The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘Correct.’

  As they walked the short distance from the Cricket Club to the front door of Ewell House, Jack told Elan about his dream and the strange message he’d received. Elan looked puzzled.

  ‘Hmm! The Druid’s library… you won’t find what you’re looking for in Nora’s books or the palace library in Annwn. Your message is referring to a very ancient place.’

  ‘You mean there’s another Druid’s library!’

  ‘Oh yes, it’s where Nora got a lot of the information from for her books. It was traditional for every Druid to write at least one book in order to preserve their knowledge. Once it was finished it would be taken to Falconrock. The library there is much bigger than the one in Annwn and it’s unique. Most people think the Druids didn’t write things down, they’d get quite a shock if they knew how many books had been written over the years.’

  ‘But I thought Nora was the only Druid left on earth.’

  ‘She is, the librarian at Falconrock isn’t a Druid, she’s a Sylph, a nymph of the air. Her name is Cloda. She’s an archivist, which means she’s the guardian of ancient knowledge and a keeper of secrets. She’ll be able to tell you how to find out about crystal magic.’

  ‘That’s brilliant.’

  ‘Well it is and it isn’t.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Falconrock is a very special place but it’s hidden from the mortal world. No one can enter the library unless they can open the door and to do that you need a golden acorn and a special key.’

  Jack’s hand went up to the chains around his neck.

  ‘I’ve got both. Does that mean I can get in?’

  ‘I suppose it does, but it’s something you can only do on your own, without any help, and once you enter the library you have to go through a labyrinth to get out again. I think we need to go and talk to Nora about this.’

  ‘Couldn’t Camelin come with me?’

  ‘No, only one person at a time is allowed to enter the library and since Camelin doesn’t have a Druid’s acorn or a special key either you really would be on your own.’

  Jack didn’t think Camelin would be too happy about that but it was only going to be a quick visit to a library, he wouldn’t be gone long. Jack couldn’t wait to find out what Nora had to say.

  INVESTITURE

  Jack and Elan found Nora in the kitchen when they arrived back at Ewell House. The smell of freshly cut mint filled the room.

  ‘I didn’t expect you back so soon,’ said Nora.

  ‘Jack wants to find out more about crystal magic.’

  Nora’s eyebrows rose slightly.

  ‘I knew you’d want to visit Falconrock one day but I didn’t expect it to be so soon. Is there a special reason?’

  ‘My Book of Shadows told me I need to look in the Druid’s library. Elan said it was at Falconrock.’

  ‘It is, but it’s hidden, and I’m bound by secrecy not to tell anyone how to get there, not even you. Falconrock is an ancient place. A long time ago it would have had at least one visitor every day. Druids brought knowledge to the archivist or went to seek answers. There’s a rule in the library, known to every Druid. Books with visible titles on their spines are available for anyone to use but books with blank spines are special. They will only reveal their secrets to those who are worthy. Each journey is different and you cannot leave by the door through which you entered. It’s a one-way trip and not for the fainthearted, you never know what you might find in the labyrinth. If you make it through to the outer door whatever knowledge you discover inside will be yours to keep forever. If you get lost and need a guide, you’ll forfeit anything you may have learnt.’

  ‘Will I be able to open the door with my key?’

  ‘You can open any door, your key just turns the lock, but before you can enter the library you have to find it. There’s one last thing you need to know. Once you step onto Falconrock, magic won’t help you. You’ll need to trust your instincts and make good judgements.’

  None of Nora’s words had weakened Jack’s resolve. He just knew it was something he had to do. He looked pleadingly at Nora.

  ‘When can we go?’

  ‘If you’ve not got anything else planned, you could go tomorrow. It’s not far; you can fly there with Camelin.’

  ‘But I thought you said I’d be on my own?’

  ‘You will be once you get to the rock. Camelin can wait for you by the exit.’

  Jack let out a long slow breath. At last he would get some answers. He had no idea what might be inside the labyrinth but having come face to face with Velindur, a fire-breathing dragon, and a fearsome Draygull, he thought he was probably better prepared than most to face whatever it might hold. Jack’s thoughts were interrupted by Camelin’s arrival through the patio doors. He swerved round Nora and did a figure of eight before landing gracefully on the back of one of the chairs.

