Glasruhen Gate (23 page)

The mention of the song jogged Jack’s memory.

‘I nearly forgot. I can invite two people to the end of term concert at school when I’m performing in the choir. Will you come with Grandad?’’

‘I’d love to,’ said Nora. ‘Maybe Camelin could listen in at the door.’

‘He won’t have to. He can have a grandstand view; it’s going to be outdoors, on the school field under the trees.’

Camelin didn’t reply.

‘We’ll look forward to it. Now I think it’s nearly time for bed, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow.’

They all said goodnight.

Jack had only just closed his door when Camelin appeared on the window ledge.

‘Come on up, it’s safe now. Nora’s gone over to the lake to see Gerda and Medric to tell them all the news.’

‘Safe for what?’

‘Safe for you to come and get Saige and take her back to the rockery. Nora’s bound to check to see she’s there before she comes in.’

Jack poked his head through the trap door and put his hand out for Saige. She hopped onto it, then up his arm and onto his shoulder.

‘Thanks,’ said Camelin. ‘See you in the morning.’

Jack smiled when he saw the group of saplings by the rockery. Their small branches were touching and he could see the leaves shaking, even though there wasn’t any breeze. He knew they were talking to one another.

‘I wonder how many sweets were inside the big dustbin?’ he said.

Saige whispered in his ear.

‘That many! No wonder he was upset!’

The little frog hopped down and disappeared into Camelin’s secret cave; he’d have to find himself another place. Soon Newton Gill Forest would be alive again. Both Camelin and Peabody would have to be careful what they said or did in there in future, or Nora would know about it very quickly.

The next morning was bright and sunny; there wasn’t a cloud to be seen in the sky.

‘Breakfast in half an hour,’ said Nora as Jack and Camelin came into the kitchen. ‘It’s such a lovely day I thought we’d eat out on the patio.’

Camelin groaned quietly to himself.

‘I know,’ said Jack once they were in the garden. ‘I could transform and we could have a game of Beak Ball before breakfast, it’d give us an appetite.’

Camelin groaned again.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘I don’t feel well, I’m going back upstairs.’

‘Why don’t we go and sit down. You might feel a bit better after you’ve had some fresh air.’

Camelin sat very still and very quietly.

‘Shall I go and fetch Nora?’ asked Jack.

‘No, but I wish I knew how long this pain in my stomach was going to last.’

‘Twelve hours, thirty-two minutes and six seconds,’ croaked Saige as she hopped up next to Jack.

‘There are some times when you don’t need an oracular frog around,’ grumped Camelin. ‘And this is one of them.’

‘Can I do anything to help?’

‘No, it’s my own fault. I made a start on the sweets in the dustbin last night, I started counting them to make sure Saige was right and I sort of ate a few. I’m going to have to go and lie down.’

Camelin flew back to his loft.

‘I wonder how many he ate.’

‘One hundred and sixty two,’ croaked Saige.

‘You mean he ate them all! No wonder he’s got stomach ache.’

Jack smiled, his life was full of surprises but he didn’t think Camelin would ever change. He watched Saige as she hopped towards the rockery. Who would ever believe he’d just been speaking to an oracular frog!

He knew his life would never be ordinary again, not now he was a raven boy. And in a few months he was going to be crowned King of the Forest. He hoped Arrana would have been proud of him. He’d kept his promise and not let anyone down. It was going to be a long wait until Samhain, before they could go back through Glasruhen Gate. He hoped Elan would return from Annwn quickly, he was missing her already, although he didn’t feel lonely. How could he with all the new friends he’d made? He felt different. He wasn’t afraid any more. And with Camelin by his side, he knew he was ready to face whatever was to come.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to thank Paula, Vennetta, Sue,
Dad, Molly and Geoffrey for their invaluable contributions and encouragement.
I’d also like to say a big thank you to
Ron, for everything, and to everyone at Infinite Ideas.