The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘What’s the hurry?’

  ‘Some of us haven’t had any breakfast yet.’

  ‘None of us have had any breakfast yet.’

  ‘The sooner we reach the river and find Sabrina, the sooner we’ll get fed.’

  ‘It won’t hurt you to have to wait. Besides, you’ll enjoy it all the more when we get back.’

  Camelin circled around Jack and pointed his beak downwards.

  ‘Over there, look! Not got far to go now.’

  Jack could see the riverbank ahead. He remembered the last time he’d made a visit to the Gelston River and how frightened he’d been when they’d been spinning out of control in the coracle, without a paddle, and taking in water. Thankfully Judd had been there and rescued them. If they could find the island where they’d met Sabrina before, they might just be in luck and find her there again. Jack could hear the rushing of the rapids below. Instead of flying upriver, Camelin veered left.

  ‘We’ll start here,’ said Camelin, ‘it’s an easy landmark to find again.’

  They flew lower and circled before heading off upstream. Jack’s head moved from side to side as he checked the river below for any sign of the river nymph. He was surprised when an island loomed ahead of them. Their journey downstream in the coracle had seemed much longer.

  ‘Is this Sabrina’s island?’ he called to Camelin.

  ‘Looks like it. Let’s fly over the pool where we saw her last.’

  As they circled lower, Jack recognised the place where they’d landed the coracle. They flew outwards from the small pool below, in ever-increasing circles, until they reached either side of the river. Nothing below them moved and there were no large, dark shapes. The river ahead looked wide. Jack realised they’d got a vast area to search.

  ‘There has to be an easier way to find Sabrina,’ he called, but Camelin didn’t answer.

  Jack scanned the river. He looked up and back to the island, but Camelin was nowhere to be seen. There was a movement in one of the few trees that still had its leaves. Jack flew over cautiously. He looked down and saw Camelin on a branch. He landed beside him.

  ‘I didn’t know where you’d gone.’

  ‘Shhh!’ said Camelin as he pointed his beak down to the grassy bank below.

  Below them were two men. They had an open basket and were eating what had to be their breakfast. They were obviously fishermen, as each wore waterproofs and waders. Two paddles lay on the grass and propped up at the bottom of a nearby tree were two coracles.

  ‘They are fishermen, aren’t they? Only I can’t see any rods.’

  ‘That’s because they’re coraclers. They don’t have rods. They have a net that goes between the two boats. They paddle about a bit, drop the net and spread it out. When they feel something swim into it, they make their way towards each other, hauling it in as they go.’

  ‘But the river’s running fast. We nearly got swept away in one of those. Isn’t it dangerous?’

  ‘Not for them. Coracles were built for fast rivers. They wouldn’t be here if they weren’t experts. I just wish they’d hurry up and get back on the river.’

  The men below stood and moved over to the tree. Jack watched as they each picked up a paddle and then, without any effort, shouldered a coracle. They launched their boats with ease and made their way quickly to the centre of the river above the island. They dropped a net in the water and paddled away from each other.

  Jack turned to speak to Camelin, but he’d already dropped down onto the grass; his beak was already inside the basket.

  Jack swooped down next to him.

  ‘You can’t do that, it would be stealing.’

  ‘Don’t you know? There’s a rule in the forest, anything edible that’s been left lying around belongs to the one who finds it.’

  ‘They’re not lying around and you know who they belong to… besides, that one’s had a bite out of it and the other one’s underneath a handkerchief.’

  ‘You can have the one under the hankie, I don’t mind having the one that’s been nibbled.’

  ‘That’s terrible. Nora wouldn’t be pleased and that handkerchief might not be clean.’

  ‘Does that mean you don’t want one at all?’

  ‘It does, and neither do you.’

  Camelin gave Jack a very disgruntled look but before he could complain, a loud splash from the river, followed by shouting, made them both look over to the fishermen.

  ‘This is it!’ cried one of the men as he paddled furiously to keep his coracle steady in the water.

