The Oak Lord

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘There is no escape. I still have loyal subjects and two of them now stand guard at the entrance. They will ensure none can come to your aid and they’ll prevent you from entering my kingdom. Give me the torc, for I have a coronation to attend.’

  Jack took a step backwards and brushed against something soft. A high-pitched screech, one Jack had heard before, filled the chamber and echoed off the walls. Velindur laughed. His menacing voice was added to yet another screech. Jack didn’t need to turn around to know the Draygull was standing behind him.

  ‘Still nothing to say for yourself?’ cackled Velindur. ‘A little outnumbered, I’d say. Where are your friends when you need them?’

  From out of the darkness another figure appeared. It was smaller than Jack but even before it reached the light, he knew it was the Bogie.

  ‘Ah! My escort is now complete,’ Velindur crooned, as he pushed the hood back from his face.

  Even in the dimness of the tomb Jack could see how much Velindur had changed. His face was shadowy and indistinct, his flesh almost grey. In contrast, the golden jewel-encrusted crown upon his head shone brightly in the candlelight.

  ‘As you can see, I have come prepared. Spriggan gold, a token of their gratitude for the light-giving crystals I gave them. Now, all I need is my torc.’

  ‘You cannot have it, for it does not belong to you. Alindyne Brenin was my ancestor, not yours. I am the true heir to the throne of Annwn.’

  ‘Ha! Your words are worthless, for whoever presents the torc to the Queen will be crowned, no matter what their lineage is. That is the law of the land and none can challenge it. However, in anticipation of your reluctance to give me what I desire, I have brought something that might change your mind. In exchange for the torc I will agree not to open the Book of Sorrows.’

  Jack watched as Velindur reached inside his cape. He brought out the Book, held it high and thrust it towards Jack. It was the same book he’d seen when he’d looked into the Stone of Destiny.

  ‘You have one last chance. Hand me the torc and I will allow you to return to Earth unharmed. You will agree to seal all the portals forever. If you don’t obey me, after my coronation I will return to Glasruhen Gate and open the Book. I will unleash the trials and tribulations within its pages upon mankind. Do not doubt I can do this, for its maker left a written warning.’

  Velindur brandished the Book and shouted the last two lines of the inscription Jack had heard before:

  ‘FOR IF IT EVER IS OPENED UP

  DOOM AND DISASTER WILL ERUPT’

  He laughed and held out his other hand.

  ‘The choice is yours. I have the ultimate weapon that will punish mankind for entering Annwn. Now, I believe what you are holding is mine.’

  Jack could see Velindur was waiting for his answer. He felt trapped. Velindur was wrong. He’d been put in an impossible situation and was unable to make a choice.

  ‘Time’s up! Guards!’ he bellowed.

  Jack heard the scrape of metal as the two spears separated. The sound of footsteps got louder as the two guards advanced. When they entered the inner chamber they stood to attention.

  ‘Restrain the boy!’ he ordered as he advanced towards Jack, but the guards didn’t move.

  Jack tightened his hold on the torc and wished with all his might for some help. From the tunnel Jack heard the patter of feet.

  ‘Charge!’ yelled Motley, as the Night Guard and Raggs entered the tomb.

  ‘No!’ Jack shouted as they rushed forwards.

  The rats raced around causing confusion but Raggs headed straight for Velindur. ‘No, Raggs!’ Jack cried. ‘Come over here, you’ll get hurt.’

  Jack’s warning came too late. Velindur screamed in pain as Raggs sunk his teeth into his foot. He kicked out and sent Raggs flying into the air. In an instant, the Draygull’s hand shot out and plucked Raggs from the air. Jack winced as the Draygull stuffed him into his pocket.

  ‘Guards,’ yelled Velindur. ‘Do something!’

  Everything seemed to happen at once. Jack heard the call of the raven-owl from the tunnel entrance. There was a fluttering of wings as Timmery flew into the chamber and flitted around Velindur’s face. He tried to knock the little bat out of the way but Timmery was too quick for him. The guards pointed their spears at Velindur, who now stood alone. The Bogie and the Draygull were nowhere to be seen. Camelin flew down the tunnel and grabbed the crown from Velindur’s head.

