The Jack Brenin Collection

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘That’s not a bad omen; they only say that to stop people from getting hurt. If you walk under a ladder something could drop on your head.’

  ‘I swallowed a cherry stone too, that’s a bad omen; you never know what might happen when you swallow a cherry stone.’

  Jack sat down and clutched his sides. Tears ran down his cheeks, he knew if he didn’t laugh soon he’d burst.

  ‘You’re laughing aren’t you? Well it’s not funny. How would you like it? How am I ever going to get an extra snack again looking like this?’

  Jack swallowed hard and wiped away his tears.

  ‘I can remove it if you like.’

  ‘Can you? Really? Do you mean it Jack? Go and get your wand, but don’t tell Nora.’

  ‘No need for the wand,’ said Jack as he concentrated hard and imagined Camelin’s beak without the three-hair wart. A slight popping sound told him he’d been successful.

  ‘There you are, all gone.’

  Camelin shuffled over to his mirror. He examined his beak from both sides then moved his head up and down.

  ‘Run your hand over it Jack, just to make sure it’s really gone.’

  Camelin hurried back to Jack and let him rub his hand up and down his beak.

  ‘It’s gone.’

  ‘Aw Jack, you’re a real pal. How did you do that without a wand?’

  ‘It might be because I gave it to you in the first place.’

  ‘But without a wand, that’s real magic.’

  ‘I’m sorry, it was my fault.’

  ‘Not to worry, you didn’t ask to get all those D-words. I told you it’s the Day of Bad Omens, things never go right on those kinds of days.’

  Jack hoped it wasn’t true. They were going to need all the luck they could get if they were going to rescue the dragon tonight without being barbecued. Jack suddenly realised the barbecue had been Nora’s way of letting him know they were going to try to rescue the dragon tonight. Jack swallowed hard. Talking and reading about dragons was one thing but knowing he was going to come face to face with a real live one was a scary thought.

  ‘Nora wants us in the library if you’re ready,’ Jack told Camelin.

  ‘Never felt better. I thought I was stuck with that wart for life.’

  Camelin shuffled over to the window.

  ‘See you downstairs,’ he cawed as he took off.

  When everyone, including the Dorysk and dragonettes, was assembled in the library Nora tapped her wand to gain their attention.

  ‘Tonight we are going into the depths of Silver Hill. Our mission will be dangerous. We’re going to attempt to rescue one of the most deadly creatures ever born. If it breathes on any of us with its dreadful flames we’ll be barbecued.’

  Camelin cocked his head on one side and looked at Jack.

  ‘That’s three more D words, dangerous, deadly and dreadful, none of them good!’

  Nora frowned at Camelin before continuing.

  ‘Luckily Jack has prepared a potion for us. If the dragon smells another dragon it will be curious. It should buy us some time so we can talk to it and hopefully gain its trust. The first thing we need to do is to shampoo our hair with the potion. Charkle, Norris and Snook obviously won’t have to.’

  ‘That’s not fair,’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘They won’t need to,’ explained Jack. ‘A dragon can tell another dragon by its breath. It can tell what kind of dragon it is too so when it smells Charkle, Norris or Snook it will know they’re dragonettes and no threat.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘I read the Dragon Lore book, remember? I did tell you all about it.’

  ‘Is that true?’ Camelin asked Nora.

  ‘It is.’

  ‘What kind of dragon are we going to smell like?’

  ‘We’re all going to smell like dragonettes. Charkle gave me one of his own scales to go into the potion.’

  Camelin leant over and sniffed the little dragonettes and then pulled a face.

  Nora ignored him and carried on speaking.

  ‘This is the plan: Motley and the rest of the Night Guard will be there to help us from the inside. We’ll all go back to Stonytop Ridge in the car, including Pyecroft.’

  ‘What we taking him for?’ grumbled Camelin.

  ‘He’s going to instruct the guard to release the train so we can get down to the bottom of Silver Hill without being seen by anyone.’

  ‘And he’s just going to stand there and do that for us?’

  ‘Release the train,’ said Pyecroft grumpily.

  Everyone looked at the Bogie who began to wriggle again.

  ‘What do you think?’ asked the Dorysk. ‘Think it will fool the old Spriggan?’

