‘Ravenphore?’
‘You know! The signals they do with flags, only I do it with my wings and beak.’
Camelin hopped onto Jack’s round table and gave him a demonstration of a technique he’d obviously been working on. First he raised his left wing, then his right. Jack almost laughed when he thrust his head forward and stared into the distance. He pointed his beak down, then up.
‘What d’you think?’
‘Brilliant.’
‘There’s more…’
‘More!’
‘Yep, if you’ve gone too far I’ll do this,’ explained Camelin as he pirouetted around and rotated his beak at the same time. ‘And if you have to go underground I’ll do this.’
Jack bit his lip to stop himself from laughing out loud as Camelin put his head down and pulled his wings back.
‘Last one coming up,’ said Camelin as he put both his wings over his eyes.
‘What’s that one?’
‘Watch out! I hope I don’t have to do that one tomorrow.’
‘Me too! See you in the morning.’
Without waiting for a reply Camelin took off. Nora and Grandad were still talking downstairs so Jack got out his Book of Shadows, put his hand on the front and thought carefully before asking his question. He already knew he needed his golden acorn and special key but Nora had implied that finding the library was going to be the hardest part. He wasn’t going to be able to take his wand, which meant he’d have to rely on his instincts. Any help his Book might give him would be invaluable. He took a deep breath and let out a long slow sigh before speaking.
‘How can I find the library at Falconrock?’
To find the door with the special lock
There are things you’ll have to do,
Go under, over, along and through.
Find the tower, mount the stair,
The path is clear from the Druid’s chair.
Climb the gorge and cross the bridge,
Enter the tunnels under the ridge.
Once you’re there you can’t turn back
To leave the rock, just follow the track.
Jack hadn’t expected to be given any answers but the riddle hadn’t really helped. He decided to learn it by heart, just in case it made sense once he was there. When he was sure he knew the rhyme he asked his book another question.
‘What does Falconrock look like?’
Jack stared at the Book on his bed but nothing happened. He was about to put it away when the page opposite the writing rippled. A map began to form. When the drawing was complete he tapped it with his wand. Two rocky outcrops rose from the page, their tops covered in trees. The cliffs were mottled with patches of red and orange and they looked steep and jagged. No wonder he’d have to fly there, it looked very inaccessible. Between the two cliffs was a deep ravine. The only building Jack could see above the trees was the top of a red tower; this had to be the tower the riddle had mentioned. He wondered what the gorge would be like and if it would be difficult to climb. He tapped the top of Falconrock with his wand and watched as the map sank back into his page. If he found the library and opened the door he would be entirely on his own. If he wanted to find out about crystal magic it was something he was going to have to do.
FALCONROCK
Jack was hot and bothered by the time he reached the bottom of Nora’s garden. He’d only packed what he’d needed but his backpack and holdall were bulging at the seams.
‘Let me help,’ said Elan as she came towards him.
Jack gave Elan the holdall. He expected her to complain about its weight but instead she slung it over her shoulder as if it was empty.
‘Nora wants you to have a go at visualisation before you set off for Falconrock. She thinks you’ll get the hang of it really quickly; especially now you’ve been to visit the fairies. They’re masters of illusion and some of that will have been transferred to you when you ate what they offered. You did eat it didn’t you?’
‘I did, but I shrank it first: will that make any difference?’
‘Not at all, but let’s see how you get on. Nora can put a temporary spell on you if you can’t do it.’
‘Thanks. I’d feel a lot happier if I was dressed. Where’s Camelin?’
‘Oh he’s busy! He’s decided to set up a surveillance team of his own and he’s recruiting starlings to be part of a Flying Squad. He wants them to keep a watch on Max and his gang, and report back if they see or hear anything suspicious. He doesn’t like being the last to know things.’
‘How many starlings are in the squad?’
‘Fifteen,’ croaked Saige, as she hopped off the patio step before making her way towards the flowerbed.
