The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘Is everyone OK?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Squashed, battered, bruised and soggy,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘I’m fine, just a bit tangled,’ piped Timmery.

  ‘What do we do now?’ continued Jack.

  ‘If I wriggle out I can go and have a look around,’ suggested Timmery. ‘I can find out where everything is and see if we can work out how to escape.’

  ‘I thought you couldn’t see anything?’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘That was outside. I’m fine in here in the dark.’

  Jack and Camelin lay still until Timmery managed to untangle himself and squeeze through one of the holes in the net.

  ‘Back soon,’ he said cheerfully before flitting through the grill in the door.

  ‘Let’s try to get out of the net,’ suggested Camelin. ‘I’ve been trying to peck a hole in it since they caught us but I’ve not had any luck.’

  ‘I’ve had a go too. It must be made of something really strong. Do you think there’s enough room for me to transform in the net? I might be able to untie the loops then.’

  Camelin had a shuffle around as best he could.

  ‘Great idea Jack, I’m sure there’s enough room.’

  As they touched foreheads the whole dungeon lit up. By the time Jack was able to see again the light had gone. He’d expected to feel squashed by the netting but he wasn’t. He reached out to find the loop but nothing happened. He didn’t have hands as he’d expected, he still had feathers and wings.

  ‘Something’s wrong, I’ve not changed.’

  ‘Something’s very wrong. I’m naked!’

  ‘How can that be? You mean you’re a boy!’

  ‘I’m a boy! After all these years I’ve got arms and legs again. I’m a boy!’

  ‘How?’

  ‘I don’t know, it must be something to do with us being in Annwn. On Earth you’re a boy and I’m a raven, here it’s the other way round. Nora said I could be a boy again in Annwn but I thought she meant there was some kind of magic that could transform me. I never thought it would happen like this.’

  ‘Can you untie the loop?’

  ‘I’ll try.’

  Camelin fumbled with the net for a long time. Eventually he managed to undo the knot. He wriggled out and held the net open for Jack to get free. Once Jack had shaken his feathers Camelin began hopping around the cell.

  ‘I’m a real boy! Look I can walk!’

  ‘Do you think we’d better transform back again in case someone comes?’

  ‘Naw, not yet, I’ve waited a long time to have legs again, just a bit longer won’t hurt. It feels so good.’

  Jack sighed. He couldn’t help feeling worried.

  ‘Let’s hope Timmery comes back with some good news. If we can get out of here we’ll fly as fast as we can to Glasruhen Gate.’

  ‘What if they’ve got another net waiting?’

  ‘When we got caught you could see the net didn’t reach up to the top of the arch, that’s where we’ll aim for. It’ll be like flying through the window in time again. We know we can get through a small space with our wings tucked in.’

  Jack was impressed that Camelin had already worked out a plan of escape.

  ‘I’m not looking forward to hearing what Nora’s going to say.’

  ‘D’you think we could get back without her finding out?’

  ‘I doubt it, do you?’

  ‘Naw, you’re right, we’re going to be in big trouble. I’m sorry I got you into all this. I promise I’ll never take any food again, even if it’s supposed to be free. Nora won’t be mad with you. I’ll tell her it was all my fault. You know she’ll believe me.’

  ‘It’s not all your fault. I didn’t have to come into Annwn. The truth is, I wanted to but I was afraid and didn’t want to get into trouble.’

  ‘At least they don’t know who we are. Did you hear the guards? They just think two birds have got into Annwn.’

  ‘Who do you think His Lordship is?’

  ‘No idea.’

  ‘Didn’t Gwillam or Nora ever mention him?’

  ‘Naw, they told me about the Blessed Council but not about any Lords. I told you, Annwn’s got a Queen.’

  ‘What’s she like?’

  ‘I don’t know, but Gwillam told me she had three heads.’

  ‘Three heads!’

  ‘Yeh, kind of scary don’t you think? I’ve never seen anything with three heads before.’

  Jack wasn’t sure he needed to meet the Queen of Annwn.

