curtain.
‘That’s OK, you can all come out.’
As the rats jumped one by one from the window ledge onto the table Motley introduced them.
‘Morris… Fergus… Raggs… Berry… Lester… Podge… Midge.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Jack and nodded back to each of them as they nodded to him.
‘All right if we keep watch from the window tonight?’ Motley asked.
‘Of course you can, but if Grandad comes in make sure you pull your tails up.’
‘Have to wake you early… you’ll need to let us out,’ replied Motley. ‘We’ll give Nora a full report in the morning.’
Jack could see that Orin was still shaking.
‘Orin can sleep on my pillow,’ he told Motley. ‘She’s too upset to keep watch.’
‘Orin isn’t in the watch… only ever eight of us… usually make a circle so we’ve got every angle covered.’
Motley and the rest of the Night Guards took up their positions around the circular table, each with their backs facing inwards and their faces out.
‘Like a compass!’ exclaimed Jack.
‘Bright boy,’ replied Motley. ‘I find North, the rest know where to stand… last thing we do is link tails.’
Jack watched as they all intertwined their tails in the centre.
‘Precaution… no one can snatch us without the others knowing… easier to give them a jog too if they fall asleep,’ added Motley giving a quick pull on his tail. Seven other tails moved and seven backs straightened up.
‘Night watch… dismiss.’
Jack watched as the rats saluted Motley then scampered back onto the window ledge. Motley gave Orin one more stern look.
‘Hope that’s a lesson to you!’
‘I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,’ she whispered.
‘Don’t allow females on the watch… too dangerous… their pelts are softer… make better hats.’
Orin eventually stopped shaking and settled down on Jack’s pillow. As Jack’s eyes adjusted to the darkness he could see eight small silhouettes on the window ledge. He didn’t understand what Orin whispered in his ear but her soft velvety tongue licked his cheek several times before she curled up into a ball.
Jack lay awake for ages. Somehow he had to get rid of the fear in his heart or the ritual wouldn’t work. Eventually he came to a decision. Tomorrow afternoon, instead of going through the gap in the hedge and coming straight home from Ewell House, he’d go further along. He’d try and open the Yews. He needed to find his way back into Glasruhen Forest. If anyone would understand and be able to help, Arrana would. He had to see her again before Nora performed the ritual.
PREPARATIONS
‘Motley told us how brave you were last night,’ Elan said excitedly when Jack walked into the kitchen.
‘I was only helping out.’
‘You saved Orin. I don’t call that just helping out,’ replied Nora. ‘Motley saw what you did in the kitchen and he was very impressed and grateful. Poor Orin wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for you.’
Jack’s cheeks were burning. He felt proud but also embarrassed.
‘Should I have sent you a message? It was very late.’
‘You didn’t leave anything for us to do,’ laughed Nora. ‘Besides the trees keep me informed and the Night Guard report here every morning.’
Elan laughed. ‘Nora gives them breakfast but don’t tell Camelin. He’d only get jealous.’
‘I won’t,’ promised Jack. He could imagine exactly what Camelin would say if he knew. ‘Motley said he thought the Spriggans would be back. What do you think they were after?’
‘Oh anything and everything,’ replied Nora. ‘We haven’t had a Spriggan problem for a long time. They’ll think twice about coming back to your house after last night. They don’t like magic.’
‘But they do like to sneak around looking for anything valuable,’ explained Elan. ‘They prefer precious stones, silver or gold, but they’re just as likely to steal your dustbin.’
‘Of course they don’t see it as stealing, just taking back
‘That’s OK, you can all come out.’
As the rats jumped one by one from the window ledge onto the table Motley introduced them.
‘Morris… Fergus… Raggs… Berry… Lester… Podge… Midge.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Jack and nodded back to each of them as they nodded to him.
‘All right if we keep watch from the window tonight?’ Motley asked.
‘Of course you can, but if Grandad comes in make sure you pull your tails up.’
‘Have to wake you early… you’ll need to let us out,’ replied Motley. ‘We’ll give Nora a full report in the morning.’
Jack could see that Orin was still shaking.
‘Orin can sleep on my pillow,’ he told Motley. ‘She’s too upset to keep watch.’
‘Orin isn’t in the watch… only ever eight of us… usually make a circle so we’ve got every angle covered.’
Motley and the rest of the Night Guards took up their positions around the circular table, each with their backs facing inwards and their faces out.
‘Like a compass!’ exclaimed Jack.
‘Bright boy,’ replied Motley. ‘I find North, the rest know where to stand… last thing we do is link tails.’
Jack watched as they all intertwined their tails in the centre.
‘Precaution… no one can snatch us without the others knowing… easier to give them a jog too if they fall asleep,’ added Motley giving a quick pull on his tail. Seven other tails moved and seven backs straightened up.
‘Night watch… dismiss.’
Jack watched as the rats saluted Motley then scampered back onto the window ledge. Motley gave Orin one more stern look.
‘Hope that’s a lesson to you!’
‘I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,’ she whispered.
‘Don’t allow females on the watch… too dangerous… their pelts are softer… make better hats.’
Orin eventually stopped shaking and settled down on Jack’s pillow. As Jack’s eyes adjusted to the darkness he could see eight small silhouettes on the window ledge. He didn’t understand what Orin whispered in his ear but her soft velvety tongue licked his cheek several times before she curled up into a ball.
Jack lay awake for ages. Somehow he had to get rid of the fear in his heart or the ritual wouldn’t work. Eventually he came to a decision. Tomorrow afternoon, instead of going through the gap in the hedge and coming straight home from Ewell House, he’d go further along. He’d try and open the Yews. He needed to find his way back into Glasruhen Forest. If anyone would understand and be able to help, Arrana would. He had to see her again before Nora performed the ritual.
PREPARATIONS
‘Motley told us how brave you were last night,’ Elan said excitedly when Jack walked into the kitchen.
‘I was only helping out.’
‘You saved Orin. I don’t call that just helping out,’ replied Nora. ‘Motley saw what you did in the kitchen and he was very impressed and grateful. Poor Orin wouldn’t have survived if it hadn’t been for you.’
Jack’s cheeks were burning. He felt proud but also embarrassed.
‘Should I have sent you a message? It was very late.’
‘You didn’t leave anything for us to do,’ laughed Nora. ‘Besides the trees keep me informed and the Night Guard report here every morning.’
Elan laughed. ‘Nora gives them breakfast but don’t tell Camelin. He’d only get jealous.’
‘I won’t,’ promised Jack. He could imagine exactly what Camelin would say if he knew. ‘Motley said he thought the Spriggans would be back. What do you think they were after?’
‘Oh anything and everything,’ replied Nora. ‘We haven’t had a Spriggan problem for a long time. They’ll think twice about coming back to your house after last night. They don’t like magic.’
‘But they do like to sneak around looking for anything valuable,’ explained Elan. ‘They prefer precious stones, silver or gold, but they’re just as likely to steal your dustbin.’
‘Of course they don’t see it as stealing, just taking back
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