Glasruhen Gate (9 page)

Jack nodded. Nora and Elan turned to Camelin. He hung his head, and then slowly nodded too.

GLASRUHEN GATE

‘It’s lucky we didn’t have too much trouble getting the plates back this afternoon, we’ve got a lot to do before sunset,’ said Nora. ‘We’re going to need you both to help.’

Camelin’s head slumped. He shuffled down to the end of the table and turned his back on them all. Nora sighed and continued speaking to Jack.

‘I know it’s a lot to ask, but we’re not going to be able to open Glasruhen Gate without you. I need to have some magic in reserve to make the elixir once we’re in Annwn.’

‘Will you open the gate for us?’ asked Elan.

‘Me! How can I open the gate?’

‘You have all the power in your wand. It began life as an acorn from the Mother Oak in Annwn, the portal will recognise its power and will open to it.’

‘So why won’t your wands do the same, they came from Annwn didn’t they?’

‘Ours are earthly wands. Mine’s from the hazel tree and Elan’s is birch wood,’ explained Nora.

Camelin slowly turned.

‘You mean my wand’s better than yours?’

Nora laughed.

‘Yes Camelin, yours and Jack’s are both better than ours. Now we’ve got lots to do. First, Jack will need to go home and ask his grandad if he can stay till later Tell him we’re back from visiting and we’re going to have a barbecue.’

‘A barbecue, a real barbecue?’ croaked Camelin as he skipped over to Nora.

‘A real barbecue, but not for everyone, just for us. We’ll celebrate properly when we get back with the acorns. We’re not eating until everything is ready, so you can come and help me cut some rhubarb. Elan can go with Jack.’

‘Oh great, I love rhubarb pie.’

‘It’s not for us, I haven’t got time to make pies tonight. It’s to take into Annwn. We have to take a gift of something they don’t have. They only grow apples, any other kind of fruit is most welcome. The cauldron is the only way of transporting things from this world into Annwn. It will have been a long time since they’ve had any rhubarb.’

Jack smiled when he saw Camelin begin to sulk again. They parted ways at the dovecot; Nora and Camelin went off to the kitchen garden, while Jack and Elan went down to the hedge.

‘I’m really sorry you aren’t coming with us,’ said Elan as they walked through the yew tree tunnel from Ewell House to Grandad’s.

‘You will come back, won’t you?’

‘I will, but there are things I have to do in Annwn. I might not come back with Nora tonight, it depends what we find. I might have to stay a little while.’

‘I’m not going to see you as you really are now, am I?’

‘You will at Samhain. Once we’ve opened the portal I’ll be free to come and go between Earth and Annwn. Both you and Camelin can visit in October. It’ll be a great birthday present for you.’

‘Is it really as wonderful as Camelin says?’

‘Even Camelin will be amazed when he sees it. The Citadel and the Palace stand in the middle of a lake, each of its four towers are made of glass and you can see them glinting in the sunlight for miles.’

‘Is it true about the white ravens?’

‘Yes, it’s true. They live in the Queen’s garden at the Citadel.’

Jack sighed. The four months before he could go and see everything for himself would pass very slowly. As they emerged from the hedge Grandad looked up from where he was planting peas.

‘You’re back early. I wasn’t expecting you ’til supper time. And you’ve brought Elan with you.’

‘Hello Mr Brenin. I’ve come to ask if Jack can stay a bit later tonight, we’re going to have a barbecue. He’ll be home about 10 o’clock, if that’s alright?’

‘Of course he can, but you’ll need to change out of your school clothes, Jack. You don’t want them smelling of smoke for school tomorrow, do you?’

Jack left Elan with his grandad in the garden and went upstairs to change. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Jack saw Camelin waiting by the rockery when they came back through the hedge.

‘You took your time,’ he croaked.

‘Is there anything we need to do?’ asked Elan.

‘Naw, we’ve done it all. Nora said we could start the barbecue as soon as you got back so come on, what you waiting for? It’s grub time.’

Camelin took off and flew towards the house. As Jack passed the herborium he noticed a huge bundle of rhubarb, which had been neatly cut into sticks of about the same length, sticking out of the cauldron. By the time they reached the patio Camelin was arguing with Nora.

‘But I want to,’ he croaked.

‘It’s too dangerous, you’ve not had any practice. Let Jack do it.’

