The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [54]
‘Spriggans need a good sense of smell. The wider their nostrils, the more important they are,’ continued Elan.
Chief Knuckle swaggered toward Nora. His guard hurried behind him carrying an assortment of curved picks, sharp prodders and long crowbars. The Chief’s pure white cloak of rabbit fur swept the floor. On his head was a grey rat pelt, the tail having been stiffened into a candleholder. The candle was unlit but wax had dripped down the rat’s pelt hat onto his hair and beard. In his hand he carried the torch.
‘Shuts up the lots of you!’ the Chief piped, in a very high squeaky voice, to the rest of the Spriggans who’d clambered behind him into the chamber.
‘Chief Knuckle,’ began Nora, but before she could say any more he interrupted her.
‘I don’t welcomes visitors, especially not ones what makes me walk a long ways out of me chamber.’ He stopped speaking and sniffed the air slowly in the direction of the tunnel mouth where Jack and Elan were hiding. ‘I don’t likes what I smells.’
‘We both have a problem. I’ve come to suggest a solution....’
‘Problem! Problem!’ Chief Knuckle screeched as he glowered at Nora. ‘The only problems I’ve got are unwelcome visitors demanding to sees me. Binds her up,’ he hissed though his sharp teeth.
Jack watched as a group of three Spriggans brought a long coil of rope as close as they dared.
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ said Nora quietly, ‘I wish to speak to you about a golden acorn?’
‘Well I didn’t come to speaks. I came to ties you up and feeds you to me rats, not that there’s much meat on an old hag like you.’
‘Enough!’ said Nora as she stood.
A gasp rang around the cave as she towered above the Chief. Her head nearly touched the roof. The Spriggans with weapons pointed them at her.
‘Enough I say,’ Nora announced firmly as she produced her wand. ‘I could turn you all into gherkins if I wished, but you’ve stolen something which belongs to me and I want it back. Not only that, I’ve got something which belongs to you. I’ve got no room in my garden for a giant Spriggan. You can come and take him back once I’ve got my golden acorn back.’
All the Spriggans had scurried away from Nora. They were all trying to hide behind the Chief. Their small legs were trembling so badly the chamber was filled with a knocking sound. Only Chief Knuckle stood his ground.
‘Spriggans never steals. They only takes what belongs to them,’ he informed Nora with as much courage as he could muster.
‘And yet you stole my golden acorn. I’m Eleanor, Seanchai and Guardian of the Sacred Grove. I presume you’ve heard of me.’
Every Spriggan in the room fell flat on its face, except Chief Knuckle.
‘All the gold from the earth belongs to us,’ he pronounced defiantly.
‘But this gold wasn’t from the earth. It came from Annwn. It’s Druid’s gold and belongs to me.’
This final revelation brought Chief Knuckle to his knees.
‘Forgives us, oh Seanchai, we didn’t knows. The Bogie said it was his.’
‘What exactly did the Bogie tell you?’
‘He said he’d lost it on the path and a boy picked it up and wouldn’t give it back. He told us the boy was staying with an old woman at the big house. He gaves me this in exchange for his gold.’
Chief Knuckle held up the torch with a very wobbly hand so Nora could see his prize.
‘The Bogie lied. The golden acorn belongs to me and if I don’t have it back by the end of the month I’ll shrink you down to the size of a matchstick.’
Chief Knuckle gasped and turned pale.
‘I promises you it will be brought back to you, oh great Seanchai.’
‘When you bring it back you can come and shrink your friend down to his normal size and take him away. I never expect to see you in my garden again and you’ll never hunt rats on my land anymore. Do you understand?’
The Chief nodded and bowed as he backed away from Nora. As she turned to go she held up her wand and sent sparks flying around the cave from its tip. All the Spriggans crouched down and shielded their bodies. There was a terrible shrieking as they all tried to talk at once. In the confusion Nora turned around slowly and transformed back into a