  ‘Go,’ croaked Camelin, ‘take the torc into Annwn. We’ll keep Velindur here until help arrives.’

  ‘No,’ Jack shouted, ‘I’m not leaving you.’

  ‘If it’s a fight you want, you can have it,’ yelled Velindur, as he pulled Alindyne’s sword from its sheath and proceeded to slash at anything that came near him.

  Jack heard Alindyne’s voice inside his head.

  ‘Pick up the shield, Jack, it will protect you all.’

  Jack knew he wouldn’t be able to lift it. Then he remembered the spell Nora had cast on the heavy cauldron. He concentrated on the shield and spoke the word.

  ‘Redigo.’

  Jack lifted the shield from the tomb with ease. Once it was upright it covered his whole body.

  ‘Behind me!’ Jack shouted, as a blow from the sword crashed into the shield.

  The two guards crouched close to Jack, their spears pointing forwards. Even though the shield was big it wasn’t going to give the two guards enough protection.

  ‘Use the bigging spell,’ Camelin shouted as he swooped overhead.

  ‘Amplio!’ commanded Jack, as he deflected another blow from the sword.

  The shield doubled in size. There was enough protection now for Jack, the guards and the all the rats.

  ‘Advance!’ yelled Camelin. ‘Forward three steps.’

  Jack obeyed. Between them they edged Velindur towards the Glasruhen tunnel. Although they were safe, Jack couldn’t see how they were going to resolve the situation.

  ‘Use my tidy spell on the sword,’ shouted Camelin.

  Jack concentrated hard and hurled his words at Velindur’s right hand.

  ‘Expolio!’

  The sudden clank of metal on stone told Jack the sword was safely back in the scabbard by Alindyne’s side.

  ‘This isn’t the end!’ yelled Velindur.

  ‘He’s run off,’ shouted Camelin. ‘We’ve won.’

  Jack lowered the shield.

  ‘We haven’t, he’s still got the Book of Sorrows and I know he’ll open it if we don’t stop him. We’ve got to go after him.’

  Jack saw Timmery fly down the tunnel after Velindur. As the two guards stood to attention, Jack suddenly recognised them.

  ‘Jed? Teg?’

  ‘Yes, Sire,’ said Jed, as he bowed low.

  ‘We’re unable to help you further as we cannot leave Annwn,’ said Teg. ‘Our guard’s oath prevents us from leaving our post.’

  ‘I will go alone,’ said Jack, ‘the rest of you get back to the Citadel and raise the alarm.’

  ‘No need,’ said Camelin, ‘the Dragonettes will have heard the call of the raven-owl and will know there’s a problem. Help will soon be on its way.’

  ‘I don’t have time to wait, I have to stop him from opening the Book.’

  Jack touched the shield. He was about to reduce it when Timmery flew back into the chamber.

  ‘You’ll have to be quick, he’s running fast.’

  ‘Stay here,’ Jack told the rats.

  He put the shield on the floor, climbed on, closed his eyes and spoke one word.

  ‘Fly.’

  The shield quivered, then shot off the ground. Jack sat at the front and gripped the curved edge in his left hand. It flew off at speed down the tunnel with Camelin following close behind. Jack steered the shield with ease and emerged from the Mound directly behind Velindur. Jack didn’t want to lose him in the forest or give him the opportunity to open the Book, so he stayed as close behind him as he could.

  ‘He’s heading for Newton Gill,
’ shouted Camelin, as he circled around Jack.

  ‘We’ve got to stop him from entering Elidon.’

  As they reached the edge of the forest, Velindur slowed. He darted to the right and then stopped and turned. Jack hovered a short distance away. It was a place he was familiar with. Behind Velindur stood Uriel’s well. On either side he saw the two grotesque stone faces of the gargoyles.

  ‘Ha!’ laughed Velindur. ‘So you think you’re clever with your spells and charms? You’re cornered now; there’s no escape. I have a surprise for you and your raven. You’ll never leave this place again. Once you’re powerless I shall unleash destruction on mankind, relieve you of the torc and take my rightful place as King.’

