The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘Now, aren’t they the most delicious sausages you’ve ever tasted?’

  ‘They are, but I’m going to leave room for some of the other things. Didn’t you say the pies were

  good too?’

  Jack was relieved when they finally went to join Timmery and Charkle on a branch overlooking the storyteller.

  ‘You missed the Glasruhen Giant,’ twittered Timmery. ‘It wasn’t the same as the one Nora tells, but it was still good.’

  ‘The Dragon of Howling Hill was brilliant,’ added Charkle. ‘You’re just in time, you haven’t missed them all. The storyteller’s got one more left.’

  Jack tried to get into a comfortable position so he could enjoy the next story. He groaned.

  ‘My stomach feels fit to burst.’

  ‘Yeh, so does mine, great isn’t it?’

  Jack wasn’t sure he liked feeling so full, but he had to agree with Camelin that he’d just eaten some of the most delicious food he’d ever tasted.

  The storyteller banged his staff three times and the gathered crowd fell silent.

  ‘My tale comes from a time long ago, in a land far away beyond the four portals of our world…’

  Jack was worried he might fall asleep, the storyteller’s voice was so soft and quiet, but it turned out to be a really good story called The Rat and the Treacle Vat. He listened carefully so he’d be able to retell it to Motley, Orin and the Night Guard when they got home. At the end of the tale the crowd cheered loudly.

  ‘Can we go and see the jugglers now?’ asked Jack. ‘I love watching them; I wish I could do it.’

  ‘Not much chance as a raven,’ replied Camelin. ‘But there’s no reason why you can’t teach yourself when we get back.’

  ‘I might just do that.’

  ‘Jugglers are this way,’ piped Timmery. ‘Follow me.’

  Camelin sighed.

  ‘He likes to be in charge, doesn’t he?’

  They all followed Timmery to another group, where the men on stilts were throwing batons to each other. Jack counted five in the air at once.

  ‘Grandstand view,’ called Camelin as he swooped onto a branch close by.

  They all followed.

  ‘We’re going to look at the stalls now,’ Camelin announced when the juggling had finished. ‘Just me and Jack, we’ll see you at the fun fair later.’

  Timmery looked disappointed but Charkle didn’t seem to mind.

  ‘Couldn’t they have come too?’ asked Jack as they flew towards to the circle of oaks.

  ‘No, I want to show you something and I need you to help me choose which one to get.’

  ‘Choose what?’

  Camelin didn’t answer, he was too far ahead. Jack followed and swooped down when Camelin landed behind the only tree without a table.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Nothing, we’re waiting.’

  ‘Waiting for what?’

  ‘For Gavin.’

  Jack was about to ask why, when Gavin appeared.

  ‘Ready you two?’

  ‘Ready,’ said Camelin.

  ‘Ready for what?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I’ve got a plan and Gavin’s agreed to help. Come on, they’re over here.’

  Camelin hopped and skipped over to one of the stalls next to a small pond. Jack and Gavin followed. Camelin peered into the water.

  ‘What are you looking for?’ asked Jack.

  Before Camelin could answer the stallholder bustled over and spoke to Gavin:

  ‘Now, what kind of oracular frog would you be wanting sir? We’ve got frogs what forecast rain or snow, showers or storms. You name it and we’ll find you the right one.’

  ‘I’d like to choose my own if you don’t mind’ said Gavin. ‘I’ll have a look and see what you’ve got before I decide.’

  The stallholder banged a small gong that hung over the pond. Several green heads appeared, followed by loud croaking.

  ‘Look lively, boys! Who’s going to be the lucky chap who goes to a new home today?’

  The croaking increased as the frogs hopped onto three large lily pads. When the stallholder moved away, Camelin shuffled up to the edge of the pond.

  ‘What d’you think Jack?’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘Which one to choose. I don’t know which one’s going to be best.’

  Gavin laughed.

  ‘Are you sure this will work?’

  ‘Of course it will. Gwillam said he didn’t have any use for the money anymore and you did say you’d buy me anything I wanted from the fair. You buy the oracular frog with the donar and then give it to me as a present to take home. What’s wrong with that? I just don’t know which one to choose.’

