Glasruhen Gate by Catherine Cooper Read Free Book Online

they were spying, what do you say Agye?’
    ‘Spying it isss. Them that tell liesss we getsss to keep and eat, they don’t come bothering usss no more then.’
    ‘Release him,’ piped a small voice from above
the well.
    ‘Timmery!’ exclaimed Jack.
    ‘And Charkle,’ said another shrill voice.
    ‘Don’t look in her eyes, either of you,’ shouted Camelin. ‘Go get Nora, she’ll sort them out.’
    ‘We don’t need to, everything’s under control,’ said Charkle.
    Jack didn’t feel things were under control. He didn’t want Nora to know he’d sneaked out, they’d both be in trouble if she found out, but the kind of trouble they’d be in with Nora would be better than the kind they were in now.
    ‘Release him,’ Timmery shouted in his loudest voice. ‘Or else!’
    Grol and Agye sounded like a steam engine as they both exploded in laughter.
    ‘Don’t you know who we are?’ asked Grol.
    ‘You’re gargoyles,’ replied Timmery. ‘Seen plenty of your kind but never had the pleasure of speaking to one before.’
    ‘At last someone who knowsss usss,’ laughed Agye. ‘So you’ll know we ain’t frightened of a couple of small batsss and a fat raven. There’s nothing you could do to harm usss.’
    Jack could hear whispering behind his back.
    ‘Brilliant!’ exclaimed Camelin. ‘Don’t worry Jack. We’ll have you free in no time.’
    Grol and Agye rocked from side to side as they laughed even harder. Jack heard a fluttering of wings.
    ‘I need your help Jack,’ shouted Camelin. ‘I’m coming in with my eyes closed so you’ll have to guide me. Let me know if I’m on target.’
    Jack had no idea what was about to happen. Grol and Agye struggled for breath in between their fits of laughter. They laughed even more when a blob of mud splattered Agye on the nose.
    ‘Ooooh! That hurt!’ she chortled.
    ‘You’re going to have to think of something better than that!’ shouted Grol.
    ‘Where did it land?’ asked Camelin.
    ‘Bang on her nose.’
    Camelin flew over again and Jack watched as he shot a beak-full of mud at Agye again.
    ‘Smack in her eyes,’ Jack shouted excitedly when he realised Camelin was trying to block out her gaze. He tried to move but he could still feel Agye’s intense stare through the mud. Grol continued laughing as mud slid down Agye’s face.
    ‘Fire three!’ commanded Timmery.
    ‘Right on target,’ Jack called. ‘But it keeps sliding…’
    Before he could finish, a flame engulfed Agye’s stony face. Jack could hear a high-pitched wail. Grol’s mouth fell open, he wasn’t laughing any more. Jack felt his body go limp as he collapsed to the ground.
    ‘Are you OK?’ Camelin asked.
    ‘I think so.’
    ‘What you done to her?’ Grol hissed. ‘Releassse her.’
    ‘Not bad for two little bats and a fat raven!’ laughed Camelin.
    ‘Do something Grol, this mud’s rock hard. I can’t see a thing.’
    ‘Like what?’
    Camelin paced up and down in front of the well.
    ‘We could make a bargain and I’ll come and peck two eye holes for you. But if you break your word we’ll be back.’
    ‘Anything, anything you say.’ Agye hissed.
    ‘First, you must promise never to freeze ravens again.’
    ‘Or bats and rats,’ added Timmery.
    ‘I promisesss.’
    ‘Second, we need some information, which is why we needed to speak to Uriel in the first place.’
    ‘She won’t see you, she doesn’t see anyone. We deal with visssitorsss.’
    ‘Well let’s hope you can help. We need to know where to find Coriss.’
    ‘Not seen her for yearsss,’ said Grol. ‘But I know who would know. You need to go and find yourself a Bogie, they’re the only onesss who know that kind of stuff.’
    ‘We’ve already seen a Bogie, that’s why we came to see Uriel. Someone must know where Coriss lives.’
    ‘What about a Dorysk? You’d have to catch one firssst, and they won’t give you information unless you’ve got something to trade.’
    ‘A Dorysk!’ exclaimed Camelin.