‘He’ll be unbearable now,’ sighed Elan. ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed but he does like to be in charge.’
Jack laughed. He looked up as a flock of noisy birds flew around the house.
‘Is that them?’
‘It is.’
Nora stepped onto the patio.
‘Take your bags up and go tell Camelin we need him in the herborium so you can practise visualising.’
‘I’ll bring this one,’ said Elan.
‘Is it really hard, imagining clothes?’ Jack asked her as they dropped his bags on the bed.
‘You’ll be fine, I’ll see you later. You won’t want me in the herborium while you’re practising.’
Jack blushed. His cheeks still felt hot as he climbed the stairs to the loft. When he reached the bottom of Camelin’s stepladder he could hear squawking and chattering coming from above. He called to Camelin but there was no answer. He didn’t think he’d been heard above the din. As he poked his head through the trapdoor he smiled. Camelin had his head on one side with one eye shut and the expression closest to a grimace that a bird can have on his face.
‘What’s up?’ shouted Jack.
‘It’s them,’ replied Camelin and turned his beak so it pointed at five starlings that were jostling for position on his windowsill, all speaking at once. Jack decided to test his new skill. He listened carefully. He really could understand what the starlings were saying. They were arguing about who should report to Camelin first.
‘STOP!’ shouted Jack.
The noise stopped abruptly. All five starlings froze; it was as if they thought they’d be invisible if they kept still. None of them looked at Jack or Camelin. Jack smiled. They looked quite comical in their different poses.
‘That’s better. Now, who’s in charge?’ asked Jack.
All the starlings looked towards Camelin.
‘I mean, in charge of the Flying Squad.’
‘Who told you I’d got a Flying Squad? A raven can’t have any secrets around here, not even when he’s trying to help.’
Jack ignored Camelin and looked at each starling in turn. He’d heard a couple of names mentioned as they’d been arguing.
‘Who’s Crosspatch?’
‘Who wants to know,’ snapped the darker starling with a slightly orange beak.
Before Jack could answer the other four starlings began squabbling again.
‘This won’t do,’ shouted Jack. ‘We need some order.’
‘That’s what I told them,’ interrupted Camelin. ‘The one who just spoke to you is Crosspatch, he’s supposed to be in charge.’
‘Are you that Jack Brenin?’ asked Crosspatch, ‘The one we’re looking out for?’
‘That’s me.’
‘You should have said, we’ve sworn to spy and snoop and bring back information for you.’
All five starlings nodded, raised their heads, puffed out their chests and stood very still again.
‘That’s better,’ said Jack, ‘It would be easier if just one of you reported back at a time.’
‘We did. We’re each watching one of those boys who don’t like you. We didn’t come back together. We came because each one of us has got something to report.’
Camelin turned to Jack.
‘I’ve got three shifts and a sta
rling watching each one of the gang so it’s round-the-clock surveillance.’
Jack was impressed. Camelin had obviously been very busy.
‘Could we have your reports, in turn, and maybe you could introduce yourselves too.’
Crosspatch hopped forward.
‘Max is in his garden.’
Jack wasn’t sure this was the kind of thing Camelin had in mind until the second starling joined Crosspatch.
‘Snaffle, on Tank watch, he’s with Max in the garden too.’
‘Are all five of them together?’ asked Jack.
‘They are,’ confirmed Snaffle. ‘Chortle, Snatch and Grubber came to say the same.’
Camelin groaned.
‘So we know where they are but what’s more important is what they’re talking about.’
Snaffle squawked loudly and the other four joined in until Crosspatch hopped forward again.
‘They’re plotting, about how to get their own back on Jack and Elan.’
Jack didn’t feel too good. He’d anticipated they’d be after him and suspected they might want to pay Elan back too for what happened in the meadow; now his fears had just been confirmed.
‘You’d better get back and find out exactly what they’re planning,’ ordered Camelin.
Snaffle shook his feathers before speaking.
‘No need, second shift arrived, they’ll report back later.’