  ‘I thought she was called Queen of the Fair Folk?’

  ‘She is.’

  ‘Does that mean all the Fair Folk have three heads?’

  Before Jack got his answer Timmery flew back through the grill.

  ‘Who’re you?’ he squeaked.

  ‘It’s me, Camelin.’

  ‘But you’re a boy!’

  ‘I know isn’t it great? Look!’

  Camelin did a human version of his shuffle dance in the cell. Jack could only make out the shape of the dance but he had a good idea what Camelin was doing.

  ‘You’re naked,’ said Timmery.

  Camelin stopped dancing and promptly sat down.

  ‘I know but nobody can see.’

  ‘I can, I see really well in the dark.’

  ‘I think it’s time we transformed back again Jack, hide your eyes Timmery.’

  Jack and Camelin touched foreheads. There was no bright light.

  ‘Can I look now?’

  ‘Naw, we’ve got to try again.’

  Once more they held their foreheads together, a little longer this time but still nothing happened.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ asked Timmery.

  ‘We’ve got a big problem. I’m stuck, I can’t transform back. Even if we could escape I’m not going to be able to fly through the arch at the top of Glasruhen Gate now.’

  ‘Don’t worry we’ll find a way to get out. When it’s dark Timmery can go and look for Nora, she’ll get us out of here.’

  ‘That’s if Timmery can get out.’

  ‘Oh I think I can. I’ve had a look around. The only door to the outside is the one we came through and that’s solid but they have to change the guard sometime. I can hide in the back of his hood when he goes through the door. We just have to wait.’

  Camelin began gathering the net together.

  ‘Have you got a plan too?’ asked Timmery.

  ‘Naw, I thought I’d try and use the net. I don’t want anyone to see me naked.’

  ‘But it’s got holes in it. Why don’t you use the sacks at the back of the room? They’d be better.’

  ‘I can’t see any sacks.’

  ‘I can. Start walking away from the door towards the other wall… a bit to the left… a bit more, now stop, bend down.’

  Camelin followed Timmery’s instructions and found the sacks.

  ‘There are some candles here too but they’re going to be about as much use as a hot ice cube.’

  Camelin ripped a hole in the top of one of the sacks and made two more at the sides then slipped it over his head.

  ‘It’s itchy!’

  ‘Better than being naked,’ said Jack and Timmery together.

  ‘Sssh!’ said Jack. ‘Listen!’

  There were footsteps coming back down the corridor. A face appeared at the grill then the key turned and the door opened a crack. Two dishes appeared before the door slammed shut and was locked again.

  ‘Aw great, they’ve fed us. I didn’t think we’d get anything to eat.’

  ‘What we got?’

  ‘A dish of water and… you’re not going to believe it… birdseed!’

  Jack laughed.

  ‘It’s not funny, stale bread would have been better.’

  ‘How long do you think Nora and Elan will be in Annwn?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Well what if Nora goes back through the gate and can’t find us?’

  ‘That wouldn’t be good. We need another plan and quick.’


  ‘Charkle could help, he can see in the light,’ suggested Timmery.

  ‘But we don’t know where he is and he has no idea where we are,’ said Camelin.

  ‘Not unless we send him some kind of a signal. He’s got to fly back over the Citadel soon. How about the call of the raven-owl? He’ll know we’re in trouble if he hears it.’

  Camelin groaned.

  ‘Is that your best idea? He’ll never hear it though all this rock.’

  ‘Oh he will, he will,’ said Timmery excitedly. ‘Dragonettes have amazing hearing and since he’s been transformed into a bat it’s even better than it was before.’

  ‘We could try,’ said Jack.

  ‘Well it won’t do any harm to give it a go I suppose,’ agreed Camelin.

  Jack threw his head back and started to hoot, Camelin joined in but it wasn’t as good as his usual call. Timmery added his own version which was more of a high-pitched squeak. Again and again they called until a banging on the door made them stop.

  ‘Keep the noise down,’ the guard shouted as he unlocked the door.

  Timmery flitted up to the roof, Camelin tried to hide in the corner and Jack stood still in the centre of the room.

