The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [62]
Jack shook his head in disbelief. This meant Elan had to be the same age as Nora.
‘So what do you look like?’
‘When you find the cauldron plates and we reopen the Western Portal into Annwn you’ll be able to see me as I really am, but not until then.’
Jack didn’t know what to say. He hadn’t even considered that Elan was anything other than she appeared. He thought she’d learned how to do things with her wand from Nora, just as he had.
‘Will I ever see you again if we succeed?’
‘I have to return to Annwn to renew my strength. Like Nora and Arrana I won’t survive forever on Earth, but it doesn’t mean I won’t see you again.’
Jack swallowed hard. His eyes watered as he fought back the tears. Saying goodbye to Nora, Elan and Camelin wasn’t something he’d be able to do easily. They’d probably soon forget about him once they went through the portal. No matter what Elan said he might never see them again. He swallowed hard and straightened his back. He’d promised to help and he would. He’d been having fun and had forgotten it was a matter of life and death for Nora and Arrana and now, it seemed, for Elan too. They were his friends and he wouldn’t let them down.
‘Are you all right?’ Elan asked as she put her hand on Jack’s arm.
‘I am now,’ he replied and managed to smile. ‘It was just a bit of a shock.’
‘That’s why we didn’t tell you everything at once. We didn’t want you to be frightened and run away.’
‘I probably would have done. I’m good at running.’
‘Bet you’re not as fast as me,’ she laughed. ‘Beat you to the sundial!’
They ran and laughed all the way into Nora’s garden. As they sped past the bird table a flock of starlings took off.
‘Told you I could beat you!’
Jack was too out of breath to answer. As he gulped for air he noticed Camelin waddling on the roof shouting something to the startled birds as they flew past. He was too far away to hear but he had a good idea what his friend had been saying.
‘Next time you can have my backpack on and then we’ll see who wins,’ Jack said when he finally got his breath back. ‘I think you had a bit of an advantage.’
‘Big day tomorrow,’ Nora said as she joined them. ‘A longer flight for you Jack and a visit to Westwood to reunite Charkle with his family.’
Jack didn’t want to have to say goodbye to Charkle; he really liked the little dragon.
‘Will he come back and visit?’
‘I certainly hope so,’ replied Nora. ‘He’ll probably bring Norris and Snook with him too. It’s a good job they’re only small or we wouldn’t all fit in the kitchen.’
‘Did someone say kitchen? Is it tea time?’ Camelin asked as he swooped down onto Nora’s shoulder.
‘You know very well it’s not, but now we’re together I’ve got some good news. I’m meeting Peabody tonight at dusk.’
‘Where?’ Camelin asked.
‘Here. He’s going to use the tunnel. We’ll leave your flying lesson until later, if you don’t mind Jack, and have an early tea. We need to be ready for our visitor. Once he’s returned my golden acorn we’ll put it somewhere very safe until its needed for the ritual.’
As the sun sank behind Glasruhen Hill they left the kitchen and went over to the hole in the garden. Nora raised her wand and removed the prickly bush. They didn’t have to wait long before they heard footsteps inside the tunnel. They grew louder as they came closer to the entrance. In the half-light Jack saw the end of a very long nose appear before the rest of Peabody stepped out onto the grass.
‘Oh great Seanchai,’ Peabody began as he took off his cap and bowed low before Nora. ‘I’ve come to speak with you.’
‘Speak!’ exclaimed Nora. ‘I thought you’d come to return my golden acorn.’
‘It’s the golden acorn I wish to speak of, most wise and kind Guardian of the Sacred Grove,’ continued Peabody as he bowed again.
‘Where’s my golden acorn? You know it’s Druid’s gold don’t you?’
‘I do now but I no longer have it.’
‘Explain yourself before I turn you into a Brownie.’
Peabody straightened and replaced