The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘Thanks, I wouldn’t have been able to go without one.’

  Nora went ahead of him down the hallway. Just before she opened the door she turned and smiled.

  ‘Have a good time, and don’t forget to look surprised when you see your friends. You’re not supposed to know they’re waiting outside.’

  ‘I will, and I’ll see you later.’

  They had a great morning. Jack got the same feeling on his bike as he did when he was flying. He loved the wind rushing against his face and the feeling of total freedom.

  They stopped at a tea shop in a small village near Brion Ridge and Grandad bought them all lunch. When it arrived, Jack had never seen such enormous sandwiches. They all had a fit of giggles as they tried to get their mouths around the two great wedges of bread. Jack was glad Camelin couldn’t see him.

  After lunch they made their way back. They cycled past each one of Jack’s friends’ houses on their route back to Ewell House. Benbow’s house was first, then Danny’s, and Techno’s was last. In half an hour’s time they’d all be back together having fun at his party. Jack rode back to Brenin House with his grandad and they locked the bikes safely in Grandad’s shed.

  ‘I’ll be back to collect you all to go trick-ortreating later,’ Grandad called as Jack made his way to the bottom of the garden. ‘Have a good time.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Jack called back, ‘it’s been a great birthday so far. See you later.’

  He ran all the way through the yew tree tunnel to Nora’s garden. He knew this would probably be his last chance to tell Nora about his conversation with Alindyne. He walked slowly to the house as he tried to decide what to say. When he entered the kitchen, he could see Nora was worried.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked.

  ‘Elan sent me a message just after you’d gone. I’m afraid she’s not going to be able to come back for your party this afternoon.’

  Jack knew there must be a problem for Elan to miss his party. He was really disappointed she wasn’t going to be there.

  ‘Do you know why?’

  ‘I do. The events over the past few days have meant a lot of changes to our plans.’

  ‘It’s okay, I know she’d be here if she could.’

  ‘Kerne sent a messenger to Annwn. It wasn’t good news. They have scoured the Land of Shadows but there’s no trace of Velindur or the Bogie. Elan had hoped he’d have been found by now. If his whereabouts had been known, Kerne could have had Permeris follow him and do all in his power to prevent him from doing any harm. Everyone is very worried. A man without magic cannot just disappear. Kerne fears someone is hiding him. Elan can’t be here because she has gone to Elidon, as the Queen of Annwn. She hopes to be able to help Kerne locate Velindur before Samhain begins.’

  ‘Do you think he’s going to cause a problem later tonight?’

  ‘I do, and so does everyone else. Elan has made sure the entrance to the tomb is being guarded. We fear Velindur has received some help, but we have no idea from whom.’

  At the mention of the tomb Jack bit his lip.

  ‘Something happened the other night that I haven’t told you about.’

  ‘What might that be?’

  ‘I entered Alindyne’s tomb a few nights ago.’

  Nora looked surprised.

  ‘There’s not much happens around here that I don’t get to know. None of the trees have informed me. I’ve had a watch on the entrance because of Velindur, but I’d had no word that anyone, not even you, had entered.’

  ‘It began as a dream. I think crystal magic transported me there.’

  Nora looked at Jack intently.

  ‘… and?’

  Jack took a deep breath and told her everything that had happened, from entering the tomb to being called back to his bed by Orin. He relayed his conversation with Alindyne, except for the part where he’d asked his ancestor to be the Oak Lord. Jack didn’t know if his offer had been accepted and he wanted a chance to finish that conversation before he told anyone. When he’d finished he waited for Nora to speak.

  ‘Hmm! Immortal, you say? Now I didn’t know that either.’

  ‘I didn’t mean to do anything wrong. I was only helping Camelin to finish his punishment.’

  ‘I’m amazed you weren’t ill. The juice of the Crochan leaves is very potent. If you’d ingested it as a boy you’d have needed some very strong magic to save your life.’

  ‘What will happen now? Am I really immortal?’

  ‘You are. At some point after your coronation you would have been given the choice to remain mortal or accept immortality, but it seems the choice has already been made for you, as it was with Camelin. How do you feel about it?’

