The Golden Acorn

by Catherine Cooper

  ‘Bet you’re not as fast as me,’ she laughed. ‘Beat you to the sundial!’

  They ran and laughed all the way into Nora’s garden. As they sped past the bird table a flock of starlings took off.

  ‘Told you I could beat you!’

  Jack was too out of breath to answer. As he gulped for air he noticed Camelin waddling on the roof shouting something to the startled birds as they flew past. He was too far away to hear but he had a good idea what his friend had been saying.

  ‘Next time you can have my backpack on and then we’ll see who wins,’ Jack said when he finally got his breath back. ‘I think you had a bit of an advantage.’

  ‘Big day tomorrow,’ Nora said as she joined them. ‘A longer flight for you Jack and a visit to Westwood to reunite Charkle with his family.’

  Jack didn’t want to have to say goodbye to Charkle; he really liked the little dragon.

  ‘Will he come back and visit?’

  ‘I certainly hope so,’ replied Nora. ‘He’ll probably bring Norris and Snook with him too. It’s a good job they’re only small or we wouldn’t all fit in the kitchen.’

  ‘Did someone say kitchen? Is it tea time?’ Camelin asked as he swooped down onto Nora’s shoulder.

  ‘You know very well it’s not, but now we’re together I’ve got some good news. I’m meeting Peabody tonight at dusk.’

  ‘Where?’ Camelin asked.

  ‘Here. He’s going to use the tunnel. We’ll leave your flying lesson until later, if you don’t mind Jack, and have an early tea. We need to be ready for our visitor. Once he’s returned my golden acorn we’ll put it somewhere very safe until its needed for the ritual.’

  As the sun sank behind Glasruhen Hill they left the kitchen and went over to the hole in the garden. Nora raised her wand and removed the prickly bush. They didn’t have to wait long before they heard footsteps inside the tunnel. They grew louder as they came closer to the entrance. In the half-light Jack saw the end of a very long nose appear before the rest of Peabody stepped out onto the grass.

  ‘Oh great Seanchai,’ Peabody began as he took off his cap and bowed low before Nora. ‘I’ve come to speak with you.’

  ‘Speak!’ exclaimed Nora. ‘I thought you’d come to return my golden acorn.’

  ‘It’s the golden acorn I wish to speak of, most wise and kind Guardian of the Sacred Grove,’ continued Peabody as he bowed again.

  ‘Where’s my golden acorn? You know it’s Druid’s gold don’t you?’

  ‘I do now but I no longer have it.’

  ‘Explain yourself before I turn you into a Brownie.’

  Peabody straightened and replaced his hat.

  ‘I came to explain. You see my brother Pycroft has the acorn and I can’t find him anywhere. He made me lie to the Spriggans. He’s the one who gave me the torch for Chief Knuckle. He’s the one you should be talking to. It wasn’t my fault.’

  When Nora didn’t answer Peabody began shuffling his feet and took a step towards the tunnel. Gerda settled herself down in front of the hole and eyed Peabody suspiciously. He stepped away from her.

  ‘Can I go now?’ he asked quietly.

  ‘Not until I’ve made a small adjustment to your nose,’ replied Nora.

  ‘No, no, not my nose,’ wailed Peabody.

  Nora raised her wand and aimed it straight at Peabody’s face. There was a green flash and a cry of surprise. For a few moments the light blinded them all. As their eyes grew accustomed to the twilight again Jack saw Peabody’s glasses lying on the grass. He bent down and picked them up.

  ‘My nose, my nose!’ sobbed Peabody.

  Everyone looked to see what was wrong. A small button nose, which wasn’t long enough for Peabody to sit his glasses on, replaced the long, pointed one he’d been so proud of.

  ‘Now we both have a problem,’ said Nora sternly. ‘I’ll restore your nose once you return my golden acorn. I suggest you find your brother quickly. You have ten days. Go, and don’t return without it.’

  Peabody snatched his glasses from Jack’s hand and put them in his pocket. He stumbled towards the hole. Gerda moved to the side and he dived in. They heard his retreating footsteps. No one spoke.

  ‘That wasn’t what I’d expected,’ Nora said eventually.

  ‘Will he get the acorn back?’ asked Jack.