  ‘Out of your net are you? Not eaten your dinner?’

  The guard thrust the lighted torch he was carrying into the room then froze. He struggled to speak: ‘What… what are you doing in here? Where’s the other bird gone? This is going to have to be reported. Looks like we’ve caught ourselves a shape-shifting spy as well as a thieving raven. His Lordship will be pleased.’

  The door slammed once more and darkness returned.

  ‘Now’s your chance Timmery, if the guards are going to the Citadel you’ll be able to get out,’ whispered Jack.

  There was no answer from the little bat.

  ‘Timmery?’ called Camelin.

  ‘I think he must have gone. Let’s hope we get some help soon.’

  They sat in a silence broken only by the sound of bird food being stirred around the bowl by Camelin.

  Jack woke with a start. The loud snoring coming from the dark shape by his side told him Camelin was asleep. He’d no idea what time it was or how long they’d been in the cell. He wondered where Timmery was and if help was on its way. There wasn’t any point in waking Camelin; probably the best thing he could do was to try and sleep again. He shut his eyes then thought he heard someone calling his name. He listened hard and there it was again.

  ‘Jack, Jack.’

  This time it was closer.

  ‘Camelin, where are you?’

  ‘Charkle!’ cried Jack, ‘in here.’

  A tiny bat with a long tail flitted in through the bars.

  ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’

  ‘How did you get in?’

  ‘Let’s have some light in here first,’ said Charkle as he breathed a small flame, which promptly went out when he saw Camelin.

  ‘Who’s that? Where’s Camelin?’

  ‘I am Camelin.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘I know, I’m a boy. We haven’t got time to go through all that; tell us what you know and how you got in. And more importantly, can we get out?’

  ‘Wait a minute,’ said Jack. ‘Didn’t you find a candle near those sacks? At least we’ll be able to have a bit of light now.’

  Charkle’s flame gave Camelin enough light to find the candle again. When it was lit they sat around it.

  ‘So, can we get out?’

  ‘Not without help. I knew you were in trouble when I heard the call but I didn’t imagine you were in this kind of trouble. How did you end up in the dungeon in the first place?’

  Camelin coughed.

  ‘It’s a long story and we haven’t got time now. Can you get out again and go and find Nora?’

  ‘I’ll go and wait by the door. I got in when someone went out. It’s bound to be opened again sometime soon.’

  ‘Did you see Timmery?’ asked Jack.

  ‘No, but I wasn’t looking for him.’

  ‘Find Nora, tell her where we are and beg her to come and get us out of here,’ said Camelin.

  ‘Where should I go and look?’

  Camelin spread out one of the sacks and started sprinkling birdseed on it until he’d outlined some of the places they’d seen from the hill. He pointed to one of the piles of seed. Charkle sat on his shoulder and watched.

  ‘Do you remember that tree near the mountains?’

  ‘The Mother Oak?’

  ‘Yes, that’s where Nora and Elan were going first. When they’ve been there and collected the acorns they’ll go and see Gwillam, over here by the Northern Gateway.’

  ‘How do you know she’ll go to Gwillam’s? She’s got to go to the Crochan tree hasn’t she?’ interrupted Jack.

  ‘The Crochan tree is in Gwillam’s garden and even if she didn’t have to get the acorns she’d go and see him anyway. He is her brother after all.’

  ‘Brother?’ said Jack and Charkle together.

  ‘I haven’t got time to explain family trees now, we’ve got far more important things to worry about. Now, do you think you can find them?’

  ‘I hope so, I’m sure Nora will have you out of here in no time. I’ll be back with help as soon as I can.’

  Charkle flitted through the grill in the door and was gone.

  ‘What now?’ asked Jack.

  ‘We wait.’

  ‘I’m getting hungry.’

  ‘Me too, but I’m not eating birdseed. Go ahead if you want some.’

  Jack shook his head. He wondered how long it would be before help arrived.

  The creaking of a door in the distance broke the silence inside the dungeon. Jack and Camelin strained to listen for footsteps. A key turned in a lock a long way off.