  ‘Try them out,’ suggested Jack. ‘Ask them a question.’

  Gavin looked at the frogs and they all looked expectantly back at him.

  ‘When will it snow in Annwn?’ he asked.

  ‘Never,’ chorused all the frogs except one.

  ‘I’ll have that one,’ said Camelin and nodded at the only frog that hadn’t spoken.

  ‘You don’t want that one,’ said Gavin. ‘It’s no good if it can’t predict the weather.’

  ‘I know what I’m doing, that’s the one I want.’

  Gavin went over to the stallholder and pointed to the frog: ‘I’ll take this one please.’

  ‘Your choice,’ laughed the man as he netted the frog and dropped it into a jar. He tied a string around the neck and passed it to Gwillam, in exchange for the donar.

  Camelin looked pleased.

  ‘You won’t forget to bring it to the Festival later will you? Nora won’t be able to say I can’t have it if you give it to me as a present.’

  ‘I won’t forget,’ laughed Gavin as he waved goodbye.

  Camelin did a little twirl.

  ‘I’ve got an oracular frog,’ he chanted as he jigged around.

  Jack didn’t understand.

  ‘But it was the only one that didn’t speak. What if it never speaks. What if it isn’t an oracular frog at all?’

  ‘I don’t need one to predict the weather.’

  ‘What do you want it for?’

  ‘To predict how many sweets are in my dustbin. That’s the sort of important thing anyone would want to know.’

  Jack laughed. He couldn’t wait to get back to Camelin’s loft and see the dustbin. He hoped the little frog was going to live up to Camelin’s expectations.

  The fun fair was crowded. Jack was grateful he could fly and didn’t have to try to battle his way through the crowds. They stopped to watch people trying to throw horseshoes onto a peg in the ground. There was a wooden bowling alley with skittles. A couple of men were arm wrestling.

  ‘You need hands to have a go at any of this lot. Isn’t there anything you can do if you’ve got wings?’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘Jack, Camelin, over here,’ chirruped Timmery and Charkle.

  The two little hummingbirds led the way as they darted above the crowd until they reached a tall building. It looked like a gigantic upside-down ice-cream cone.

  ‘It’s a helter-skelter,’ cried Jack. ‘They’re great fun.’

  Timmery flitted around Camelin’s head.

  ‘Can I sit on your head when you go down?’

  ‘No you can’t,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘It’s alright. You can sit on mine,’

  ‘Thank you, thank you,’ said Timmery. ‘Come on, let’s have a go.’

  Camelin tutted before flying to the top of the ride. Jack decided to let him have his own mat.

  ‘Hold tight,’ Jack croaked.

  ‘Wheeeeeee!’ cried Charkle and Timmery as they whizzed around the helter-skelter.

  ‘That was brilliant,’ said Jack. ‘Shall we do it again?’

  They’d just set off on their second run, when Hesta and Winver arrived. They flew around the outside of the helter-skelter and followed Jack as he made his way to the bottom.

  ‘We’ve been looking everywhere
for you,’ said Hesta before giggling loudly.

  Jack could hear Camelin groan.

  ‘We’re busy,’ he said. ‘Too busy to talk.’

  ‘We’ve not come to talk.’

  Jack gulped and looked around quickly in case there was any mistletoe about.

  ‘The Queen’s asked us to come and find you,’ continued Winver. ‘You have to go back to Gwillam’s house. It’s almost time for the Festival and you two are to be the guests of honour.’

  Hesta laughed.

  ‘There are going to be two perches for us to share at the amphitheatre, right next to the Queen’s throne.’

  Jack and Camelin didn’t say anything.

  ‘Isn’t that wonderful?’ said Timmery.

  ‘They’re not for you,’ replied Camelin.

  ‘We’re all going to sit next to the Queen, Timmery and Charkle too.’

  Camelin humphed and, without another word to anyone, took off in the direction of Gwillam’s house. Jack, Timmery and Charkle gave Hesta and Winver an embarrassed smile then flew after him.

  Gwillam was waiting for them by the door.

  ‘I’m glad you came straight away, you’re to be…’

  ‘The guests of honour,’ Camelin said.

