The Lost Treasure of Annwn (26 page)

‘Well I'm not happy.'

‘You don't think Max has sent him to spy on us do you?'

‘Naw, Crosspatch told me Max and Techno had a big row this morning and your new team member told Max he wanted nothing more to do with him. Max grabbed Techno by the collar so Crosspatch did a flyover and left a huge deposit on Max's hat. Max soon let go of him. Snatch saw the whole thing too and gave me the same report. And, Max has got blue hair this morning!'

‘No!'

‘Crosspatch said he watched his mum trying to wash it out but it's stuck good and proper. He's got to have his head shaved.' Camelin laughed loudly.

‘He'll be even more annoyed now,' said Jack.

‘Naw, he's got gang problems. Techno's walked away from him and Chortle said he'd had a big row with Danny too.'

‘Does he know what that was about?'

‘Max wants the rest of the gang to have their heads shaved too but Danny refused. He told Max he wasn't cutting his long hair off for no one. Max shouted at him and said he'd have to leave the gang. Danny said good and walked off.'

‘What about Tank, has he got blue hair too?'

‘Naw, but he did agree to have his head shaved. He said his mum would do it. She does his older brother's hair all the time. They've arranged to have it done together tomorrow afternoon at Tank's house. We can go and watch if you like.'

‘I've got to go now. We're meeting Grandad in the judging tent at the Flower Show.'

‘I suppose you'll be going back to Brenin House after the show.'

‘Grandad's helping me to carry my bags back when it's over.'

‘You'll come and see me tomorrow though won't you?'

‘'Course I will.'

 

By the time Jack and Grandad got back to Brenin House they were both feeling tired. They'd eaten at the show so they didn't need to make dinner.

‘I think I'm going to have forty winks,' Grandad told Jack as he flopped down in his favourite chair.

Jack went into the kitchen and poured out two glasses of squash. By the time he got back to the front room Grandad was already snoring. He left one of the glasses on the table and went upstairs with the other one to unpack. He didn't have to sort Orin out as she'd decided to stay at Ewell House until after the race was over. He took out his Book of Shadows but decided he ought to put his clothes away before he opened his book and started asking questions. The only sound Jack could hear in the house was the loud ticking from the hall clock and Grandad's snores. He'd be asleep for at least a couple of hours, maybe more.

When the holdall and backpack were empty Jack picked up his book and lay down on his stomach on the bed. He closed his eyes so he could concentrate on the right way to ask his question about Elidon. A loud creak from outside the window broke his concentration. He opened one eye and squinted at the window. Nothing was on the windowsill but a second creak made him go and investigate. He opened the window and was about to look down when a single black feather came into sight, followed by an old battered hat and then Peabody's face.

‘What are you doing here?'

‘Oh great wizard, I had to come and see you, I don't know what to do. You're the only one who can help me.'

Jack knew it must be important if Peabody had risked being seen to visit Jack in daylight.

‘You'd better come in.'

Peabody nimbly swung himself into Jack's room.

‘Oh thank you, Your Wizardness.'

‘What's wrong?'

‘Everything! He's here somewhere in Glasruhen, he grabbed me in the forest, I couldn't see him but I knew it was him, I could feel his hands digging into my arm, and I felt his hot breath when he whispered in my ear. Thought I was my brother, he did, didn't know I wasn't Pyecroft. Wants help. I don't know what to do. He scares me.'

‘Who? I don't know what you're talking about.'

‘It was him, I know it was… you know… the Big One.'

‘Velindur! Here in Glasruhen?'

‘Yes, him, thought I was Pyecroft, obviously doesn't know my brother's more like a pig than a Bogie these days.'

‘How do you know it was Velindur if you didn't see him?'

‘Told me what he wanted. Only one person, apart from yourself who'd want what he's after.'

‘And what would that be?'

‘The torc of kingship. It's a long time since I've heard that mentioned. The old King of the Forest never came back to claim it as his own but the Big One thinks it belongs to him.'

Jack didn't know how far to trust Peabody; this could be a trick to get information from him, after all, Bogies specialised in collecting information. He decided to admit nothing and try to find out what Peabody knew.

‘Why did he think you'd know where it was?'

