The Golden Acorn - Catherine Cooper [63]
‘I came to explain. You see my brother Pycroft has the acorn and I can’t find him anywhere. He made me lie to the Spriggans. He’s the one who gave me the torch for Chief Knuckle. He’s the one you should be talking to. It wasn’t my fault.’
When Nora didn’t answer Peabody began shuffling his feet and took a step towards the tunnel. Gerda settled herself down in front of the hole and eyed Peabody suspiciously. He stepped away from her.
‘Can I go now?’ he asked quietly.
‘Not until I’ve made a small adjustment to your nose,’ replied Nora.
‘No, no, not my nose,’ wailed Peabody.
Nora raised her wand and aimed it straight at Peabody’s face. There was a green flash and a cry of surprise. For a few moments the light blinded them all. As their eyes grew accustomed to the twilight again Jack saw Peabody’s glasses lying on the grass. He bent down and picked them up.
‘My nose, my nose!’ sobbed Peabody.
Everyone looked to see what was wrong. A small button nose, which wasn’t long enough for Peabody to sit his glasses on, replaced the long, pointed one he’d been so proud of.
‘Now we both have a problem,’ said Nora sternly. ‘I’ll restore your nose once you return my golden acorn. I suggest you find your brother quickly. You have ten days. Go, and don’t return without it.’
Peabody snatched his glasses from Jack’s hand and put them in his pocket. He stumbled towards the hole. Gerda moved to the side and he dived in. They heard his retreating footsteps. No one spoke.
‘That wasn’t what I’d expected,’ Nora said eventually.
‘Will he get the acorn back?’ asked Jack.
‘I’ve just made finding it the most important thing in his life. I just hope he can get it back from Pycroft in time.’
‘There are only fourteen days to the Solstice,’ explained Elan.
‘Until the ritual?’ Jack asked.
‘Until the ritual,’ confirmed Nora.
They went to bed subdued. Jack didn’t go up to the loft. He was tired and needed a good night’s sleep. He was woken early by a loud rasping noise coming from the garden. He squinted as he opened the window to find out where the noise was coming from. He finally located the sound. It was coming from the new tree by the shed. Grub was snoring.
‘Does he do that every night?’ Jack asked Camelin at breakfast.
‘All night and most of the day. He sleeps more than I do.’
‘He doesn’t snore when he’s eating,’ added Charkle.
‘That’s something else he does more than me too. You should see the amount of food he gets through in a day.’
Nora had insisted that they eat an enormous breakfast.
‘It’s a long flight to Westwood. If you get tired and want to stop we’ll be right behind you in the car,’ Nora told them. ‘Now, off you go and transform whilst Elan and I pack the boot. We’ll take your clothes along just in case you get tired and want a lift back.’
Jack was used to transforming now. Each time it got easier and the more he flew the less he ached. He thought he’d probably suffer for a few days after a long-distance flight. This was going to be his first big test as a raven.
When they flew down to the car Charkle was sitting on Elan’s shoulder.
‘Are we all ready?’ Nora asked.
Everyone nodded.
Jack and Camelin set off across the fields. For a while Jack could see Nora’s Morris Traveller snaking its way along the roads but soon it was lost from sight. Their plan was to fly in a straight line towards the river, then follow it’s course. It appeared suddenly over the brow of a small hill they’d soared over, and then meandered gently over the landscape. They flew past farms and what looked like an endless patchwork quilt of greens, yellows and browns. They saw a ruined Abbey, remains of an old Roman fort and several large hills. Jack was beginning to tire.
‘Do you know anything about Westwood?’ he called to Camelin.
‘It’s a bit like Glasruhen Hill only smaller. There used to be a portal there but it got sealed up when the Romans came. It’s not far now. See the trees over there? Come on, race you.’
It wasn’t much of a race. Jack was out of breath when he finally landed next to Camelin who looked pleased with himself