  ‘Glad you could join us,’ said Nora. ‘You know we’ve got a busy afternoon.’

  Camelin humphed.

  ‘You’ve got plenty of help now Jack and Elan are back.’

  Nora shook her head and frowned.

  ‘I need you to take this bucket and find at least twenty grubs. You know the Dorysk has a healthy appetite.’

  ‘Why can’t Jack do it?’

  Elan laughed.

  ‘You’re the best grub collector – Jack wouldn’t have a clue where to look.’

  ‘That’s true,’ said Camelin as he hopped down to the floor and opened his beak for the bucket.

  ‘Thanks,’ said Jack when Camelin had gone, ‘I really wouldn’t know where to look. Why grubs?’

  Nora smiled and passed Jack a selection of cutlery so he could help lay the table.

  ‘It’s the Dorysk’s investiture as an officer of the Night Guard later this afternoon. It would be rude not to have his favourite food on the table.’

  Jack wrinkled his nose.

  ‘Will they be… wriggling?’

  Elan laughed.

  ‘Just don’t eat the little green parcels. It’s Nora’s special recipe, but grubs wrapped in mint leaves aren’t my idea of a feast either.’

  ‘Does that mean I’m invited too?’

  ‘Of course you are,’ said Nora. ‘I did mention it to your grandad but you’d better go back and remind him you’re staying for tea. You can collect your wand and Orin at the same time. Didn’t your grandad say anything to you about sleeping here for a couple of nights?’

  ‘No, but it was so busy this afternoon at the Cricket Club we didn’t get a chance to say much at all.’

  ‘He’s got a really busy week coming up, it’s the local flower show next weekend and he’s got to help set up the marquee. I suggested you might like to stay for a couple of nights this week and the whole of next weekend.’

  ‘That’ll be great, thanks.’

  ‘What’ll be great?’ asked Camelin as he shuffled in with the bucket.

  Nora looked inside before replying.

  ‘Jack’s coming to stay for a couple of nights.’

  ‘Aw great! Can we go out flying?’

  ‘You can, in fact you can go tomorrow.’

  ‘On our own, without Elan?’ asked Camelin as he winked at Jack.

  ‘Yes, without me. You’ll be going over to Falconrock.’

  Camelin sighed.

  ‘I had plans.’

  ‘And so does Jack,’ said Nora.

  Jack shrugged his shoulders and tried to give Camelin an apologetic look.

  ‘I need to visit the library.’

  ‘Whatever for, aren’t there enough books here?’

  Nora frowned.

  ‘That’s enough. If you don’t want to show Jack the way to Falconrock Elan can.’

  Camelin raised his head and gave Nora his superior look.

  ‘Jack can’t transform without me.’

  ‘That means I’ll be naked!’ groaned Jack. ‘Isn’t there a spell I can use so I don’t have to wander around without any clothes on?’

  No
ra nodded.

  ‘It’s not a spell as such; you have to learn how to visualise.’

  ‘Visualise?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I can teach you but it’s not easy. It can sometimes take years of practice to get it right but I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.’

  ‘Didn’t you know, he’s a natural,’ muttered Camelin.

  Jack ignored him and spoke directly to Nora.

  ‘If you show me how, I’ll practise till I get it right.’

  Camelin humphed again and grumbled under his breath.

  ‘You can watch if you want to,’ said Jack.

  Nora picked up the bucket and tipped the grubs out into a dish.

  ‘Off you go to your grandad’s and I’ll sort out these little delicacies. By the time you get back we should be ready to start.’

  ‘Don’t eat anything that’s wrapped up,’ Camelin warned Jack as he reached the kitchen door, ‘you never know what might be inside.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Jack assured him.

  By the time Jack and Elan returned to the kitchen the table was laden with all kinds of food. Jack could see several dishes at one end of the table, each piled high with tiny leaf parcels. In Camelin’s place was his favourite bowl, already full of his favourite things.