  ‘To me, to me,’ the other yelled, ‘it’s a monster of a fish, never seen the likes of one this big before.’

  Jack and Camelin exchanged a look.

  ‘You don’t think they’ve netted Sabrina, do you?’ asked Jack.

  Camelin didn’t answer, but he was soon airborne and flying high above the action that was taking place in the river below. Jack followed.

  ‘They’ve got her,’ said Camelin. ‘Look, it has to be her, nothing else could be that big.’

  Jack saw the two men struggling to keep their small crafts stable as the net between the coracles twisted and turned. He had to do something… but what? As he concentrated all his thoughts, the right word of power leapt into his mind. He focused on the scene below and bellowed his command.

  ‘Solvo!’

  Everything happened at once. The net disappeared. The fisherman looked startled as they stared down at their empty hands. A huge fish leapt out of the water and slapped its broad flat tail on the surface. A wave rose, drenching the fisherman and filling their coracles with water. Jack watched as the huge fish circled the two small boats before swimming off downstream towards the island.

  ‘We’ve got to follow her,’ Jack called, without taking his eyes off the ripples that the fish was leaving in its wake.

  ‘I’m right behind you.’

  They flew after the dark shape. Once it was clear of danger it slowed and wove its way to the far side of the island. The pool in the centre rippled.

  ‘It has to be Sabrina,’ Jack called to Camelin. ‘You’re faster than me, fly upstream and find the starlings. Tell them to take a message back to Elan and Nora at Ewell House. I’ll go down and watch the pool.’

  Camelin nodded, circled and then headed off up the river towards Beconbury. Jack wondered if Camelin would ever admit they’d found Sabrina because of two abandoned sandwiches… he thought not.

  Jack landed by the edge of the pool. When he’d visited Sabrina before, both he and Camelin had been boys. Would she know him now he was a raven? The only way to find out would be to call her. He didn’t know if he should wait, but if Sabrina didn’t know he was there he might lose her. He knelt by the pool and put his beak into the water.

  ‘Saaabbbrrinnnaa,’ he called.

  The shock of bubbles filling his beak made Jack shake his head. He hadn’t exactly managed to speak the water nymph’s name; he’d sort of burbled it out and certainly hadn’t addressed her properly. He didn’t know whether to try again or wait for Nora and Elan. He didn’t doubt that Sabrina would answer their call. He decided to wait, but as he looked up to find a suitable branch to perch on, a splash from the far side of the pool sent a ripple towards him. He felt a tingle run through his feathers. She must have heard him. When the ripple reached the bank, a large fish with shiny scales leapt into the air, its tail almost catching his beak. He hopped back away from the pool and collected his thoughts. What should he say? He’d never spoken to a fish before.

  Jack watched as the water became still. He tried to locate any sign of movement. Should he call her again? He didn’t want her to leave the pool before Elan and Nora arrived. He was just about to go back to the water’s edge when the great fish rose again, but rather than lashing its tail at him, it began to transform in mid-air. Sabrina’s pale face and luminous skin appeared. Her long silvery hair cascaded over her shoulders but instead of legs, she had a scaly fish tail. She looked like a beautiful mermaid. Jack bowed his he
ad and addressed her correctly.

  ‘Sabrina, Wise One, Lady of the River.’

  ‘And who is this who stands before me and calls my name?’

  ‘Jack Brenin, Friend to All, Raven-Boy…’

  ‘Ah! A Raven-Boy! That explains why I didn’t recognise you.’

  Jack knew she believed him because the tone of her voice had softened. He bowed his head slowly as he tried to work out what to say next.

  ‘Many have been searching for you to ask for your help. Some of the Fair Folk from Glasruhen are being held against their will in Elidon. We need to speak with Kerne but none of us are able to enter the Land of Shadows without permission. If we could, we would already have tried to rescue them.’

  ‘I am a nymph of the water and Kerne lives deep within the forest. How could I be of help to you?’

  Jack fell silent. He looked past Sabrina at the river. His encounter with Velindur, the sinking coracle and their rescue, all came flooding back to him.