  ‘I’ve just made finding it the most important thing in his life. I just hope he can get it back from Pycroft in time.’

  ‘There are only fourteen days to the Solstice,’ explained Elan.

  ‘Until the ritual?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Until the ritual,’ confirmed Nora.

  They went to bed subdued. Jack didn’t go up to the loft. He was tired and needed a good night’s sleep. He was woken early by a loud rasping noise coming from the garden. He squinted as he opened the window to find out where the noise was coming from. He finally located the sound. It was coming from the new tree by the shed. Grub was snoring.

  ‘Does he do that every night?’ Jack asked Camelin at breakfast.

  ‘All night and most of the day. He sleeps more than I do.’

  ‘He doesn’t snore when he’s eating,’ added Charkle.

  ‘That’s something else he does more than me too. You should see the amount of food he gets through in a day.’

  Nora had insisted that they eat an enormous breakfast.

  ‘It’s a long flight to Westwood. If you get tired and want to stop we’ll be right behind you in the car,’ Nora told them. ‘Now, off you go and transform whilst Elan and I pack the boot. We’ll take your clothes along just in case you get tired and want a lift back.’

  Jack was used to transforming now. Each time it got easier and the more he flew the less he ached. He thought he’d probably suffer for a few days after a long-distance flight. This was going to be his first big test as a raven.

  When they flew down to the car Charkle was sitting on Elan’s shoulder.

  ‘Are we all ready?’ Nora asked.

  Everyone nodded.

  Jack and Camelin set off across the fields. For a while Jack could see Nora’s Morris Traveller snaking its way along the roads but soon it was lost from sight. Their plan was to fly in a straight line towards the river, then follow it’s course. It appeared suddenly over the brow of a small hill they’d soared over, and then meandered gently over the landscape. They flew past farms and what looked like an endless patchwork quilt of greens, yellows and browns. They saw a ruined Abbey, remains of an old Roman fort and several large hills. Jack was beginning to tire.

  ‘Do you know anything about Westwood?’ he called to Camelin.

  ‘It’s a bit like Glasruhen Hill only smaller. There used to be a portal there but it got sealed up when the Romans came. It’s not far now. See the trees over there? Come on, race you.’

  It wasn’t much of a race. Jack was out of breath when he finally landed next to Camelin who looked pleased with himself for having arrived first.

  ‘Nora can’t get the car up here so we’ll have to meet them down there in the car park,’ Camelin explained.

  They flew down and landed on the branch of a large oak tree.

  ‘This was once a Hamadryad like Arrana,’ Camelin explained. ‘Nora used to visit her before, but now it’s just a hollow tree.’

  The hollowness of the tree made Jack feel sad. He thought about Arrana’s plight.

  From their position they could see the Morris Traveller winding its way along the country roads. It stopped next to a densely wooded area. Nora and Elan, with Charkle on her shoulder, got out and disappeared into the trees.

  ‘That’s where the Westwood Roost is,’ explained Camelin, ‘but there’s not much point flying over there. They’ll be back in the car before we arrive.’

  It was a beautiful morning. The bright sunshine made Jack’s eyes smart. He closed his eyes and almost fell asleep.

  ‘Here they come,’ croaked Camelin as he nudged Jack in the wing. ‘We’ll go and say goodbye to Charkle on our way ho
me, give him a bit of time to see all his family again.’

  It wasn’t long before Nora drove into the deserted car park. Jack heard a strange noise as they got out of the car. It was Charkle. He was on Elan’s shoulder, engulfed in steam, sobbing his heart out.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ croaked Jack and Camelin together.

  Charkle couldn’t speak.

  ‘They’ve gone,’ explained Nora. ‘His whole family has disappeared without a trace.’

  THE WESTWOOD ROOST

  Jack and Camelin fussed around Charkle.

  ‘What happened?’ they both asked.

  ‘Gone!’ was all Charkle could say and began sobbing again.

  ‘We found the roost without any problem but as soon as we entered the cave we knew Charkle’s family wouldn’t be there,’ explained Nora.

  ‘The smell inside made your nose curl,’ interrupted Elan.

  ‘What kind of a smell?’ Camelin asked.