  ‘How did you know?’

  ‘Hesta and Winver told us.’

  ‘No matter, we need to get everything together. You’ll be going straight on to Glasruhen Gate when the Festival ends.’

  Jack’s heart missed a beat. He’d been having so much fun he’d almost forgotten why Elan and Nora had come into Annwn in the first place. Now they were going home, tonight.

  ‘The Queen will be waiting for us, are you ready?’ asked Nora.

  They all nodded. Gwillam and Gavin picked up the cauldron between them. Jack could see his and Camelin’s wands inside it along with the acorn-filled leather bag. Nora stepped out of the house then dashed back inside. She came out with the jar, which still had an angry-looking wasp buzzing around inside it.

  ‘We nearly forgot this!’

  Jack looked at the jar. He had the uncomfortable feeling that the wasp was staring at him.

  ‘What will happen to Velindur? Will he be a wasp forever?’

  ‘Oh no,’ replied Gwillam. ‘Once he’s been released the transformation spell will wear off. But he’ll never be able to enter Annwn again. If he does he’ll turn back into a wasp and have to stay like that forever.’

  An even angrier wasp buzzed in the jar. Nora put it inside the cauldron with the rest of the things they were taking back through the portal.

  ‘Will the other three gateways be opened again now the Queen is back?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘That will be for the Blessed Council to decide, but I know the Queen would like to reopen them,’ answered Nora.

  Jack couldn’t get used to Elan being a part of the Queen. It felt strange without her.

  ‘Come on,’ said Nora. ‘We need to go or we’re going to be late and you two are going to be…’

  ‘The guests of honour,’ said Camelin. ‘We know, we’ve been told.’

  They made their way from the village past the clearing where the Monolith stood. As they entered the amphitheatre the crowd stood and cheered. The Queen sat on a beautiful throne that was covered in silver runes. She clapped too as they made their way towards her. Camelin and Charkle were shown to a perch to the left of the Queen, and Jack and Timmery were offered the one on the right. Hesta landed next to Jack. He looked over at Camelin, Winver was already next to him. The Queen held up her hand to the crowd and they fell silent.

  ‘Let the festivities begin,’ she cried.

  The best jugglers, storytellers and singers entertained the crowd until the light began to fade. When the sky darkened Nora took a candle to Coragwenelan then passed one to each of the others. Everyone in the crowd got their candles out too.

  ‘Please allow me,’ said Charkle and he blew a small flame towards the Queen’s candle. Nora lit hers from the Queen’s and one by one the flame was passed from one candle to the next until the whole amphitheatre was filled with flickering light.

  ‘Bring forth the Treasures,’ Gwillam cried, banging his staff on the ground three times.

  Three hooded figures advanced to the centre of the amphitheatre, each bearing one of the Treasures of Annwn. Nora pulled up her hood, picked up the cauldron and joined the others in the middle of the arena and then turned to face the Western Gate. It was the first time Jack had seen the Sword of Power. It was very big. The hooded figure held it high above his head and faced the Southern Gate. Another tall figure held the Spear of Justice by his side and faced towards the North Gate. Jack was amazed when he saw the Stone of Destiny, he hadn’t realised it would be so beautiful. It too was held high and the light from the candles flickered on its green and blue surface as it was pointed towards the East Gate. The Queen stood and addressed the crowd:

  ‘The time has come for our visitors to depart. Annwn will be forever grateful for what they have done. Without them I would not have been restored to you.’

  A great cheer rose and echoed around the hillsides.

  ‘Timmery and Charkle, for your bravery and fearlessness in the face of danger we give you the right to enter Annwn through any portal. Once in Annwn, you will transform again into hummingbirds. The freedom of the land beyond the four portals is yours for eternity.’

  Timmery and Charkle fluttered around the Queen’s head then raced around the arena whilst the crowd clapped and cheered. Once they were back on their perch the crowd became silent and waited expectantly for the Queen to continue.

  ‘Where is Lloyd the Goldsmith?’

  ‘I’m here, Your Majesty,’ said a voice from the crowd.

  A tall robed figure, with a candle in one hand and a small leather pouch in the other stepped towards the platform and bowed low before the Queen.