‘He didn't. He wants me to find out where it is. He knows that whoever finds the torc will be crowned at Samhain. He said because I was his servant I had to help him. Oh that dreadful brother of mine, he's always getting me into trouble. I don't want anything to do with any of this. Make the Big One leave me alone.'

‘Are you sure it was Velindur?'

Instead of answering straightaway, Peabody dropped to his knees, clasped both his hands together and hung his head. When he spoke Jack could barely hear him.

‘It was him. He was there but not there. Invisible. Please help me. Can't you give me a spell to make him go away or put some kind of protection around me? I don't ever want him to grab me again.'

‘I'll get you some help but you'll have to be patient, it might take a while.'

‘Oh thank you, thank you; from the tip of my nose to the top of my toe I thank you.'

Jack got Peabody a cushion to sit on before opening his Book of Shadows. He picked up his wand and wrote to Nora. He waited for an answer but none came. Peabody's legs were trembling and Jack was sure he was genuinely scared. He tapped the open page in the hope his answer would come but no writing appeared. A loud buzzing made them both turn towards the open window. Jack smiled as a large beetle wearing a tiny pair of spectacles flew into the room and landed on his bed.

‘I think help has arrived.'

The Dorysk transformed into a small bird and then a large rat before his prickles finally appeared. Jack wondered if he was showing off for Peabody's benefit.

‘I have a message from Nora. The Bogie is to follow me back to Ewell House. Nora wants to hear for herself exactly what happened, and when and where the encounter took place.'

Peabody looked pleadingly at Jack.

‘You'll be fine, just tell the truth and I'm sure Nora will help you.'

‘Are you ready?' the Dorysk asked Peabody, as he transformed back into a large rat, identical to Motley except for the glasses.

Peabody stood and followed the Dorysk onto the windowsill but before he climbed down the ivy he turned and bowed low to Jack.

‘You truly are a friend to all.'

When they'd gone Jack wrote down the information he'd gained from Peabody. Velindur was obviously looking for the torc but he didn't seem to know it was in pieces, not if what Peabody had said was true. He hoped Nora would send him a message later, but while he was waiting he settled down to ask his Book of Shadows about Elidon.

 

 

ELIDON

Jack was already in bed when Grandad came in to say goodnight. He turned his bedside light off and lay on his back thinking about the events of the last few days. He tried to pick out the information he might need for the quest that lay ahead. He desperately wanted to talk things over with Elan and Nora but he knew he'd have to wait until the morning. His book had answered a few of his questions and he'd read a whole chapter about the Lost Treasure of Annwn. He now knew what the King's torc looked like, how heavy it was and who'd made it but he'd not had any of his questions answered to his satisfaction. He'd read a lot but learnt nothing at the same time. When he tried a direct question his book had slammed shut. Either it didn't know the locations of the two missing pieces of the torc or, as he had suspected, this was something he'd have to find out for himself. No matter what he'd tried, his book wouldn't open again. Elidon was still a mystery. He'd not learnt anything new about the strange land he had to enter. He'd only been told what he knew already by heart…

Elidon, Land of Shadow, where secrets are hid.

Was this where Velindur had been transported to? If so, it meant crystal magic was involved.

It's in the here and now but nowhere to be seen.

Peabody had said he couldn't see Velindur, but he'd been spoken to and grabbed. This would confirm there was a land no one could see. But how could Velindur see Peabody? The more Jack thought about it the less sense it made. He repeated the last piece of information he knew.

Knowledge is needed from the Druid's Library and the

Labyrinth beyond before Elidon can be found.

Only those with the key may open the door,

and once inside, there is no turning back.

He'd used his key, he'd been into the library and the labyrinth, and Elidon certainly wasn't there. The only knowledge he'd managed to bring out of the Druid's library was the complete book about crystal magic. He knew it was stored inside his head but he didn't know how to access the information. Jack was drifting off to sleep when another thought struck him. He'd brought something else away from Falconrock, the magic crystal he'd found in the pool. What if the key his book had mentioned wasn't the one that hung round his neck? What if the words were referring to the crystal? If he could summon it he might be able to enter Elidon. There was a lot he needed to discuss with Nora and Elan. There was one thing that reassured him: one of the missing pieces of the torc was hidden in the here and now so surely that wouldn't be too hard to find. Jack closed his eyes and visualised the crystal he'd pulled from the pool. As the crystal spun and shone in Jack's mind he fell asleep.