The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [19]
‘I’m afraid.’
‘That’s only natural. You’ve seen a lot of unusual things in the last few days. You’re bound to feel different.’
‘Do I have to be turned into a raven?’
‘You didn’t find that out from your Book of Shadows.’
Jack felt worried when Nora scowled.
‘What has Camelin been telling you?’
‘Not much, but he did say you were going to transform me into a raven and I’d have to be naked.’
‘Yes, he’d take great delight in telling you that. We wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. The ritual is very quick. It involves a walk to the Raven’s Bowl at sunrise on a very special day of the year.’
‘Where’s the Raven’s Bowl?’
‘I’ll show you.’
Nora selected one of the books from the dresser and carefully opened it at the middle page. She unfolded a hand drawn map and spread it out on the table. It was different from any map Jack had seen before. It wasn’t drawn to scale and there were strange words and symbols around the edge. Nora pointed to the top of Glasruhen Hill and then let her finger move slightly lower down.
‘Here,’ she said, and pointed to a craggy rock on the map which was labelled the Raven’s Bowl. ‘There’s a natural hollow in the rock. That’s where we have to perform the ritual.’
‘Will a lot of people be there?’ Jack asked with renewed concern.
‘Please don’t worry. No one will see us and you can have my cloak. I doubt Camelin told you that.’
‘He didn’t.’
‘The ritual is quite easy. You’ll have a few words to learn but I’ll do the rest. All you’ll have to do is lie on the rock and look into the water inside the Raven’s Bowl. When you see the reflection of the sunrise recite the words and touch the water with your forehead.’
Nora paused.
‘The hardest part will be down to you Jack. You’ll have to want to become a raven with all your heart or it won’t happen.’
Nora was right. It would be hard. The last thing on earth he wanted was to be a raven. Even if he agreed to the ritual he’d never be able to leave the house so early in the morning and climb up to the Raven’s Bowl. What would he say to Grandad? How could he explain where he was going?
‘Don’t worry,’ said Nora as if she could read his mind. ‘We’ll invite you to stay here for a couple of days. You’ll see, everything will be fine.’
‘Will I have to go back to the Raven’s Bowl and do the ritual again to change back?’ enquired Jack, and then as a worrying afterthought he asked, ‘I will be able to change back won’t I?’
‘Of course you will. Once the ritual is complete you’ll be able to change into a raven and back again whenever you want just by putting your forehead on Camelin’s.’
‘When’s it going to happen?’
‘This Saturday.’
Jack felt sick.
Nora returned the book and picked up a piece of paper from the dresser and handed it to Jack.
‘I’ve written out a list of the things you’ll need to know before the ritual. You’ll be able to ask your Book of Shadows when you get home. You’ve put my golden acorn in a safe place haven’t you? We’ll need it for the ritual.’
Jack nodded and checked his pocket. The acorn was there. He looked at the paper. It was going to take him ages to ask all the questions Nora had given him.
‘The book wouldn’t answer one of my questions last night and then I couldn’t get it to open again.’
‘That was my fault. I didn’t want you to know about the transformation ritual until I’d spoken to you but I can remove the block now.’
Jack got his Book of Shadows out of his backpack and gave it to Nora. She held it between both hands.
‘Cardea,’ she whispered.
A blue light glowed from the closed book.
‘There you are, all done. Now you can ask anything you want and you’ll get the answers.’
‘Thanks,’ said Jack nervously. He wasn’t sure how answers would help him feel better about what lay ahead. He was glad Nora was convinced he’d succeed. He wished Camelin felt the same.
Elan came in with the basket full of eggs.
‘Will Camelin come down soon?’ asked Jack.
‘No, not until after lunch,’ replied Nora. ‘I’ve forbidden him to eat with us. He’s been sent upstairs to think about his bad behaviour. He’s in his loft sulking.’
‘Could I go and