  ‘We have a gift for you Jack, made by the Master Goldsmith of Annwn.’

  Lloyd came and stood next to the Queen and opened the pouch. Into her hand he shook a golden acorn. Jack gasped. It was beautiful. It was the same shape as Nora’s, only smaller. The stalk had been looped and a chain threaded through it. The Queen walked over to Jack. He bowed his head.

  ‘For you, The One, who has saved us all, a special golden acorn. All the power of Annwn is within it. You have proved yourself worthy, a true Brenin. Annwn has been honoured to have the presence of a Brenin once again.’

  As she put the chain around Jack’s neck, the crowd stood.

  ‘The Brenin, the Brenin,’ they chanted.

  The Queen turned to face the crowd and the chanting subsided.

  ‘We have one more guest to honour,’ she said as she walked over to Camelin. ‘Is there anything we can give you as a gift?’

  Camelin bowed his head and winked at Jack.

  ‘Could I have an oracular frog? It’s something I’ve always wanted.’

  ‘You may. We will send someone to find one before you depart.’

  Gwillam approached the Queen.

  ‘Your Majesty, my former acolyte, Gavin, says he has an oracular frog he’d be more than happy for Camelin to have.’

  ‘Oh! Thank you, thank you so much,’ croaked Camelin.

  Gavin held the jar high for the Queen to see. Inside was the little green frog. Jack wondered if Camelin was overdoing the thank yous, but no one seemed to suspect he’d planned the gift in advance. Gavin walked to the centre of the arena and gave the frog to Nora. She carefully added it to the other things in the Cauldron.

  ‘It is time for The Parting of The Ways,’ announced the Queen.

  Gwillam banged his staff three times and when every eye was upon him he announced loudly: ‘Let the procession begin.’

  The people rose and filed down the hillside. The bearers of the Treasures stepped apart and began to walk towards the four corners of Annwn. People from the north followed the Spear, those from the east set off after the Stone of Destiny and the villagers from the south followed the Sword. />
  Jack and Camelin flew onto Gwillam’s shoulders, Timmery and Charkle perched on Gavin’s and they set off towards Glasruhen Gate.

  Jack looked around to see who was following. Only the Queen, with Hesta and Winver perched on her shoulders, was behind them.

  They followed a pathway lined with standing stones, which skirted the swamp. After a while Nora stopped and put the cauldron down.

  ‘Gavin and I will carry that for you now,’ said Gwillam.

  ‘I think the rest of you can fly,’ said Nora.

  The Queen stopped too.

  ‘Now we’re away from the eyes of Annwn we can be ourselves again. Hesta and Winver, you can show Jack and Camelin the way. We’ll meet you at the gate.’

  The Queen raised her hands in the air and began to spin. It wasn’t long before Cora, Gwen and Elan appeared.

  ‘Follow us,’ croaked Hesta.

  Jack and Camelin flew after the two white ravens. They raced over the brow of a large mound and carried on towards Glasruhen Gate. Jack looked back towards the Citadel one last time before it was lost from sight. He couldn’t see much except millions of bright stars in the sky and the snaking candlelit processions as the people made their ways home. He sighed. He wanted to stay but he also wanted to get back to Arrana. He couldn’t wait to see her face when they showed her the acorns.

  DEPARTURES

  Jack remembered the last time they’d tried to fly through the portal. It seemed like days since they’d arrived but he knew that they’d only have been gone from Earth for a few minutes. He sat with the others on the lowest branch of one of the Sentinel Oaks and watched the candlelit procession drawing nearer. He could hear distant singing from the other processions.

  ‘We haven’t heard the Parting of the Ways sung for a very long time,’ said Hesta.

  ‘You will come back soon, won’t you?’ asked Winver.

  ‘We will,’ piped Timmery and Charkle. ‘We will.’

  Jack and Camelin just nodded. No one spoke until Nora and Elan had almost reached the tree.

  ‘Time to go,’ said Camelin to the two white ravens. ‘No time to chat now.’

  Gwillam and Gavin put the cauldron down by the gate and then Gwillam turned to Nora.