Camelin turned to Jack.

‘She won’t let me light the barbecue. I can do it, I know I can. I’ve watched you make sparks and I’ve already made some. Please Jack, please let me try.’

Nora shook her head and looked at Jack. He raised his hand to the tiny bald spot, where his hair used to stick up.

‘It’s OK with me if Camelin wants to do it, as long as he points his wand towards the barbecue.’

‘Aw Jack, you’re a real friend,’ said Camelin as he hopped around Jack’s legs before diving into the kitchen. Seconds later he was back with his wand.

‘Stand back,’ warned Nora.

Camelin flew onto the picnic table and then shuffled into position. Jack smiled when he heard Camelin’s muffled command.

‘Fire one!’

Nora gasped as a great flame shot from the end of Camelin’s wand.

‘Make it smaller!’ she shouted.

‘Why? I thought you wanted the fire lit?’

‘We do, but not like that! I think I’m going to take charge of your wand while we’re gone, it’ll be safer.’

Camelin was about to start sulking again but then he caught sight of the tray of sausages in Elan’s hand.

‘Sausages, my favourite!’

‘What happens at the Midsummer Festival in Annwn?’ asked Jack.

‘It’s like any other fair,’ replied Elan. ‘There’ll be a big market with lots of stalls and fun things to do. All the best storytellers gather there and try to out-do each other. I remember last time there were jugglers, stilt walkers, all kinds of things.’

‘See, I told you,’ said Camelin as he landed on Jack’s shoulder. ‘Tell us about the food.’

Nora laughed.

‘Is that all you ever think about? Well your supper’s ready when you are. You certainly got the charcoal good and hot. This lot’s cooked in no time.’

Just before the sun began to sink, Nora made one final check to make sure they’d got everything they needed.

‘It’s time,’ she announced. ‘We need to go.’

They set off for Glasruhen Forest. Jack and Elan carried the cauldron between them. His wand and Camelin’s were inside it next to the rhubarb stalks. As they passed the hedge Nora picked up a large bundle of branches.

‘Oak, beech, willow, birch and pine, for the ritual,’ she explained.

‘Where exactly is Glasruhen Gate?’ asked Jack.

‘That I don’t know,’ replied Nora.

‘But how will we find it?’

‘My Book of Shadows will guide us to the right place. It’ll be somewhere in Glasruhen Forest. It didn’t always move about, but when the troubles came the Blessed Council decided, for the safety of Annwn, that the gateways mustn’t remain fixed. Only the Sentinel Oaks know the position of the portals.’

‘Sentinel Oaks?’ asked Jack.

‘They guard the four gateways into Annwn, one on either side. It’s their branches which form the archway we’ll need to pass through.’

Jack didn’t really understand what Nora was talking about. When they had left the yew tunnel behind and were approaching the edge of the forest, Nora stopped.

‘Here we are, time to swap over. You take my Book of Shadows and I’ll carry the cauldron with Elan.’

Jack took Nora’s book and she passed him his wand. The two trees on the cover shimmered. They looked alive, more alive than some of the trees in Newton Gill Forest.

‘Use it like a compass,’ Nora told him. ‘Follow the pull, it’ll feel like a magnet.’

The book felt as if it had a life of its own and Jack let it lead the way. They went deeper and deeper into the forest. He could feel a hundred eyes watching. Occasionally he caught a glimpse of a Dryad but no one blocked his way or spoke to him.

The book stopped pulling and Jack looked up. He was in front of two ancient oaks. Their branches touched each other, making a natural archway.

‘I think we must be here,’ he said.

‘Well done Jack! I knew you could do it. Now, let’s get started, the light is fading fast.’

‘But the book said there’d be a tall gleaming gateway. There’s nothing like that here.’

‘These are the Sentinel Oaks,’ said Elan as she laid her hand on the nearest tree trunk. Once upon a time they would have greeted us, but they’ve been asleep for so long now it would take an age to wake them.’

‘Does that mean we can’t do the ritual?’

‘It’s not a problem,
don’t worry
Jack,’ Nora assured him. ‘With your magic we can open the gateway. Once we’ve performed the ritual all will be revealed.’

It was alright Nora saying
don’t worry
, she’d performed lots of rituals. This was Jack’s first and he didn’t want anything to go wrong, especially since so much depended on him getting it right.

Elan put her hand on his shoulder.