  ‘Judd!’ he almost shouted. ‘Judd visits the river every day, doesn’t he? If you could speak with him and explain our problem, I’m sure he’d take a message to Kerne. He promised his help if we should ever need it. We need it now.’

  Sabrina didn’t answer and Jack realised that in his haste to speak with her he hadn’t brought a gift. He hung his head.

  ‘I’m sorry, I have nothing to offer you in exchange for your help.’

  Sabrina laughed.

  ‘I was thinking. I was trying to work out where Judd would be at this time of day. Of course I will help you and there is no need for a gift. When you thought I was caught in the fishermen’s net you came to my aid. You had no way of knowing I wasn’t in danger. It amuses me to shape-shift from the huge fish they think they’ve caught, into the river. I wriggle about enough for them to start drawing in their catch and when the net closes I transform and just flow through it. I’ve been doing it for centuries. Many have tried to catch the great fish of the Gelston River, but none will ever succeed.’

  Their conversation was interrupted by Camelin’s arrival. Much to Jack’s amazement, he bowed low to Sabrina as soon as he landed.

  ‘Sabrina, Wise One, Lady of the River, you are a welcome sight. Camelin at your service.’

  ‘Another Raven-Boy! You too are welcome.’

  ‘I’ve sent word to Nora and Elan to say we’d seen you, but I had no idea Jack had already spoken with you.’

  ‘He has explained the problem and I have agreed to help. You both came to my aid, now I will come to yours.’

  Camelin looked at Jack.

  ‘You mean I’m going to get my dustbin back?’

  Sabrina looked puzzled. Camelin frowned at Jack.

  ‘You didn’t tell her about my dustbin, did you? I bet you didn’t tell her about that good-for-nothing, sneaky, double-crossing Bogie either. You know… the one who stole it.’

  Jack shook his head.

  ‘The dustbin is the least of our worries. It’s a good thing Nora isn’t here.’

  There was a downdraught from behind which made Jack turn. He just caught sight of two falcons before they began to transform.

  ‘Is there something I need to know?’ asked Nora. ‘I thought I heard my name.’

  Camelin lowered his head. Jack was about to explain when Sabrina spoke.

  ‘The Raven-Boys came to my aid. I have pledged them mine in return for their kindness.’

  Nora gave Camelin a searching look but soon turned her attention back to Sabrina.

  ‘We have a gift for you, a silver and pearl adornment for your hair, if you would do us the honour of accepting it.’

  Sabrina tilted her head to one side. Jack could see she liked the decorated hair comb Nora was holding, but instead of extending her hand she shook her head.

  ‘There is no need for a gift, I have already offered my help.’

  Elan stepped forward, took the comb from Nora and held it out for Sabrina.

  ‘We would like you to have this. We chose it with care just for you. We thought you would like the freshwater pearls.’

  Nora clasped her hands together and squeezed them tight. She hesitated before she spoke.

  ‘There is need for haste and by nightfall we would dearly like to speak with Kerne. We will be by the edge of Newton Gill Forest just beyond the oak, ash and thorn that surround the Meadow Mound.’

  Sabrina smiled and took the gift. She gathered up a handful of her hair and pinned it with the comb.

  ‘Thank you, I will treasure this and ensure that I find Judd and give him your message. I’m sure Kerne will grant you an audience.’

  ‘Thank you,’ said Elan.

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ added Nora. ‘We have a safe haven prepared in Steaple Lacy Wood for all those being held captive.’

  Jack and Camelin bowed their heads. When Jack looked up, Sabrina had gone. Nora sighed deeply.

  ‘You have done well, for I feared we wouldn’t find Sabrina before Samhain. You’ve seen a rare sight today, Jack, for very few mortals will ever see Sabrina as both nymph and fish. Now, I suggest we all go back to Ewell House, have some breakfast and work out exactly what we’re going to say to Kerne tonight.’

  Camelin was already airborne.

  ‘Race you!’ he croaked loudly.