  Camelin’s beak fell open.

  Nora smiled.

  ‘Our friend, the Dorysk, has many talents. He can mimic anyone’s voice.’

  ‘That’s not fair,’ said the Dorysk in Camelin’s grumbling tone.

  ‘That’s not fair,’ Camelin mumbled back.

  ‘When you’ve quite finished,’ said Nora. ‘I’ve put a silencing spell on Pyecroft. It will be dark in the caves and I don’t think the old Spriggan will be able to see if his lips aren’t moving. Once we get to the bottom of Silver Hill, we’ll need to get out on the other side, opposite the platform. I’ll use a sleeping spell on the two Spriggans at the bottom. The last few crystals we need to collect are on the walls by the platform and we mustn’t forget the ones from the front of the train. Motley and the Night Guard should see to that. We’ll find the dragon in the barbecue pit. It’s not far from the platform.’

  ‘Barbecue pit!’ said Camelin excitedly.

  Norris flitted over to Camelin.

  ‘The Spriggans have long metal rods. They put the food on the end and hold it out for the dragon to breathe fire over it.’

  ‘Why would it do that?’ asked Camelin.

  ‘Because three more Spriggans go round to the other end and give it a good prod. The dragon gets angry and out come the flames.’

  Camelin must have been satisfied by the answer because he didn’t ask anything else.

  Nora looked at everyone in turn.

  ‘No one is making you go tonight. If you don’t want to you don’t have to.’

  No one spoke, not even Camelin.

  ‘Good. Our plan, once we get into the barbecue pit, is for Norris, Snook and Charkle to try to communicate with the dragon and persuade it we’re there to help it. We need to find out how it’s tethered and if it knows a way out. I’ll use my wand to release it and then we’ll make our getaway. The dragonettes and Timmery, Camelin and Jack can all fly after the dragon. Elan and I will transform so we can fly too. The Dorysk and rats will need to climb onto the dragon’s tail. It will be able to carry them all to safety. Let’s hope it’s willing to help us. Once we get out we’ll head for Glasruhen Gate. Is everyone clear what we’ve got to do?’

  Everyone nodded.

  ‘Let’s go and use the shampoo. Rub it all on but don’t rinse it off,’ explained Elan as she gave Jack and the Dorysk a small bottle each. ‘It will be dry by the time we get back inside Silver Hill.’

  Elan held out her arm for Camelin.

  ‘Do you want to go first,’ she asked.

  He hopped onto Elan’s arm without answering but once he was there he hunched his wings and scowled.

  ‘I’ll do yours Timmery,’ said Nora.

  Before they left the library Elan smiled at everyone in turn.

  ‘Thank you, Annwn and the Druids will be eternally grateful.’

  DRAGON’S BREATH

  Jack collected his bag and went up to his room. He could hear Camelin grumbling from the kitchen as Elan applied the shampoo to his feathers. Jack held the bottle up to the light and examined the contents before taking the stopper out. It didn’t smell as bad as it had before but it was still green. The potion didn’t run out of the bottle when he tipped it, so he shook it hard. Thick green goo splattered into his cupped hand. It felt cold as he
began rubbing it into his hair. It had a smoky tinge to it and reminded him of fireworks and bonfires. When he looked in the mirror he laughed. His hair was green all over and stood up in spikes. It reminded Jack of an unripe conker shell. Streaks of the green goo had run down his face. He was going to wash it off when he had a better idea. He rubbed his gooey hands all over his face and spread the potion up his arms too. This was like camouflage, or maybe dragonflage would be more accurate.

  ‘Eurgh! What have you done?’ croaked Camelin as he walked into the library.

  Jack looked at Camelin. He obviously hadn’t seen himself in the mirror. His beautifully groomed glossy black feathers were covered in green goo. Nora and Elan looked strange too. Everyone laughed except Camelin and Pyecroft.

  ‘I think we ought to get going,’ said Nora. ‘Let’s hope nobody sees us!’

  Camelin was about to take off when Nora stepped in front of him.

  ‘I’m afraid you’re going to have to walk to the garage, no flying until the potion’s dry, I don’t want you flapping it off, that includes you too Timmery. It’s for your own good.’