  ‘Hag smell,’ replied Elan.

  ‘Ergh!’ Camelin croaked as he turned his head to one side and coughed several times.

  ‘Hags!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘You mean like witches?’

  ‘Not quite,’ continued Nora. ‘Hags don’t like sunlight and tend to live in dark places. They’re not very big, about your size.’

  ‘As a boy?’

  ‘No, as a raven. You’d know one if you met one and you couldn’t mistake their voices.’

  Camelin thrust his head forward and made a strange high-pitched sound, then continued describing Hags in the same voice as he circled round Jack.

  ‘They’re really ugly, got great beak like noses, long claw like hands and feet, a mass of purple-black hair, which reaches the floor and they’re grossly messy.’

  Charkle choked back another sob.

  ‘Are there Hags still in the cave?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Hag,’ replied Elan. ‘They live alone, don’t get on with anyone. We think this one might be Finnola Fytche. FF is scrawled on the entrance to the cave.’

  ‘She might be able to tell us what happened to the Westwood Roost and where they went,’ said Nora kindly as she smiled at Charkle before turning towards Jack. ‘You ought to eat something after your long flight.’

  ‘Great. I’m famished,’ said Camelin.

  ‘I wasn’t talking to you. I didn’t think you’d need any encouragement to eat. Let’s go further up the hill before we unpack the food. Elan can go over to the roost and try to find the Hag. I’ll go and talk to the Dryads in the forest. Someone has to know something about Charkle’s family.’

  ‘Can I come with you?’ Charkle asked Elan.

  Nora scooped Charkle up in her hand and brought him close to her face.

  ‘You can come along with everyone later. Stay with Jack and Camelin for now.’

  Once the picnic was laid out Nora turned again to Jack.

  ‘Make sure you eat something.’

  Camelin had already got too much in his beak to speak. Jack wondered how Elan was going to get back to the Westwood Roost. It would be a long walk. It was only when she raised both arms and began turning slowly that he realised she was going to shape shift. With each rotation her body got smaller and began to reform. He’d expected to see the chestnut ferret but instead a beautiful eagle owl appeared. She shook herself. Jack was amazed at how big she was, at least three times bigger than Camelin. Her feathers were different shades of brown and she had two ear tufts which were almost flat against her head. Her eyes, instead of being deep amber, were dark green.

  ‘See you later,’ she hooted as she spread her wings and gracefully flew off towards the roost.

  Jack watched in admiration as Elan rose effortlessly higher and higher. There hadn’t been a sound from her wings as she’d flown away.

  ‘Come on you two,’ said Camelin through a beakful of sandwich. ‘Get stuck in.’

  ‘I’m not hungry,’ Charkle replied as he sniffed back another tear.

  ‘Well, do you think you could warm this up for me? You know send a bit of a flame over. Only I love toasted cheese sandwiches.’

  ‘Camelin,’ said Jack sharply, ‘Can’t you see Charkle’s upset,’

  ‘You’re beginning to sound just like Nora,’ grumbled Camelin as he looked longingly at the sandwich. ‘Everyone knows cheese tastes better when it’s toasted.’

  Charkle moved away from the rug where the picnic was spread and flew up onto the lower branch of the nearest tree. Jack followed him.

  ‘I’m sorry about your family. I know what it’s like to feel alone, I’m never going to see my mum again. She died not long ago, and my dad’s living hundreds of miles away. I haven’t got any brothers or sisters either. I’ve only got Grandad and I still feel sad inside.’

  Charkle’s eyes filled with tears again.

  ‘All the time the Spriggans had me in that cage I kept hoping one day I might escape and come back to my family. Do you think I’m ever going to see them again?’

  ‘I don’t know but try not to worry. Nora will do her best to find them. You’ll never be alone any more now you’ve got us.’

  Jack smiled at Charkle and the little dragon managed to smile weakly back.

  ‘We ought to do what Nora said. Try to eat something. It might be a long day.’

  They joined Camelin who was still grumbling to himself. Jack didn’t really feel hungry but if he wanted to fly back he’d have to eat. Charkle sat hunched up, looking forlorn until Nora returned.

  ‘Did you find out where they went?’ he asked eagerly.