  Velindur chuckled to himself. Jack didn’t take his eyes off the Book. He wondered if he’d be able to put a sticking spell on the pages, but it might not prevent Velindur from ripping it open.

  ‘Awaken from sleep, my demon friends,’ commanded Velindur, and without looking at the gargoyles he raised his arm.

  Jack realised what Velindur had in mind. He was going to use Agye to petrify them. Camelin landed next to Jack.

  ‘He’s trying to wake Agye,’ he whispered, ‘but she won’t do anything, she promised —’

  ‘… never to turn bats, rats or ravens, into stone again. But I’m not a raven now, she’s never seen me before.’

  ‘It’s no good whispering and plotting, it’s too late for that. Your doom awaits you,’ hissed Velindur.

  Jack didn’t look at Agye. Instead he raised the shield.

  ‘Ha! You think a thin piece of metal will protect you from a gargoyle’s stare? Think again! Agye, do your worst.’

  ‘That’s right, Agye, do your worst,’ Jack shouted as he angled the shield. There was a cracking sound as the gargoyle’s glare hit the boss. A cry of despair followed as her gaze bounced back at Velindur. Jack lowered the shield and saw a frozen look of surprise on his face. Jack’s sense of relief vanished when he saw the Book begin to slip from Velindur’s raised hand.

  ‘The Book!’ he shouted. ‘Don’t let it fall.’

  Camelin flew up and grabbed the spine with his claws.

  ‘It’s too heavy for me. Do something.’

  Jack raced over to help Camelin but was overtaken by the three Dragonettes. They positioned their outstretched wings underneath the Book and guided it slowly down to the ground.

  ‘That was close,’ said Jack as he bent over and picked it up. We need to get this back to Mortarn. I’ll feel a lot happier once it’s safely inside the Caves of Eternal Rest.’

  He turned to the gargoyles.

  ‘Thank you, Agye. I was worried I might not get the angle right to deflect your glare.’

  ‘You didn’t,’ replied Agye, ‘it wasss Timmery who told me where to look.’

  ‘Timmery!’ exclaimed Jack and Camelin.

  The little bat appeared from behind Agye’s head.

  ‘I hitched a ride on the shield when you set off down the tunnel. When I saw where Velindur had brought you I knew exactly what he’d try to do. I told Agye to aim for the shiny dome on the shield. I knew it would reflect her stare back at Velindur.’

  ‘You’re a very clever bat,’ said Jack.

  ‘And who saved the Book?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘We did,’ the Dragonettes replied.

  ‘With a lot of help from me,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘We need to deal with Velindur,’ said Jack, ‘we can’t just leave him here.’

  ‘I think I can be of assistance,’ said Nora, as she hurried towards them. ‘You’ve had us all worried, but it looks as if you’ve got everything under control now.’

  Jack watched as Nora took out her wand. She twizzled it around and brought two ivy tendrils out from the side of Uriel’s Well. She wound them around Velindur’s arms.

  ‘Now, before we send him down to spend his days with Uriel, I’d better warn her to stand clear.’

  Nora knelt by the edge of the well. She put her lips to the water and called Uriel’s name.

  ‘Guard this man well, Uriel, the new King of Annwn is counting on you.’

  Nora gave a final flourish of her wand. The ivy tightened and toppled Velindur’s frozen body backwards. There was a huge splash as it hit the water and promptly sank. Jack breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at the sky. Was it his imagination or was the sky getting lighter? Nora looked up too.

  ‘We must hurry, dawn is almost upon us and we have to get you to the throne room before sunrise.’

  Camelin, Timmery and the Dragonettes flew off towards Glasruhen. Jack handed the Book of Sorrows to Nora before climbing onto the shield.

  ‘Jump on!’ he told her.

  She gave him one of her looks but didn’t argue.

  ‘Fly,’ Jack commanded the upturned shield.