  Camelin hunched his wings and shuffled towards the door.

  ‘Now,’ continued Nora, ‘Norris, Charkle and Snook have gone on ahead. Jack, can help Elan with Pyecroft, Timmery will have to go with the Dorysk and I’ll drive.’

  ‘Where is the Dorysk?’ asked Jack.

  A large green frog, too big to be Saige, hopped into view.

  ‘Ready when you are,’ said the Dorysk. ‘I thought the green skin would blend in with the potion, and besides, the shampoo wouldn’t stick to my spikes.’

  Timmery climbed onto the frog’s back.

  ‘Ready?’ asked Nora.

  ‘Ready,’ they all replied.

  No one spoke as Nora drove along the winding roads towards Stonytop Ridge. Jack’s heart was pounding in his chest and he wondered if any of the others felt as nervous as he did. He’d read Nora’s book and had every reason to feel apprehensive. Dragons could be dangerous, even dragonettes if they were threatened, and the one they were trying to rescue had been a prisoner for a very long time. Jack didn’t think it would be very friendly and it had no reason to trust any of them. Nora hadn’t said anything about what would happen to the dragon after they’d got it back to Annwn. What if the dragon let them release it and then it refused to go with Nora and Elan? They wouldn’t be able to force it to go anywhere it didn’t want to. Jack hoped it would be grateful for being rescued and be willing to help. Unfortunately there hadn’t been anything in Nora’s book about kind-hearted dragons. Most of the big ones seemed to be bad tempered or vicious, or both. The one thing he remembered above all, and something the book had left him in no doubt about, was that all big dragons were ferocious.

  When Stonytop came into view, Pyecroft began to struggle.

  ‘I wouldn’t do that,’ Elan told him. ‘You don’t want to be bound again do you?’

  Pyecroft made a strange grunting noise.

  Nora pulled off the road and stopped the car. Before she got out she turned round and looked directly at Pyecroft.

  ‘I expect you to behave or I will never forgive you. When you’re sorry for everything you’ve done, come and find me and I’ll restore your voice. Until then you can keep the grunt, it goes with your nose.’

  Pyecroft glowered at Nora.

  ‘What will happen when Velindur finds him?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I’m hoping he thinks he’s transforming slowly into a pig. At least he won’t be able to tell Velindur anything.’

  ‘He could write it down,’ said Jack.

  ‘Hmmm! Let me see,’ said Nora as she aimed her wand at Pyecroft’s hands. There was a crackle and a flash as the Bogie’s hands transformed into two pig’s trotters. ‘That should solve that little problem. Shall we begin? I do believe we have some help waiting for us.’

  They made their way to the top of the ridge with Pyecroft walking obediently in front of Nora. Every so often he turned and looked suspiciously at her wand. Jack was in no doubt that Pyecroft would take on more and more of the attributes of a pig if he didn’t do as he’d been told.

  Jack found it easier walking on the small shards of rock this time because he was wearing his trainers. A thought hit him like a thunderbolt. Trainers! What was going to happen to them and his clothes when he transformed? The last thing he wanted to do was to come back for them. It was then that he also realised that they were going to have to fly all the way back to Glasruhen. Again.

  ‘Elan,’ he whispered so Nora wouldn’t hear, ‘how are we going to get our things back home. Like my clothes and trainers?’

  ‘Don’t worry, we’ve thought of that. The last of the crystals are going into a sack. Anything else that needs to go back can go in there with them. One of the dragonettes can carry it back to Glasruhen. We’ll leave your clothes by the standing stones. Once you transform you’ll have to walk back to Ewell House. We won’t have time to wait for you at the Western Gateway – Nora and I have to return to Annwn as quickly as we can.’

  Jack felt relieved. It wasn’t long before he could see the Devil’s Chair up ahead.

  ‘Time to transform,’ said Nora.

  Jack and Camelin touched foreheads. The blinding flash brought the Bogie to his knees. He shook his head several times. While he was temporarily blinded Nora put Jack’s clothes and trainers into the sack before she and Elan raised their arms above their heads and began to spiral downwards. Jack was eager to see what they were going to change into. He was very surprised when two more ravens appeared once the spiralling had stopped. They all looked the same as Camelin. The dragon’s breath potion had set and made their green feathers stick up in a strange way. Timmery flitted over and attached himself to Nora’s back.