  Everyone looked at Nora; even Camelin stopped eating.

  ‘Not quite, but if Elan’s been able to flush a Hag out of the roost we might find out a bit more. The Dryads in Westwood live in silver birch trees. They haven’t got good memories at the best of times. As soon as they lose their leaves in autumn they curl up and sleep until the new buds appear in the spring. They think Charkle’s family left after a Hag moved into the cave but it was so long ago now they can’t remember any more.’

  Charkle let out a puff of steam and two huge tears.

  ‘Come on you two, help me to get this lot cleared away and we’ll go and find Elan.’

  Camelin looked wistfully at all the food that hadn’t been eaten and sighed. Once everything was back in the basket they made their way to the car.

  ‘Do you want to come with me Jack or do you want to fly over to the roost with Camelin?’

  ‘I’ll fly. I feel OK now I’ve had a rest.’

  ‘You’ll have to come with me Charkle. It wouldn’t do for anyone to see you flying around.’

  Charkle didn’t protest; he still looked very sad.

  As Jack and Camelin circled around the roost they could see Elan on the ground with her wings outstretched in front of the entrance. The tips of her wings almost touched each side of the rock. Her feathers were all puffed out and her head jutted forward as she fixed her gaze on something inside the cave. It was strangely quiet as they landed. The trees were still and not a bird could be heard. Camelin kept his distance and landed on a branch in a nearby tree. Jack alighted on the ground nearer the cave. It wasn’t long before they heard the engine of the Morris Traveller.

  Once Nora stood before the entrance Elan lowered her wings and straightened up.

  ‘Come out,’ Nora commanded.

  ‘No!’ came a high-pitched reply.

  ‘Then we’re coming in.’

  Nora walked straight into the cave. Everyone followed. The smell was revolting. It made Jack gag and he could see it had the same effect on Camelin. Nora held up her wand and sent an arc of light, shaped like an umbrella, above their heads.

  ‘Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh!’ screeched the Hag. ‘Too bright, too bright, put it out, it’s hurting my eyes.’

  ‘The light stays until you give us the information we need,’ replied Nora sternly.

  Jack looked around the cave. There was rubbish strewn everywhere on the floor, reminding him a bit of Camelin’s loft. The screeching had come from the back of the
cave but even with Nora’s light Jack was unable to see who had made such a dreadful noise. From the darkest recess the voice spoke again.

  ‘We don’t give information. You need a Bogie for that.’

  Jack saw Nora frown.

  ‘And which Bogie would you recommend?’

  There was silence for a while, then the Hag started screeching again.

  ‘Go away! Coming in here uninvited, frightening the life out of me with that great ugly bird, making my eyes hurt. Go away and don’t come back.’

  Nora didn’t answer. Instead she pointed her wand in the direction of the voice and gave it a quick flick. A small bundle of purple hair, claws and black ragged clothes tumbled out into the open. Nora raised her hand, held her palm out flat towards the rolling jumble of arms and legs and made it come to an abrupt halt.

  ‘Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!’ the Hag wailed as she shielded her eyes.

  ‘Finnola Fytche I presume,’ began Nora.

  ‘Who wants to know,’ snapped the Hag.

  ‘The Seanchai. I command you to answer my questions unless you want to become lunch for my owl?’

  Elan raised her wings and hopped a couple of steps towards the cowering Hag.

  ‘All right, all right, call the bird off. I’ll tell you what you want to know.’

  Elan stopped but didn’t lower her wings.

  ‘You are?’ asked Nora.

  ‘Finnola Fytche, but why bother asking if you already know?’

  ‘Which Bogie were you referring to and where might I find him?’

  Finnola shook herself and carefully rearranged the ragged cloak. She ran her claw like hands through her mass of purple hair before she spoke again.

  ‘That would be Pycroft. He visits here; we trade.’

  Jack wondered what kind of things the Hag and Bogie might trade. There were a lot of bones lying around the cave floor and what looked like a sheepskin near the entrance.

  Nora tapped her wand, waiting for Finnola to continue.

  ‘Don’t know where you’d find him. Unpredictable he is. Here one day, gone the next. Never know when he’ll reappear. Have you done now with your questions?’