  ‘Nora said I could choose first if I helped,’ explained Camelin when he saw Jack looking at his bowl.

  ‘I didn’t mean before everyone arrived,’ said Nora.

  ‘I don’t have to put it all back do I?’

  ‘Eurgh! No!’ replied Elan. ‘We don’t know where your beak’s been.’

  Camelin puffed out his chest feathers.

  ‘I’ll have you know I keep my beak perfectly clean.’

  Jack smiled. He didn’t think it was the right time to remind Camelin about the pizza cheese that quite often got stuck on it.

  ‘Any sign of the Dorysk?’ asked Nora.

  Jack heard a loud buzzing and a tiny voice.

  ‘Did someone mention my name?’

  He watched as the Dorysk shape shifted twice in mid-air before his feet touched the floor. His usual prickly form hurried over to Nora. He bowed low to her, then to Elan and finally to Jack.

  ‘What about me? Don’t I get a bow?’ grumbled Camelin.

  The Dorysk ignored him and offered Jack something very small. Jack could barely hold it between his finger and thumb.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘For the great Jack Brenin, an invitation,’ replied the Dorysk as he bowed again.

  Camelin frowned and began muttering to himself.

  ‘The great Jack Brenin, what about the magnificent Camelin?’

  ‘Oh you’re not included. I was instructed to give it to Jack.’

  Camelin hunched his wings and glowered at the Dorysk. Jack held the paper up to the light and tried to examine it more closely. Nora got out her wand.

  ‘I think we need to make this a bit bigger so you can see what it says, don’t you?’

  She carefully aimed at Jack’s fingers. As she whispered, Amplio, the tiny paper began to grow until Jack could see it was a small delicate envelope. The front was covered in strange writing. Camelin flew up onto Jack’s shoulder to get a better look.

  ‘Not again, doesn’t anyone use proper letters? What was the point of me learning my alphabet when no one else uses it?’

  ‘It’s fairy script,’ explained Nora. ‘If you’d paid more attention over the years you’d have recognised it.’

  ‘Fairies,’ grumbled Camelin, ‘worse than Timmery for twittering and wittering, usually about nothing.’

  ‘And how would you know that?’ asked Nora, ‘I didn’t know you’d shared food with them.’

  Jack smiled as Camelin tried to put on his innocent look. If Camelin had sampled fairy food, it would explain his warning about the small green parcels. He could ask Camelin about it later when they were alone. Right now, Jack was too excited; his heart was racing as he looked at the writing on the front of the envelope.

  ‘I can tell you what it says,’ said the Dorysk, ‘I’m an expert in all kinds of languages both written and spoken.’

  Camelin rolled his eyes but Nora shook her head.

  ‘I think we’ll let Jack try to read it first.’

  Jack concentrated hard on the letters. As he scrunched his eyes he found he could read the words…

  To

  The Great

  Jack Brenin

  ‘Oh well done Jack,’ said Nora.

  ‘Well done Jack, well done Jack, it’s always well done Jack,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘Open it up, oh great one, and read what it says.’

  Jack turned the envelope over. It was similar to the one he’d had from Annwn but instead of a letter A under the seal, there were two capital letters on either side of a white flower.

  ‘M M?’ he read before looking at Nora.

  ‘Meadow Mound,’ she explained. ‘If it was FM it would be Forest Mound, fairies always put the initials of the meeting place on the back. Each mound has its own special symbol too.’

  Jack showed it to Nora.

  ‘That’s definitely from the fairy mound in the meadow.’

  Jack carefully broke the seal. As the flower split in two a cloud of sparkling dust cascaded to the floor. Jack could see every colour of the rainbow in it as it fell.

  ‘Hmm! Fairies,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘What’s it say Jack?’ asked Elan.

  He screwed his eyes up and concentrated on the letters.

  ‘Please call tonight at dusk.’

  ‘Who taught you how to do that?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘No one; if you concentrated hard you’d be able to read it too. It’s upside down and back to front!’

