Glasruhen Gate

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘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.

  By the time they entered the Glass Palace Jack felt seasick. He wished all the bouncing up and down would stop. It did, abruptly, when Teg came to a halt before two great golden doors. A guard, dressed in a yellow and red uniform stepped forward.

  ‘Prisoners for King Velindur,’ announced Teg.

  The great doors swung open and Jack could see a beautiful chamber. Its circular walls were made of glass; they must be in one of the towers. A stern looking man sat on a throne towards the back of the room. His dark hair flowed past his shoulders and his thick eyebrows almost met in the middle. He looked neither old nor young. Jack didn’t think he looked very pleased to see Jed and Teg.

  ‘Enter,’ he commanded. ‘Put the prisoners in the cage and leave.’

  Teg and Jed bowed low and then quickly made their way to a silver cage at the far end of the room. The cage looked big enough for a man to stand up in. As they opened the door a guard stepped towards the glass wall and drew a long curtain. Jed pushed Camelin inside and Teg threw the sack in after him. Jack landed with a thud on the stone floor. Camelin quickly bent over and untied the sack.

  ‘That will be all,’ the man told the guard.

  It was the first time Jack had seen Camelin properly. It felt strange seeing someone he knew in a different body. If they’d been standing next to each other as boys, Camelin would have been a good head taller than Jack. His hair was very dark and thick. He looked more like a street urchin than a Druid’s acolyte, his long arms and legs were very grubby and the sack didn’t fit too well. Jack wondered if Camelin felt strange being a boy again as Jack had felt strange the first time he’d changed into a raven. His thoughts were interrupted when the man left the throne and circled around the cage. Was this King Velindur or one of the Blessed Council? Jack got his answer when the man spoke to Camelin.

  ‘I expect my subjects to bow before their King.’

  Neither of them replied. Camelin stood with his mouth open.

  ‘No matter, there’s no place for anyone who spies or thieves in Annwn. You will both stand trial before the Blessed Council, they can decide your fate. But in the meantime, I’d like some answers.’

  Velindur held up his hand and counted off the questions on his fingers, one by one, as he spoke.

  ‘Who are you? How did you open the Western Portal? Who sent you? Why did you come into Annwn? I’m going to leave you to think about those questions and when I return I will have your answers. Understood?’

  Camelin nodded. Jack thought it was best to pretend he hadn’t understood any of the conversation. King Velindur turned and strode away. He passed through a smaller door that led into another chamber. As soon as he’d gone Jack heard the fluttering of wings above the cage, more than one pair of wings.

  Timmery said: ‘Do
n’t look up and don’t say anything, just in case anyone’s watching. Charkle’s got some news.’

  ‘I was waiting by the dungeon door so I could get back in to tell you the good news. When the door opened you were coming out so I followed you here.’

  Jack watched Camelin frown. He too wished Charkle would hurry up and tell them the news.

  ‘I found Nora at Gwillam’s house. I’ve told her everything and she says not to worry. But you must answer every question truthfully, and if possible, Jack’s not to say anything at all. The longer Velindur thinks he’s just a raven the better. Camelin, you must tell him you’re Gwillam’s acolyte, and then they’ll have a better chance of getting you out of here. I’m taking Timmery back with me to Gwillam’s house; Nora’s got plans for us. Don’t worry. Just remember to tell the truth.’

  Camelin let out a big sigh. The two little bats flittered towards the doorway and attached themselves to one of the tall columns by the golden doors. They didn’t have long to wait. A loud knock brought Velindur out of the side chamber and back to his throne. Once he was seated he commanded the doors to be opened. A servant entered carrying something on a silver tray, followed by another carrying a small table. The table was placed before the throne and a delicious smelling apple pie was presented to the King. Jack had been watching the servants, so he hadn’t noticed Charkle or Timmery leave. He hoped no one else had either.

  Velindur ate the whole pie. Jack and Camelin watched every mouthful disappear. A low rumbling sound came from Jack’s stomach. He realised he was hungry. He’d not eaten since they’d come through the portal.

  When he’d finished Velindur paced up and down the room.

  ‘Now for some answers. Who are you?’

  Camelin gulped and tried to speak, his throat was dry and his voice came out as a hoarse whisper: ‘I’m Camelin, acolyte to Gwillam, High Druid and Keeper of the Shrine in the Sacred Grove by the Holy Oak Well.’

  ‘You lie. Gwillam does not have an acolyte, neither is he the keeper of any shrines or holy wells.’

  ‘I’m Gwillam’s acolyte,’ Camelin announced again more forcefully than before.

  ‘How did you open the Western Portal?’

  ‘I didn’t.’