  ‘I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like to live forever, but it means I can always be with you all.’

  ‘Does Camelin know?’

  ‘I haven’t told anyone. I wanted to speak to you first to make sure it was true.’

  ‘It’s good you haven’t told anyone. It means that Velindur cannot possibly know of this. I have been worried for you and what might happen tonight. The one time we are unable to be with you is when you’ll be left inside Alindyne’s tomb. It’s a relief to know that Velindur cannot harm you. No matter what he’s got planned, you will be safe. Take strength from this and use the knowledge as your shield. I will let Gwillam and Elan know when I see them later tonight, but for now neither of us should speak of this to anyone else.’

  ‘I won’t, I promise.’

  ‘Good. But just look at the time, your visitors will be here any minute. Upstairs with you and get ready.’

  Jack took the stairs two at a time and threw open his wardrobe door. He pulled out his Hallowe’en costume but before he could get undressed, he heard a knock on the front door. Jack took his wand and pointed it at his toes. He quickly raised his wand upwards. There was a green flash, which made Jack blink. When he checked himself in the mirror he was wearing a bat costume. He dashed downstairs and entered the kitchen at the same time as Nora showed Techno in. He had a green face and hair and wore raggy clothes. Around the back of his neck was a plastic band with a bolt on each end.

  ‘Frankenstein,’ explained Techno, as he offered Jack a square box. ‘Happy Birthday.’

  ‘Thanks,’ replied Jack, as he took the present and card. He opened them quickly. ‘Wow! Double thanks. A light for my bike, that’s great. You must have known I hadn’t got one.’

  ‘Your grandad said you’d need one.’

  Nora went to open the door again. He could hear Danny and Benbow laughing as they made their way to the kitchen. They were both dressed as wizards. Each had a tall pointed hat and a magic wand. Jack also laughed when he saw them.

  ‘Did you plan to wear the same costume?’

  ‘No,’ said Benbow, ‘we didn’t know until we took our coats off. Here you are, happy birthday, this is from both of us.’

  Jack took Benbow and Danny’s present. It didn’t need unwrapping as it was in a shiny gift bag. He peeked inside, smiled and shot a glance at Nora.

  ‘That’s brilliant, thanks. I haven’t got a helmet of my own. I had to borrow one this morning.’

  ‘We know. We couldn’t let you keep on wearing Elan’s,’ said Techno. ‘Is she here yet?’

  Nora pulled out a chair for Techno to sit on.

  ‘I’m afraid Elan’s not feeling too good at the moment. We’ll save her some cake.’

  Jack’s three friends all looked at the table.

  ‘Wow!’ said Benbow. ‘Amazing cake!’

  ‘Nora made it,’ said Jack.

  The three boys all looked at Nora. Benbow stuck up his thumb.

  ‘I wish my mum could make cakes like that.’

  ‘I’ll let her have the recipe,’ laughed Nora. ‘Now, shall we eat?’

  Jack couldn’t remember ever having had a better party. The most popular game of the night was Hunt the Eyeball. It was one of Nora’s creations. Although edible, it looked incredibly real. They had a treasure hunt
in the garden before the light faded. Jack’s partner was Techno, and Benbow and Danny teamed up. The prize was a treasure chest filled to the brim with jelly worms, which also looked very realistic. Techno was the first to solve the clues and Jack said he could keep the worms, which seemed to please him. Nora let him keep the wooden chest they were in too.

  The food looked incredible but when Jack bit into a ham sandwich, it tasted of raspberry jelly. The others thought it was hilarious that some of the food wasn’t quite what it seemed. Jack was in no doubt as to who had ‘helped’. He wondered if that was the real reason Camelin had been inside the pantry. Nora didn’t join them to eat and since she didn’t know about it, and the others weren’t complaining, Jack decided it was best not to say anything. He didn’t think Camelin would be too pleased to know his contribution to the party hadn’t spoilt their enjoyment. In fact, guessing the taste turned out to be an entertaining extra party game.

