‘I’ll fly on ahead and meet you there,’ Camelin croaked once he was airborne.
When Jack and Elan reached the bottom of the garden they both raised their arms at the same time to open the hedge. They broke into a fit of giggles as the trees parted for them. As they strolled through the tunnel they chatted happily about anything and everything except the buggy race. Jack was happy his world was beginning to return to normal. When they reached the edge of the meadow, Jack was expecting Camelin to greet them with his usual grumble, but instead he shuffled over to them without a word.
‘See you in a bit,’ Jack said to Elan as she set off through the meadow. When he turned back to Camelin he realised why he hadn’t spoken.
‘You’re eating aren’t you?’
Camelin tried to give Jack his most innocent look as he swallowed hard.
‘Just a snack. If they’d let you fly, you could have had one too. You won’t tell Nora will you?’
‘I won’t. Come on, we’d better find Cory.’
‘She’s waiting for us by the bushes, can’t you see her?’
Jack couldn’t see the nymph. He looked for her pale green face and long chestnut hair but she blended in perfectly with her surroundings. Jack only saw her when they got closer and she waved.
‘The field is very muddy after all the rain, be careful not to slip,’ Cory told Jack.
He looked down at his trainers; they were already caked in mud, so a bit more wouldn’t hurt.
‘Do you know anything about the Lost Treasure,’ Jack asked her.
‘Only what I’ve been told, but I do know about the King’s stone. If you look through the hole at the top towards Glasruhen Hill it shows you the way to a burial mound. It’s where the people who wanted to go into Annwn at Samhain would have gone. The mound was one of the portals open to anyone for that one night of the year. The passage leads into the King’s tomb inside the mound in Annwn. The fair folk used fairy mounds, and the Druids would have opened their gateways, but ordinary folk had their own doorways too.’
‘And what will I see when I look through the hole in the stone the other way?’ asked Jack.
‘What you are supposed to see. According to Elan, it will point towards another stone, one that will lead you to the place where a part of the King’s torc was placed for safekeeping.’
Cory parted the bushes and then closed them again once they were inside the clearing.
‘We went to your old home the other night,’ said Camelin as they made their way to the stone circle.
‘Oh my beautiful tree, I loved that tree but alas, all that’s left is dead wood now.’
‘Jack made it live again with his magic.’
Cory stopped and stared wide-eyed at Jack.
‘You made my hazel tree live again?’
‘Only for a short while, it was when we were in Elidon. I needed to eat some hazelnuts and drink from the well.’
‘Ah! The tree of knowledge it was called; many sought that tree but very few ever found it or ate the nuts. I’m sorry, forgive me; we have more important things to do. Those days are gone.’
Jack had trouble keeping his balance in the muddy field. Camelin took off and landed on top of the King’s stone. Cory didn’t seem to be having a problem. Her feet hardly touched the ground as she made her way gracefully towards the circle. As soon as Jack joined the others he knew he’d got a problem.
‘I’m too small, I can’t see through the hole and I haven’t brought my wand.’
‘Use your crystal,’ said Camelin.
‘It doesn’t work like that.’
‘Summon it; tell it you need to see through the hole. It’s supposed to help you isn’t it? There’s no point in knowing everything about crystal magic if you’re not going to use it.’
Jack thought Camelin might have a point. There were no stones around to stand on and even if there were, he’d need a very large one, and without his wand he wouldn’t be able to move it. Jack closed his eyes, took a deep breath, held out his hand and willed the crystal to appear.
‘That’s it Jack, you did it, tell it what you want.’
Jack transferred his thoughts into the crystal. He suddenly felt lighter and when he opened his eyes he could see both his feet had left the ground. He rose slowly in the air until his face was level with the hole in the stone. He was propelled forwards until he could see through it.
‘No! That can’t be right,’ he wailed.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Cory.
‘I’m looking at Monument Hill, there’s no room to move my head so I can’t see anything else. There’s no stone like this on top, there’s only the Monument we saw when we did the trials. The stone’s gone.’
Jack lost his concentration and with a sudden rush of air he landed hard at the base of the King’s stone.