  ‘Now you,’ Nora said to the Dorysk.

  Jack watched as the Dorysk closed his eyes and squeezed them shut. A loud pop followed and the Dorysk transformed into a beautiful green moth.

  ‘Are you ready?’ Nora asked Pyecroft.

  The Bogie grunted.

  One by one they sat on the Devil’s Chair and disappeared into the hillside. Nora was the last to slide down the chute.

  ‘Let’s go and rescue ourselves a dragon,’ said Nora before grabbing the end of her wand in her beak and pulling it out from under her wing. ‘We’ll just make this look a bit more convincing.’

  From nowhere a rope twirled around Camelin’s neck, then Jack’s, Elan’s and finally Nora’s. The end came to rest in the Bogie’s hand. She hid her wand again and they shuffled down to the end of the platform.

  The old Spriggan was asleep and woke with a jolt.

  ‘What’s yous doing here? Aren’t yous supposed to be at the feast?’

  ‘More food for the barbecue,’ the Dorysk replied for Pyecroft. ‘I was sent out to find something special for Chief Knuckle.’

  ‘They looks a bit off to me. Never seen green birds that big before.’

  ‘Something special they asked for so something special they got. Been basted already, just need to get them down to the pit for barbecuing,’ replied the Dorysk.

  Pyecroft added a grunt and a bit of a moan on the end but the old Spriggan didn’t seem to notice. He’d already opened the first carriage door.

  ‘Squash up yous lot.’

  ‘Release the train,’ the Dorysk shouted.

  The large rock scraped as the Spriggan pulled it from under the wheel. The train began to roll and they were on their way. Jack braced himself for the sudden lurch. It wasn’t as bad when you knew it was going to happen. He could see Camelin was enjoying the ride again. The four of them were tightly packed onto one seat so they didn’t get bumped around too much. Pyecroft wasn’t so lucky; he sat opposite on his own and was thrown from one end of the seat to the other as the train sped along the tunnels. When it began to slow down Jack knew they’d almost reached the end. He braced himself for the sudden thump as the train’s bumpers, once more, hit the solid rock. Pyecroft was unprepared for
the jolt and was thrown onto the floor of the carriage. He looked crossly at the Spriggan who came over and opened the door.

  ‘What’s all this then? Them green birds don’t looks too good to me.’

  ‘Barbecue food,’ replied the Dorysk.

  ‘Other side then, yous going to have to open your own door,’ the Spriggan told Pyecroft.

  Once the Spriggan had turned away Nora pulled out her wand.

  ‘Somnus,’ she whispered.

  The Spriggan staggered and then collapsed onto the platform. Before he landed he was snoring. The other Spriggan he was roped to felt the jolt and spun around quickly. Nora pointed her wand again. The second Spriggan pirouetted then landed with his head on the other Spriggan’s chest and he too began snoring loudly.

  As soon as Nora stepped out of the train she put her wings above her head and Elan did the same. They spiralled upwards and transformed into their usual form.

  ‘Now you Jack,’ said Nora, ‘it will be easier if you’ve got hands.’

  Elan opened the sack and removed Jack’s things.

  ‘Would you turn around please?’ Jack asked them.

  Nora and Elan turned and let Jack transform.

  ‘I’m ready now,’ he announced.

  ‘Good,’ said Nora as she turned to Pyecroft, ‘this is where we part company. Remember what I said, if you want me to restore you back to your former self, you’re going to have to be sorry and change your ways.’

  Pyecroft grunted and leapt out of the train. As he reached the platform Nora pointed her wand at his back. He slumped to the floor and joined the sleeping Spriggans.

  ‘They won’t wake up for hours, by which time we’ll be long gone,’ said Nora as she opened the cage and let the rats out.

  Motley was first to land and took up his position at the head of the Night Guard. The other rats formed ranks behind them.

  ‘All present and correct, fully briefed and ready for action,’ he announced.

  Jack looked over at Fergus and Berry. They didn’t look at all ready for action.

  ‘You must all stay away from the dragon’s head,’ said Elan. ‘Do you understand?’

  All the rats nodded.