  For the second time that day, Jack blew out his candles. This time he remembered to make a wish. As Nora was wrapping cake for his friends to take home there was a loud knock on the front door. Jack ran to let Grandad in. Jack squealed with delight when he saw his grandad had dressed up as a vampire, complete with two fangs and a very pale face. Nora joined him at the door.

  ‘Come in, Sam, the boys won’t be long. Would you like a piece of cake?’

  ‘Thanks, I don’t mind if I do.’

  Jack gave Grandad his best scary laugh.

  ‘Good party?’ he asked Jack.

  ‘The best. It’s been a brilliant birthday. You look great.’

  ‘Count Dracula… I always thought there was royal blood in our family!’

  For one moment Jack wondered if Grandad knew about his coronation, but when he raised his arms and wrapped his cloak around himself, Jack realised he’d been joking. Grandad ate his cake while Jack and his friends got themselves ready. Nora filled a carrier with the goody bags, cake and the prizes they’d won, for the boys to take home. She passed it to Grandad, who peeked inside.

  ‘It’s a good job these aren’t going in your collecting cauldrons or they’d be full before we started. Are we all ready to go?’

  ‘Ready,’ they all replied.

  By the time Jack arrived back at Ewell House he was exhausted. They’d had a brilliant time. No one had asked any of them for a trick and all the people Grandad took them to visit seemed to be expecting them. They were each laden with sweets and treats. Jack looked at his plastic cauldron. He knew Camelin would be pleased when he saw it. Once he’d said goodnight to his grandad, Nora sent him upstairs to wash and change. He went up to Camelin’s loft first and left the cauldron for him next to his raven bed.

  When he went back downstairs, Nora was waiting for him by the kitchen door.

  ‘Have you got everything?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve double-checked.’

  ‘Let’s escort the Fairies to the Meadow Mound. They’ll be able to enter Annwn from there. Can you help me with the cauldron?’

  Jack peeped inside. Nora had an assortment of things in the bottom. He wondered which one of them was the torc. When he lifted his side it was lighter than he’d expected.

  Jack was relieved to see the Fairies were no longer buzzing around when Nora opened the Herborium door. They were gathered around Raggs, who was just coming to the end of one of his stories. There was a rapturous applause.

  ‘Are you ready to go?’ asked Nora.

  ‘We are,’ said Rhoda. ‘Can Raggs and Orin come with us too? They’ll be able to go through the doorway in our mound. Raggs has got a protector and we’d all feel a lot safer if he was with us.’

  The room filled with high-pitched voices that all seemed to be agreeing with Rhoda.

  ‘That’s fine, but we must hurry as Samhain is upon us. Jack and I need to get to the portal on Glasruhen Hill as soon as possible.’

  Nora signalled for Jack to put the cauldron down. To save the Fairies having to transform and fly, Jack and Nora scooped them up and put them inside the cauldron. Once Raggs, Arin and Orin were safely inside, Nora and Jack picked up the cauldron and left the room. Before they set off for the meadow, Nora gave a long, low whistle. In an instant, Motley appeared.

  ‘Is everything ready?’ she asked.

  ‘Everything’s ready,’ Motley replied. ‘We only have to collect Raggs and Orin and then we’ll be off.’

  ‘There’s no need; they’re going to the Meadow Mound with the Fairies. Raggs will keep Orin safe. We’ll see you on the other side.’

  Motley bowed low and then spoke to Jack.

  ‘It is a great honour to have been invited to your coronation. Until we meet again…’

  Motley bowed again, turned and bounded away.

  ‘It’s time to go,’ said Nora.

  GLASRUHEN MOUND

  Raggs and Orin stood either side of the entrance to the Meadow Mound while Jack and Nora helped the Fairies out of the cauldron. Jack looked wistfully over at the other entrance. He knew it was pointless knocking on the door because the Dorysk wasn’t at home. He’d missed his company these last few days, but at least it wouldn’t be long now until they’d all be together again in Annwn. By next week, everything would be back to normal. Jack almost laughed out loud. His whole world was about to change again and now he was immortal his life would never be normal.