  Camelin tossed his beak in the air and flew over to the windowsill.

  ‘Why does everyone get excited at the mention of fairies?’

  No one answered, but Jack knew Camelin was right, he felt excited at the prospect of being able to see the Fair Folk who lived in the meadow. The Dorysk coughed and bowed low again to Jack.

  ‘I’m invited too and I can be your guide.’

  ‘That would be great, thanks.’

  ‘Urgh! I’m glad they didn’t invite me,’ mumbled Camelin as he looked over at the pile of little green parcels on the table.

  ‘We’ve got guests arriving,’ said Elan.

  They stood and watched as a group of rats, with Motley at the front, marched across the patio. Raggs hobbled along at the rear as he tried to keep up.

  ‘Halt!’ ordered Motley.

  The rats obediently stood very still.

  ‘All present and correct! Permission to enter?’

  ‘Come in, come in,’ said Nora. ‘Everything’s ready.’

  Orin ran over to the patio and waited patiently while Motley dismissed the Night Guard. She went and sat with them, at the far end of the table, on the upturned beakers. Nora had placed a small cushion for the Dorysk to sit on at the head of their small table.

  ‘Where’s Timmery?’ Jack whispered to Elan.

  ‘He’s coming along with the entertainment later, it’s a surprise for the Dorysk.’

  When everyone was seated, Nora tapped her glass with a spoon. Jack expected her to invite them all to eat but instead she thanked the Dorysk for all his help and listed his many skills. Camelin yawned loudly and looked longingly at his bowl.

  ‘No one said anything about speeches,’ he whispered in Jack’s ear.

  Motley stood up and carried on when Nora had finished and explained what an important asset the Dorysk would be to the Night Guard. When he’d finished, the Dorysk stood and bowed.

  ‘I can’t thank you enough for your friendship and kindness. It will be my honour to join the Night Guard, now Raggs has other duties.’

  ‘Hold up your right paw,’ ordered Motley. ‘Do you swear to do your best at all times, to protect all who live in and around Ewell House, and to obey the rules and regulations of the Night Guard?’

  ‘I do,’ replied the Dorysk,
solemnly.

  A great cheer went up from everyone at the table, especially from Camelin, but Jack thought that was probably because he knew the speeches were now finished and they were going to be able to eat. Jack saw Camelin lower his beak until it was almost touching a large cheese sandwich, which was resting on the top of his pile of food. His beak remained open when Nora stood up again, nodded to Motley and began another speech.

  ‘Thank you to one and all. It is my pleasure to invest Theodore Sniffler, Dorysk of Glasruhen, as a member of the Night Guard.’

  Nora sat down and everyone clapped. They continued clapping as four dragonettes, one smaller than the others, burst into the kitchen and began a fiery aerobatic display. The smallest dragon landed between Jack and Camelin.

  ‘Oh isn’t this exciting, Nora’s transformed me into a dragonette for the night,’ Timmery explained. ‘Wait till you see the next bit, I’ve been watching them practise, it’s brilliant.’

  Camelin humphed as the three dragonettes each flew in tight circles, breathing fire as they revolved. There was more applause as they hovered in front of the Dorysk and bowed their heads.

  ‘Oh bravo, bravo!’ he cried. ‘I am so honoured.’

  ‘And I’m so hungry,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘Shall we eat?’ said Nora.

  Camelin was already halfway down his bowl by the time Jack picked up his first ham sandwich.

  ‘Oh wasn’t that wonderful,’ said the Dorysk as he and Jack walked down to the bottom of Nora’s garden.

  ‘It was,’ replied Jack. ‘Did you see Camelin’s face when Nora told him he’d have to wait until everyone else had finished their meal before he could have a second helping?’

  The Dorysk laughed and changed into a large beetle.

  ‘It’ll be easier to keep up with you if I fly, and it won’t matter if we bump into anyone on the back lane.’

  ‘Is there any way we can get to the meadow without having to go down the lane? There are some boys I really don’t want to meet.’

  ‘We could go through the fields if you like.’

  ‘That’d be great. I didn’t know you had a real name.’