Free Glasruhen Gate by Catherine Cooper Page B

you listening? It said in the book that we can’t enter until Samhain. If we do we’re in trouble.’
    ‘I was listening but it didn’t say anything about ravens, did it?’
    Jack shook his head and tried to protest, but Camelin continued.
    ‘Naw it didn’t. And we won’t have to walk over the branches we can fly through. What d’you say?’
    ‘Nora will be back soon. We’d better wait here as she asked us to. What would happen if she came back and found us gone?’
    ‘I want to go to the fair!’
    ‘So do I,’ piped a familiar voice.
    ‘And me too,’ said Charkle.
    ‘You followed us again,’ snapped Camelin.
    ‘Nobody said we couldn’t. You were supposed to come and tell us when you were going on another adventure,’ Timmery replied. ‘Don’t forget, we have secrets now.’
    Camelin frowned at the little bats.
    ‘Maybe my family went into Annwn, through one of the other gateways before they got closed. I can’t rest until I’ve searched everywhere. I’d like to go and look for them.’
    ‘Come on Jack, we can say we were helping Charkle. You did promise him that when the cauldron was remade we’d help him.’
    ‘I did,’ agreed Jack. ‘But…’
    ‘No buts, let’s transform now. We can leave your clothes here; no one’s going to find them. Close your eyes everyone.’

    Jack shook his feathers. He still wasn’t happy about going through Glasruhen Gate, even as a bird, but the green glow from the gateway did look inviting. And he too wanted to see the fair.
    ‘You promise we won’t be long, just a quick look. I told Orin I wouldn’t be late tonight.’
    ‘We’ll be back before you know it.’
    ‘Won’t it be dark in Annwn?’ asked Timmery. ‘The sun’s gone down now.’
    ‘Have a quick look for us and see what’s going on. If Nora’s still on the other side, she’ll see us straight away, but she won’t notice you.’
    ‘Ooh! The start of an adventure, I love adventures.’
    ‘I don’t think we’re going to be gone long enough for it to be an adventure Timmery,’ said Jack, but the little bat had already flitted into the green glow.
    ‘That was quick,’ said Camelin as Timmery re-appeared. ‘What’s it like? Was Nora there? Did anyone see you?’
    ‘Can’t see a thing, there’s bright sunlight on the other side.’
    ‘I’ll go,’ said Charkle. ‘I can see in daylight.’
    ‘Couldn’t you see anything at all?’ asked Camelin after Charkle had gone.
    Before Timmery could answer Charkle flitted back through the archway.
    ‘It’s safe to go through. I can’t see anyone around at all. It’s deserted.’
    ‘Deserted?’ croaked Camelin. ‘What d’you mean deserted? What about the fair?’
    ‘No fair, no people. Just hills and fields.’
    ‘Come on Jack, we need to go and see for ourselves. There has to be a fair.’
    Jack hesitated.
    ‘It’s alright for the rest of you, but if we get caught I’m the mortal. I’m the one who’ll be in trouble.’
    ‘They’d have to catch us first,’ laughed Camelin. ‘We can fly faster than anyone can run. Coming?’
    ‘I suppose so.’
    Timmery fluttered around the gateway.
    ‘What am I going to do? I can’t see a thing through there.’
    ‘Then you’ll have to stay here, Charkle can keep you company. We’ll tell you all about it when we get back,’ replied Camelin.
    ‘Or you could climb onto my back,’ said Jack. ‘But you’d have to hold tight.’
    ‘Oh I will Jack Brenin, I will. Thank you, thank you.’
    When Timmery had attached himself to Jack’s feathers Camelin hopped forward.
    ‘Ready?’
    ‘Ready,’ Timmery and Charkle replied.
    ‘How will we know when it’s time to come back?’ asked Jack
    ‘When we can’t eat anymore,’ chuckled Camelin. ‘Come on, let’s go and find that fair.’
    Jack watched as the others disappeared into the glowing green light. He hesitated for a moment before he took off and followed them through Glasruhen Gate.

INTO ANNWN
    On the other side of the portal