‘You should have told your crystal you wanted a soft landing,’ said Camelin.
‘I didn’t have much choice, it just happened.’
‘Are there any other standing stones in that direction?’ Jack asked Cory.
‘I wouldn’t know. You need to ask a Bogie or a Water Nymph for that kind of information.’
Jack sighed.
‘We were doing so well. We’re going to have to go Cory; I need to get back to Ewell House. Nora might know the answer.’
‘I’m sorry Jack, but I don’t know what else I can do to help.’
‘Nothing I’m afraid, but thank you for everything you’ve done already.’
Camelin yawned loudly.
‘Shall we go?’
Jack and Camelin hurried to the bottom of the meadow. Elan was already there and with her was Peabody.
‘A Bogie!’ cried Jack. ‘You’re just what we need.’
‘I don’t think this Bogie is going to be able to help,’ replied Elan. ‘He’s coming home with us until all this has been sorted out.’
‘Why would you want to invite a Bogie to stay at Ewell House?’ asked Camelin.
‘Nora asked me to fetch him. The Dorysk told her he’d been traumatised.’
‘By what?’ asked Jack.
‘We think it’s Velindur, he won’t leave him alone, he’s reaching out from the Land of Shadow and the only way we can help Peabody is to bring him back to Ewell House. Velindur will not tread the earth where a Druid lives.’
‘You’ll have to bring him yourself,’ grumbled Camelin. ‘I’ll see you back at the house.’
‘Nora says to go straight home,’ Elan called after him.
‘You didn’t see the stone did you?’ said Elan.
‘Only the Monument.’
‘Nora and I suspected as much. There used to be a stone circle on the top of Monument Hill but that was a long time ago. None of us knew how important it was. Many circles have been destroyed over the years. There wouldn’t have been anything we could have done to stop the stones being removed. If Arrana was with us she might have known where you needed to look. That’s why I went to see Jennet but she doesn’t know the whereabouts of the stone either.’
‘Couldn’t we ask Peabody?’
‘I’m afraid not, he’s in no fit state to talk at all.’
‘What am I going to do? How am I ever going to find out what the inscription said? Without it I’ll never find the other piece of torc. I can’t fail now.’
‘When you return to Elidon you’ll have to go back and see Sabrina, she might know something about the other stone.’
‘Camelin won’t be pleased.’
‘Go to Sabrina first and then when you’ve got the information you can let Camelin have some fun. Her island might be the safest place for you in Elidon.’
‘Thanks Elan, that’s a great idea. We’d better get Peabody back. You don’t think Velindur is watching us now do you?’
‘Nora’s not happy about any of us straying too far from Ewell House at the moment. He can’t escape from Elidon but she’s worried about what he’s planning. We all need to take extra care. Gwillam says he’s a very vindictive m
an and he doesn’t like any of us, not after what happened at the trial in Annwn.’
They walked back to Ewell House in silence.
The next few days seemed endless. The buggy looked great after its final coat of paint. Grandad and Techno had made some last minute adjustments then agreed there was nothing more to be done. They were ready for the race.
When Saturday finally arrived Jack knew he should have been excited but he felt apprehensive. If Sabrina couldn’t help him his quest would be over. Grandad had arranged to pick up Nora and Elan so they could all go over to Lillerton Fair together. It was wet and dull when they set off. The day dragged. Normally Jack loved the sights, smells and sounds of the fairground, but it wasn’t anything like the one he’d been to in Annwn. There weren’t many stalls and every time the drizzle became a heavy downpour they had to run to find some shelter. Grandad thought the bad weather had probably put a lot of people off. One of the stalls had programmes for the buggy race. Grandad collected one for each of them. In the middle was the map of the route around the bridleway. Grandad eagerly looked at the map and pronounced there’d been no last-minute changes. After they’d eaten, they’d decided to go home.
Grandad had been worried that if the rain continued for another week the race might be cancelled, but he’d spoken to one of the other organisers and they’d said the forecast was alright and the race would almost certainly go ahead.