‘Thanks,’ said Jack. Being forewarned would mean the boys wouldn’t be able to surprise them. ‘You’ll have to excuse us, we’ve got to go now. Camelin and I are needed in the herborium.’
Jack and Camelin watched the starlings take off.
‘That was great Jack, I couldn’t think how I was going to get rid of them.’
‘It wasn’t an excuse, we really do need to go down to the herborium. Nora wants to teach me how to visualise.’
Camelin humphed before hopping over to the window.
‘You’d better hurry up then or you’ll keep everyone waiting.’
Jack didn’t rush; he was lost in thought as he went back downstairs. There had to be a way to face up to the gang but five against two, even if Elan was strong, didn’t seem very fair.
‘Try again,’ Nora encouraged Jack, as he and Camelin transformed for the third time.
Jack saw Camelin roll his eyes. They were standing behind a screen at the far end of the herborium and so far Jack had not managed to imagine himself wearing anything. The bright light as they touched their foreheads together was putting him off.
‘Just concentrate on one outfit, something simple, something you are familiar with,’ said Nora.
Jack lowered his head and made a picture in his mind of his black tracksuit. He squeezed his eyes tightly shut when he and Camelin were almost touching. He tried not to think about the bright light as their foreheads met. Even when he felt himself transforming from a raven into a boy, he kept the image of the dark tracksuit firmly in his mind.
‘Wow!’ exclaimed Camelin. ‘You did it, look!’
Jack opened his eyes and looked down. He had done it; he was fully clothed except for his feet. He came out from behind the screen to show Nora.
‘That’s very good, Jack. Once more, and try for some shoes this time.’
Camelin sighed.
‘When can we go to Falconrock? You promised Jack and I could have whole day together.’
‘Ready,’ said Jack.
They transformed back into ravens then immediately changed back again. As soon as Jack opened his eyes he knew he’d done it.
‘Look!’ he cried as he moved the screen so Nora could see.
There was a round of applause, not only from Nora but also from Orin and the whole Night Guard, who were now on Nora’s long table.
‘Bravo, Jack Brenin,’ shouted Motley. ‘I knew you’d do it.’
‘Thanks,’ said Jack, as he admired the pair of black trainers he’d managed to visualise. ‘Do you think I’ll be able to do it every time now?’
‘Oh undoubtedly,’ replied Nora, ‘you have fairy magic inside you now. Each time you transform it will get easier. I think you’re ready to go now.’
‘At last!’ grumbled Camelin.
‘Now don’t forget,’ continued Nora, ‘Camelin will wait for you by the exit. He’s not allowed to speak to you so you’ll be on your own once you land.’
‘Can we go now?’ asked Camelin.
‘Yes you can, take care.’
‘We will,’ Jack assured her.
For the umpteenth time that morning Jack and Camelin transformed. Once they were airborne Jack felt the raven in him take over. He loved flying; it made him feel totally free, and without a care in the world. He tried to focus on the task ahead but the excitement of speeding through the air with the wind in his feathers made it hard to think about anything else.
‘Nearly there,’ Camelin shouted as he circled around Jack.
In the distance was the sheer cliff face he’d seen in his Book of Shadows. The top was densely forested but until Jack got closer he wouldn’t be able to tell what kind of trees they were. He knew there wouldn’t be any Dryads here, maybe they’d return when the young Hamadryads he and Nora had planted were fully-grown.
‘See the cave in the rock face about half way up?’ asked Camelin.
Jack scanned the hillside and nodded when he’d located the hole in the orangey-red rock.
‘That’s where you’ll come out so I’ll meet you there later.’
To Jack’s surprise they didn’t fly towards the cliff top, instead Camelin veered right and headed towards an equally high rock. As they got closer Jack could see a deep ravine; on either side a castle had been built into the rock. It wasn’t easy to see as its walls had been made from the same red rock as the cliff. He quickly said the rhyme his Book had shown him, this must be where he’d find the tower and the Druid’s chair. The trouble was, the castle had more than one tower.