  ‘Do you think Charkle got out?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Oh he did, he did,’ an excited voice said from the other side of the grill.

  Timmery flittered into the cell.

  ‘We didn’t get chance to say anything but I saw him and he saw me. Is he going to get help?’

  ‘We hope so,’ said Jack.

  ‘Why’ve you come back,’ asked Camelin.

  ‘I had to, I thought you’d want to know what was going on. It’s not good, not good at all.’

  ‘Oh thank you,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘Never mind him, just tell us what you found out.’

  Timmery fluttered around their heads. Jack could see something had upset him.

  ‘You’re in deep trouble, both of you. The guard went up to the Citadel and got taken to a big chamber. This important looking man came in, the guard bowed and I nearly fell out of his hood…’

  ‘Never mind the details, just tell us the important stuff. How much trouble are we in?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘I’m coming to that. The guard called the man Sire. I thought you only called a king Sire?’

  ‘You do,’ agreed Jack.

  ‘Well who was he?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘His name is Velindur.’

  Camelin looked puzzled.

  ‘Annwn’s never had a king, something’s not right.’

  ‘He’s the one who’s in charge,’ continued Timmery. ‘He was furious when the guard told him one of the ravens in the dungeon was now a boy. He shouted, called you a shape-shifting spy and said you’d have to be interrogated.’

  ‘What about me?’ asked Jack, ‘what did he say about the other raven?’

  ‘They think you stole the food; he said you were a thief and would have to be tried. He’s going to call the Blessed Council together. He said they’d decide how you’re both going to be punished.’

  ‘This isn’t good,’ sighed Camelin. ‘We really are in deep trouble. If we’ve got to stand trial Nora won’t be able to do anything. The Blessed Council will decide our fate. It’ll be even worse when they find out we came through Glasruhen Gate…’

  ‘… and uninvited too,’ added Jack. ‘They’ll say we’ve trespassed, won�
�t they?’

  ‘They will.’

  ‘What will they do to us?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I’m not in any hurry to find out.’

  INTERROCATION

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Timmery as a low rumbling noise made him jump.

  ‘Camelin,’ explained Jack.

  Timmery looked at Camelin.

  ‘Sorry, it’s that piece of charcoal. It’s really upset my stomach.’

  ‘You don’t think it might have anything to do with the piece of fudge and seven sausages you ate?’ enquired Timmery.

  ‘How d’you know it was seven sausages?’

  ‘Jack told me.’

  ‘Thanks Jack.’

  They sat in silence except for the occasional rumbling of Camelin’s stomach. A jangling of keys gave them a start.

  ‘On yer feet, nice an easy, don’t want no trouble,’ the guard said as he unlocked the door.

  Jack could see Jed and Teg behind their jailor.

  ‘Ready with the net Teg?’

  ‘Ready.’

  Teg jumped into the room holding what looked like a large fishing net. The guard held the flaming torch towards Camelin while Teg netted Jack.

  ‘Hold yer hands out boy,’ said Jed.

  Camelin did as he was told. Cold iron bracelets were clamped shut on both wrists. Jed tugged at a chain attached to each cuff and pulled Camelin towards the door.

  ‘His Lordship wants to interrogate you.’

  The guard pointed at Jack.

  ‘The bird too?’

  ‘Yep, the bird too. He said bring both the prisoners an’ we does as we’re told.’

  Jack didn’t feel good. He heard a great gurgle coming from Camelin’s stomach. He didn’t think it was the charcoal this time. Teg grabbed one of the sacks, tipped the net upside down and shook Jack into it. He quickly tied the top then slung it over his shoulder.

  Camelin was right, it was itchy inside the sack but at least Jack managed to peck a hole in the bottom so he could see out. He wondered about trying to escape as they made their way up the rock staircase, but he couldn’t leave Camelin on his own. He knew he’d broken the Law of Annwn and would have to face up to what he’d done. He wished he’d asked his Book of Shadows more questions about the law, but it wasn’t something he’d been planning to break.