  The climb up to Glasruhen Mound didn’t take as long as Jack had expected. He’d been lost in thought as they walked quickly through the yew tree tunnel. When they stepped out into the forest, they saw a bright moonlit sky. Two Dryads peeped from the trees on either side of the path. They stepped out and bowed their heads as Jack and Nora passed and then began to sing. Their pure voices rang through the forest. More and more tree nymphs appeared and added their voices to the growing throng. The moon lit their way as Jack and Nora led the long procession to the entrance of the Mound. Nora lowered the cauldron and signalled for Jack to do the same. He’d been expecting to go straight into the tunnel, but Nora crossed over to the other side of the entrance and stood opposite him. She waited for the song to finish before addressing the Dryads.

  ‘By the law of all three lands, now Samhain has begun, you are welcome to enter Annwn. Before the sun goes down tomorrow night, Annwn will have a new king.’

  The song began again. As the Dryads entered the tunnel, each one bowed her head as she passed Jack. When the last Dryad had disappeared from sight, Nora closed her eyes. They stood in silence until the song could no longer be heard. Eventually Nora spoke.

  ‘I want you to remember that no matter what happens tonight, we will be eternally grateful for what you’ve done. You have helped us in more ways than I ever thought possible. Without you, the portals would still be sealed. You’ve helped Annwn become again the beautiful place it once was. Now, thanks to you, the Hamadryads are safe and will once more protect the forests. The Queen has been reinstated and the old order has been restored. Soon you will once again speak with your ancestor and be able to finish your conversation with him. Do as you did before, speak his name and he will hear you. Put your hands on the boss of his shield and ask for his guidance. Open your heart to him and listen well to the advice he has to give.’

  Nora paused. Jack realised she was waiting for him to respond.

  ‘I will… I promise.’

  Nora seemed satisfied and stepped over to the cauldron. They picked it up and entered the tunnel, which was illuminated by a soft light. It made it easier for Jack to see the beautiful carvings that covered the walls. Nora spoke again.

  ‘Trust your judgement and be true to yourself. You already have all the qualities to be a good king. Do not let anyone sway you from what is rightfully yours. When we reach Alindyne’s tomb I will have to leave you, but Gwillam will be waiting. He’ll instruct you on the things you must do before you enter Annwn. He will answer any questions you may have and then you’ll be left alone with your ancestor. You will know when the time is right to leave the tomb and enter Annwn.’

&n
bsp; Jack looked to his right. He knew they were nearly at the entrance to the inner chamber, as he recognised the forest of oak trees that decorated the wall. Jack could see the face of the leaf-covered man. He remembered his conversation with Alindyne. Should he have told Nora he’d already asked his ancestor to be the Oak Lord? His conversation had been cut short and he didn’t know for sure if his request had been heard or accepted. It had also crossed Jack’s mind that the Blessed Council might have other suggestions that he should have considered. It wouldn’t be long now until he found out.

  They stopped outside the entrance to the chamber. The arched door was open. Jack read again the words that had been inscribed into the stone above:

  No one may ever pass through here,

  Except at Samhain every year.

  This time he would be passing through the tomb into Annwn. He swallowed hard and resolved to show everyone on the other side of the portal that he was their rightful king. He felt a tingle of excitement run down his spine. This was the moment he’d been waiting for since he’d found the King’s torc. He took several deep breaths and tried to stop his heart from beating too quickly. The final part of his journey lay ahead. Nora turned to look at him.

  ‘When we enter the tomb, the torc of kingship will be restored to its rightful form and be returned to you. Make sure it remains in your keeping, for whoever presents it to the Queen before sunrise will be crowned, whether they are worthy or not. The appointed time is upon us. Shall we enter?’

  Jack nodded. He knew Nora was trying to help and that her words had been chosen with care, but they’d filled him with apprehension. If Velindur wanted to steal the torc from him, this would be the last opportunity he’d have. Jack didn’t want to be left alone in the tomb but if he were to be crowned King of Annwn, he was bound by the laws and traditions of the land he was about to enter. This would be his final test. He could not fail after all he’d been through. The portal into Annwn, and his destiny, stood before him. Jack straightened his back, lifted his head and looked straight ahead.