Grandad chatted happily all through supper about the races he’d been in when he was a lad, and how the new Comet was the best buggy he’d ever seen. Jack hoped for Grandad’s sake that they won but he doubted they would, especially since Max and Tank’s buggy had been made for them by mechanics.
It was a relief when Jack finally got to bed. It wouldn’t be long before he was back in Elidon. He’d carefully rehearsed what he wanted to say so he could ask Sabrina the right questions. Before closing his eyes he reached over to his bedside table and picked up his small silver dolphin, the one he used to have on a key ring. This time he wasn’t going unprepared. He thought the dolphin would be something Sabrina might like. He knew she’d told him he needn’t bring a gift but he thought it would be rude not to give her something in exchange for the information he so desperately needed.
RACE DAY
Jack became aware of an indistinct voice inside his head. Was he in bed or in Elidon? He sat up and opened his eyes. It wasn’t his bedroom, but it wasn’t the place he’d willed himself to either. He was expecting to be beside the river, opposite Sabrina’s island, not inside a cave. The voice that had woken him spoke again. The familiar harsh tone sent a shiver down his spine. The sudden realisation of whose voice it was made his heart skip a beat. He looked around for a means of escape but the cave was in shadow. It was too late to move. He heard a cruel laugh. Jack put his hands over his ears. He knew the words about to be spoken would echo around the walls. Now I’ll have my revenge… revenge… revenge. The sound of glass shattering against the rock told Jack the diamond key had once more been smashed. A figure lunged at him, Vengeance is mine… mine… mine. Jack held his breath. He instinctively closed his hand around his golden acorn. As the shadowy figure threw his head back and laughed again, Jack could see, without a doubt, that it was Velindur who stood before him. This had to be a dream. He couldn’t possibly be inside the Caves of Eternal Rest; he was at Brenin House in bed. He closed his eyes and wished with all his might for Velindur to disappear.
Jack listened intently. The only sound he could hear was his heart pounding in his chest. He didn’t dare open his eyes. Take me to the Gelston River, take me to the coracle, he wished. He heard the sound of rushing water, and knew his crystal had transported him back to Elidon. He cautiously opened his eyes. He could see Sabrina’s island in the moonlight. The coracle was on the grassy bank and the swollen water of the Gelston River rushed past him. He made the wish that would bring Camelin to him.
‘What’s wrong with you?’ said Camelin, as he shook his hair and wiggled his shoulders. ‘And more to the point, what are we doing here? I’ve got plans for tonight.’
‘And I’ve got a problem.’
‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Aren’t you going to change your pyjamas?’
Jack took a deep breath and visualised his tracksuit and trainers. He knew Camelin wasn’t in the right frame of mind to listen to his nightmare, nor would he be pleased when he learnt Jack needed him to row the coracle over to the island.
‘I have to speak to Sabrina again before we have some fun.’
‘Why?’
‘Elan thinks she might be able to tell me about the missing standing stone from the top of Monument Hill, unless you know where I can find it?’
Camelin scowled.
‘You promised.’
‘When I’ve seen Sabrina I’ll go wherever you want.’
Jack hoped Camelin had chosen somewhere safe, preferably well away from any kind of cave.
‘You’ll need a pair of wellingtons, long ones.’
Jack looked at Camelin’s choice of outfit. He was wearing the same bright yellow jumper he’d worn the first time they’d come but instead of trousers, he had a pair of shorts and bright green wellingtons. The umbrella was securely hooked over his arm.
‘Why do I need wellingtons?’
‘And a couple of nets too.’
‘Nets?’
‘Yeh! We’re going pond dipping. I thought about it when we were talking to Judd, you know, when he was saying about the eels. I’ve seen lots of people with jam jars and nets going to the big pond on the far side of Glasruhen Hill. It looks like fun. I can tell you exactly where we need to go. I’ve looked at the map.’
‘Will we need jam jars too?’
‘Naw, we’ll put them back if we catch anything. What d’you say? It’ll be fun won’t it?’
Jack couldn’t see any harm in going pond dipping. He knew it would be fun. There were so many things they could do together as boys and a few hours just didn’t seem long enough. He could see Camelin was impatient for an answer.
