes… just don’t let them go back down the hole with her.’
‘Hole!’
‘Big hole... in the kitchen... where they’ve tunnelled through. Best tunnellers in the world Spriggans are; go and have a look.’
Motley ran behind Jack’s legs. Jack carefully
‘Now that’s the good news. It doesn’t close from the other side. It doesn’t matter how long we’re there. We can fly back at any time.’
‘Well that’s a relief,’ laughed Jack.
Camelin bowed his head and looked thoughtful.
‘I was training to be a Druid you know. I was Gwillam’s acolyte but then everything changed. Gwillam was killed and I became a raven. I’d only been with him a few years. It took twenty-one years to train to be a Druid. Reading and writing didn’t come until near the end, and that’s why I never learnt. Anyway, I can see how useful reading could be now.’
‘Oh it is,’ agreed Jack. ‘I can find you some great books to borrow.’
Camelin pulled his face.
‘I was thinking more about the menu from the Chinese takeaway, unless you’ve got any good food books.’
Jack laughed.
‘I’ll see if I can borrow a cookery book. You’ll love the pictures.’
‘Before I forget, Nora gave me a message. She said you’ve got to remember to bring the golden acorn with you on Friday. She can’t perform the ritual without it.’
‘I wish she’d take it back. I’m frightened I might lose it.’
‘I think it’s what you’re supposed to do, you know, as The One . You’ve got to keep it safe, look after it to prove you’re worthy.’
‘Is there anything else you haven’t told me?’
Camelin pretended to think hard then shook his head. Just then Grandad called upstairs. Jack’s supper was ready.
‘It must be my supper time too, my stomach’s really empty.’
Camelin’s stomach always seemed to be empty. Jack wondered if he’d feel hungry all the time once he’d been transformed into a raven.
‘See you tomorrow,’ he called as Camelin took off.
Jack watched Camelin as he showed off his brilliant skills again; a backwards loop the loop followed by an amazing twisting dive. Jack sighed; it would be great to fly. He just wished he didn’t feel so afraid.
It was nearly bedtime before Jack got back to his room. He took out his wand, opened his Book of Shadows and was about to write to Elan when he heard a loud crash. It came from the greenhouse. Jack held his wand up at the window so he could see better, then hid it quickly when he saw Grandad making his way down the garden path. There was another crash, this time from the kitchen. It wasn’t Grandad; he was still outside. With his wand unlit, he cautiously made his way to the top of the stairs. Someone or something was definitely in the house. Jack carefully took one step at a time. If it was Peabody, he wanted to sneak up on him. The back door was wide open. Jack could still see Grandad’s torch shining inside the greenhouse. Another crash from the kitchen was followed by a strange chittering sound. Jack stopped. Whatever it was in there wasn’t alone. He was about to take his wand and burst into the kitchen when Motley came running through the back door. He stood on his back legs and started frantically telling Jack something.
‘Hold on, let me put my wand in the other hand.’
Motley started again.
‘They’ve got Orin. I told her not to come… she wouldn’t listen and now they’ve got her. They’ll make her into a hat.’
Motley paused for breath. He was very upset and frightened.
‘Who are they and who’s Orin?’
‘Spriggans… in the kitchen… they want to make Orin into a hat. Oh, my beautiful Orin… my baby sister… she should never have followed us tonight.’
‘What are Spriggans and why would they want to make your sister into a hat?’
‘No time to explain… you’ve got to save her.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Get her back… make them give her back. Do whatever it takes… just don’t let them go back down the hole with her.’
‘Hole!’
‘Big hole... in the kitchen... where they’ve tunnelled through. Best tunnellers in the world Spriggans are; go and have a look.’
Motley ran behind Jack’s legs. Jack carefully
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