  Jack waited until Nora and Elan transformed back into falcons. By the time they were above the river, Camelin had disappeared from sight. Jack looked down as they flew over the place where they’d seen the fishermen. The coracles had been propped up against the trees; the two men were standing by their open basket looking far from pleased. Jack could see the handkerchief and the rest of the contents had been strewn over the grass. He presumed the sandwiches they’d abandoned were missing.

  THE FOREST’S EDGE

  Jack knew it was going to be a long wait until the day drew to a close. It would be late afternoon by the time they’d be able to make their way back to the Meadow Mound. He didn’t know how long they’d have to wait for Kerne to arrive or if he’d come to the forest’s edge at all. After the breakfast things had been cleared, Elan put on her coat.

  ‘I’m going to have to return to Annwn. I’ve got things to prepare with Cora and Gwen for the coronation.’

  Nora handed her a basket.

  ‘Can you take this to Gwillam? I promised him some jam, but we’re going to have enough to carry tomorrow night.’

  Elan took the basket from Nora and peeped inside.

  ‘Mmm! Four jars, he’ll be pleased. I’ll take Gerda and Medric through the portal with me too. They need to know what they’ve got to do at the coronation.’

  Camelin sighed dramatically.

  ‘Everyone gets to go into Annwn except me. I should have an important job to do, I’m Jack’s best friend. Can I come too?’

  Elan smiled.

  ‘All you need to do at the coronation is to enjoy yourself. You’re going to be the guest of honour, it’s the least we can do to say thank you for everything you’ve done.’

  Camelin puffed out his chest feathers and gave Jack a smug look. Nora patted him on the head as she went over to the range.

  ‘We’ve all got important things to do today. I’m going to be gone for a while, so I’ve written out a list of jobs that need doing while I’m gone.’

  ‘What kind of jobs?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘Well… goslingsitting is the first one on the list. Whilst Gerda and Medric are away, the goslings will need watching.’

  ‘Goslingsitting! Ugh! I’m not sitting on any goslings.’

  ‘You know you don’t have to do that. We just need you to keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t get up to any mischief. Gerda and Medric will bring them over and leave them on the grass. It won’t be that hard, there’s only ten of them.’

  Camelin grumbled to himself and looked over at Jack.

  ‘What are you smiling at? They’re noisy, they don’t listen and some of them are girls.’

  ‘We could play beakball.’

  �
��That’s a really good idea, Jack,’ said Nora.

  She crossed over to the dresser and pulled open one of the drawers. She gave Camelin one of her looks before handing Jack two ping-pong balls.

  ‘You’d better have more than one, just in case anyone cheats, and when Gerda and Medric are back you can start working your way through these.’

  Jack took the piece of paper that Nora offered him. He smiled as he looked at the things they had to do. He knew Camelin wouldn’t mind these jobs too much. They were to make a list of their favourite foods for the feast in Annwn and decorate Ewell House for Hallowe’en.

  ‘Are we ready?’ Nora asked.

  ‘Ready,’ Jack and Elan replied.

  ‘Let’s get started, then.’

  Gerda and Medric were gone longer than Jack had anticipated. It was midday by the time they returned. Jack had hoped Gerda would give them some information about the coronation, but she just thanked them for looking after the goslings and quickly set off in the direction of the lake. The ten goslings followed, one after the other. It was useless to ask Medric anything. He had his head in the air and a very superior look on his face. He joined the end of the line without uttering a word. When they’d all disappeared from sight, Jack followed Camelin into the kitchen through the raven flap. Once he’d transformed, he flopped down in a chair.

  ‘I’m exhausted. I didn’t realise how tiring playing beakball would be.’

  ‘And you lost!’

  ‘Yes, I know, but I lost one of my team when Freda seemed to think it was a good idea to have a sit down for half an hour.’

  ‘You should have explained the rules to her a bit better. The two girls on my side didn’t have a rest.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter, it’s only a game. Now they’re back with Gerda and Medric we can have a bit of a rest.’