‘What you mumbling about?’ asked Camelin.
‘Nothing, it’s just a rhyme.’
Camelin tilted his body and swerved.
‘Going down!’
Jack did the same. They flew down and landed in the bottom of the ravine.
‘Is this where I’ve got to start?’
‘It is but from now on my beak is sealed. We’d better transform so you can get going.’
Jack concentrated hard as they touched foreheads; he visualised his black tracksuit and trainers. To his relief, when he opened his eyes, he was fully dressed. He turned slowly to have a good look at his surroundings. On one side of the ravine the castle walls and turrets loomed above him, on the other side there was a single tower. Jack could see two arched entrances, one just ahead and one higher up. He looked at Camelin for confirmation.
‘I think I’ll look inside this tower first.’
Camelin nodded vigorously. Jack smiled as he started off; Camelin’s ravenphore had begun. He felt grateful he wasn’t going to be alone. As he reached the entrance he looked round but Camelin was nowhere to be seen. There was nothing else he could do now but enter the building. The room was circular, like the towers around the palace in Annwn but with one big difference, there were no windows. Jack shivered, it felt cool and damp and he could hear water dripping. He waited until his eyes were accustomed to the dim light before looking around. There were no stairs. To get to the upper floors he’d have to use the higher doorway. He wondered why Camelin had indicated that this was the way to go. As he turned to leave he noticed a circular piece of wood, about the size of a bicycle wheel, on the floor. He knelt down to get a closer look. There must be something below because it looked like a lid. Jack put his ear to the wood. The only sound he could hear was that of dripping water. His cheek brushed against cold metal. Across the lid was a chain and at the end of the chain was a padlock, both were secured onto a huge metal ring. Jack took the silver chain from around his neck and pointed the tiny key towards the padlock. It immediately began to grow until it fitted perfectly into the
lock. Jack hesitated. Should he open the lock or not? If he didn’t there didn’t seem any point in having come into the room. He turned the key slowly. The padlock sprang open and Jack struggled to lift the lid. He peered into the darkness, and although he couldn’t see it, he suspected there was water at the bottom.
‘Hello,’ Jack shouted.
‘…Hello… hello…’ came the reply as his voice bounced off the wall.
‘Who’s there? …there… there… ’ a deep, grumpy voice replied.
Jack nearly jumped out of his skin. He’d not expected an answer.
‘I’m Jack Brenin, and I’m looking for the entrance to the Druid’s library… library… library.’
‘A Brenin, you say! Well you won’t find the library down here… here… here.’
Jack didn’t know what else to say. The conversation seemed to be over. Maybe he ought to put the lid back and be on his way. If a water nymph appeared he wouldn’t be able to ask for any help, and besides, he didn’t have anything shiny to trade for information. He couldn’t part with his key or his golden acorn.
Jack heard water from below begin to bubble; he backed away from the hole. The silence was broken when the voice boomed and bounced off the walls.
‘Who sent you… you… you?’
Jack thought he ought to give Nora her proper name.
‘The Seanchai, Keeper of Secrets and Ancient Rituals, Guardian of the Sacred Grove, Healer, Shape Shifter and Wise Woman.’
‘Stay where you are, I’d like to see who the Druid has sent to Falconrock… rock… rock.’
A spray of water shot out of the opening. Whoever was down the well was rising rapidly to the top.
Jack had expected to see a water nymph. He was surprised when an old man with pale skin, a long grey beard, and a mass of grey curly hair, appeared. He bowed majestically to Jack. Jack bowed back. He wanted to ask the man what he was but knew that would be rude.
‘I haven’t got anything to give you in exchange for information and I’m not allowed to have any help.’
The man laughed loudly.
‘I am Grannus the gatekeeper, I’m not offering you help or information. It is my permission you need before you can begin your journey.’
The Jack Brenin Collection Page 67