‘Agreed.’
‘Aw Jack! I’m so excited. Come on. Let’s get in the coracle. I’ll have us over to the island in no time.’
It wasn’t easy getting the coracle into the water. The river was swollen with all the recent rain and the current was a lot stronger than before. Once they were on the river the little boat rocked and swayed. It wanted to follow the swirling flow of the water. Camelin had to work hard to steer the coracle towards the island.
‘What’s that?’ said Camelin as he nodded towards the shore.
Jack looked around. A large rowing boat had been pulled up onto the grass. He felt uneasy. It meant someone was on the island and that someone was probably man-sized.
‘We can’t land there. Paddle round to the other side. We don’t want anyone to see us. Maybe whoever’s here will leave soon.’
Camelin nodded and steered the small craft away from the boat. Jack signalled to Camelin not to speak. The quieter they could be the better. They kept close to the water’s edge to avoid the strong currents. A sudden jolt made Jack lose his balance. He thought at first they’d hit a rock but when he felt the boat being dragged to the shore he turned around. The one face Jack didn’t want to see was grinning at them.
‘We meet again. How nice to have some company,’ said Velindur, as he held the coracle fast with a hooked pole. ‘You wouldn’t be looking for the same thing I’m looking for, would you?’
Jack shuddered. The voice was soft and friendly but Velindur’s eyes were cold and hard. He looked directly at Camelin and held him in his gaze.
‘Let’s get you and your little friend ashore where I can deal with you properly.’
Camelin didn’t hesitate; he stood and used the paddle like a bat. The coracle swayed precariously. Velindur dropped the pole in order to defend himself but Camelin’s arms weren’t long enough. He yelled as Velindur reached out and wrenched the paddle from him. Jack tried to dislodge the pole but as he pulled
it upwards he tore the side of the coracle. Without the oar to steady them the little craft began to rock violently from side to side. Water rushed into the boat. Velindur gave the coracle a hard prod with the paddle.
‘Now it’s your turn to suffer; you made a fool of me in Annwn. This will be the last time I ever have to look upon your face.’
Jack could hear Velindur laughing as the current swept them away from the island.
‘The river will take you to your doom and save me the trouble,’ he yelled after them.
Jack swallowed hard. He could see fear in Camelin’s eyes as the coracle swirled and spun around; water poured in through the tear in the side. They were slowly beginning to sink. Camelin grabbed his umbrella. At first Jack thought he was going to try and use it as a paddle, but instead, he opened it up and tried to use it as a sail. Without any means to steer or paddle they were at the mercy of the river. The coracle sped along. Jack and Camelin clung to the sides. There was a sudden jolt, which nearly tipped the coracle over. Jack could see they’d struck the side of a fallen tree that jutted out from the bank. He felt dizzy as the little craft spun around. He could hear something loud ahead of them. Camelin grabbed his arm.
‘Time to go home! Wish us out of here!’
‘But I’ve got to speak to Sabrina, we can’t come back to Elidon again before Samhain.’
‘We need to go now. I know where we are. That’s Brion Ridge rapids up ahead, you can hear them. If we don’t go soon we’ll be in the river.’
‘No you won’t little one,’ a loud voice shouted above the roar of the rapids.
The coracle rose as Judd scooped them up in his cupped hands.
‘Dangerous place for little boats, this river. Dangerous place for anyone.’
Camelin looked very relieved.
Jack was unable to speak. He sat very still, trying to get used to the swaying motion as Judd carried them back to the shore. From this height, Jack could see the tree they’d struck formed the boundary of one of Judd’s eel traps. A feeling of relief washed over him. Now they were safe, Jack tried to make some sense of their encounter with Velindur. He’d seen the hatred in his eyes as he’d stared directly at Camelin. Did he think Camelin was The One destined to be the King of Annwn? Velindur had never seen them together before as boys. At the trial Jack had been a raven and Camelin a boy. Jack didn’t think Velindur would ever forget, or forgive anyone who’d been at the trial in Annwn, especially since that was the day he’d lost everything.
The Jack Brenin Collection Page 82