  They sped through the forest and the shield didn’t slow down until it came to a halt by Alindyne’s tomb. Jack quickly restored the shield to its former size and Nora helped him put it back on top of the carved figure.

  ‘We must make haste to the tent at the crossroads where your ceremonial robes are waiting.’

  ‘What about Raggs?’ asked Jack, as they hurried down the passage. ‘Has anyone rescued him from the Draygull?’

  ‘Raggs is safe, and there’ll be time enough, once you’re crowned, to hear all about his rescue. Right now we need to get you to your coronation.’

  JUBILATION

  With the first step into Annwn, Jack’s black tracksuit and trainers immediately transformed into the tunic and leggings he’d worn the last time he’d been there. Jack had been expecting the escort to be waiting at the end of the tunnel, but when he and Nora emerged from the Mound no one was there.

  ‘They’ve all gone on ahead,’ explained Nora. ‘They too have to be ready so they can escort you to the ceremony and we can’t afford to be slowed down. The sky is getting lighter and we must make haste. They’ll be ready and waiting for us at the crossroads.’

  They hurried along the pathway. Jack had decided a long time ago to count the standing stones that marked the path’s boundary, but there was no time now. His legs had to work twice as hard as usual to keep up with Nora’s long strides. The whole landscape was still. They’d not seen another person or creature since they’d entered Annwn.

  It wasn’t long before Jack could see a hexagonal white tent. It had been erected over the place where all six paths met. The side they were approaching was open. The flaps had been tied back with a silver cord. Jack presumed each side of the tent could be opened in a similar way. As soon as they reached the tent, Nora hurried Jack inside and closed the two flaps. Several large bowls had been positioned on the floor, each with a candle burning inside it. They were almost burnt out. The draught from the tent flaps made the light flare, and the nearest candle to Jack spluttered and then went out.

  ‘We’re just in time,’ said Nora, ‘the candles will burn out at sunrise. Hurry now, change your clothes, brush your hair and meet me on the other side.’

  Once Nora had left through the opposite opening, Jack quickly changed into his white coronation robe. He tied the golden sash around his waist and tried to look as regal as he could. Although he’d run a brush through his hair, he knew without looking that it hadn’t made much difference. He put the green cape around his shoulders and secured it at the front with the golden clasp he’d found next to the brush. The tent had a low table on which had been placed several dishes containing nuts, fruits and other kinds of treats. A jug of water and glasses had also been provided. Jack’s throat suddenly felt very dry. If he were going to have to make a speech he’d need to be able to speak clearly. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it quickly.

  ‘Are you ready?’ called Nora.

  Jack opened the flaps, stepped out and then beamed when he saw the sight that greeted him. Gerda and Jed stood on one side of the entrance, with Medric and Teg on the other. Each of them wore a golden sash, on which were emblazoned the arms of Annwn. To th
e left stood the Night Guard, each wearing a smaller version of the same sash, as did Camelin, who stepped forward to greet him.

  ‘You took your time. We’ve been waiting here for ages.’

  ‘Shall we go?’ said Nora, as she pointed her wand upwards and sent a spark skyward. When it disappeared from sight, it exploded and burst into a shower of golden light. She nodded her approval. ‘Now they’ll know we’re on our way.’

  If it had been dark, the sparks from Nora’s wand would have been spectacular, but the sky was far too bright. In response, from the Citadel four more sparks shot skyward and cascaded down. In the distance, Jack could hear a low droning sound begin. It was joined in turn by three other notes of different tones. He knew the long slender trumpets with the gaping animal mouths were being played to herald his arrival in Annwn. Gerda and Medric set off and Nora urged Jack to follow.

  ‘You were meant to make a long, slow procession from the Mound to the Glass Palace, but I’m afraid we don’t have time for that. Our boats are waiting for us at the lake. Follow me.’

  Nora took her place at the front of the procession and set the pace, while Jed and Teg brought up the rear. Camelin took flight.

  ‘See you at the water gate,’ he called, as he circled before heading off towards the lake.

  When they reached the water’s edge, Jack could see the Night Guard were out of breath. Motley called them to attention as Gavin came over to greet them.