The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [47]
‘Look at this!’ croaked Camelin who had his head out of the window. ‘Down there in the grass.’
Everyone crowded around. Jack could see a hole, exactly like the one he’d seen in the kitchen.
‘Well that explains how they got in. They’ve obviously tunnelled under the hedge and climbed up the trellis. Look, all the ivy’s been pulled down,’ said Elan.
Nora began pacing up and down.
‘It must have happened while we were on the island. The trees wouldn’t be able to get a message to us there. For them to do this in broad daylight isn’t good. They usually do this sort of thing at night, and never here, not with all the protection we’ve got. I’m not happy about this.’
Jack sat on the edge of the bed and bit his knuckle.
‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. You gave me the acorn to look after and now it’s gone.’
‘Don’t worry Jack,’ said Nora kindly. ‘This isn’t your fault. I thought the acorn would be safe here. I was wrong. I never expected anyone or anything to come under the hedge.’
‘But you need the acorn for the ritual. Can you get it back?’
‘We’re going to need some extra help,’ said Elan.
‘We are,’ agreed Nora. ‘Elan, you go and find Motley, and Camelin can fly over to see Timmery later. We’ll have a meeting tonight to decide what to do.’
Jack was too upset to ask Camelin who Timmery was.
‘Leave this to us,’ said Nora as she gently squeezed Jack’s shoulder. ‘There’s nothing else we can do at the moment.’
Jack felt awful, and then an even more terrible thought struck him.
‘Where’s Orin? She was asleep on my pillow the last time I saw her.’
‘Orin,’ they shouted.
Nora, Jack and Camelin rushed around the house searching for her.
‘She’s gone,’ sobbed Jack. ‘They’ve taken her too; it’s all my fault.’
Nora put her arm around Jack’s shoulder.
‘We’ll get her back if we can,’ she told him. ‘Get yourself out of those wet clothes. We’ll meet in the kitchen in ten minutes and start making plans. This can’t wait until tonight.’
Jack changed as quickly as he could. How was he going to tell Motley his sister was gone? Tears streamed down his cheeks. This was no time to cry. He dried his eyes. He had to be strong and help the others find Orin. He took the stairs two at a time and dashed into the kitchen. Motley was standing on the table talking to Nora. He didn’t need his wand to understand that Motley was upset.
‘What’s happening?’ he whispered to Camelin.
‘Nora’s going down the tunnel after the Spriggans to try to rescue Orin and get the golden acorn back, Motley wants to go too but Nora said no. It’s too dangerous. He’s agreed to gather the Night Guard and circle the hole. They’ll keep watch until Nora comes back.’
‘I want to go too,’ said Jack in a loud wobbly voice.
‘You’re too big for the hole,’ said Nora.
‘I can squeeze down there if you can.’
‘Mmmm,’ said Nora thoughtfully. ‘There’s something I haven’t told you. To go down the tunnel, I’m going to have to shape shift.’
Jack remembered the words from his Book of Shadows.
‘The Seanchai, Keeper of Secrets and Ancient Rituals, Guardian of the Sacred Grove, Healer, Shape Shifter and Wise Woman; that’s you isn’t it?’
‘It is. You’ve been using your Book well, but it’s too dangerous for me to let you go down the tunnel.’
‘I’m going to be flying back into the past. You don’t mind me doing that.’
Jack was close to tears again.
‘I’ve got to do something to help. Camelin and I can transform, I can use my beak and claws to defend myself if I have to.’
Camelin frowned at Jack.
‘I think we should stay here,’ he croaked.
‘And I say we should go.’
Jack straightened his back, folded his arms and clenched his teeth.
‘I agree with Jack,’ said Elan as she came in from the garden.
‘Are you sure?’ asked Nora.
‘Sure,’ Jack and Elan said together.
‘We’d better work out a plan quickly. We don’t know how long Orin’s been gone,’ said Nora.
‘I think we should follow their trail through the tunnel and find out where it leads first,’ said Elan. ‘Agreed?’
‘Agreed,’ everyone replied.
‘We might have to make some quick decisions because