Glasruhen Gate by Catherine Cooper Read Free Book Online Page B

unusual. Jack wondered if they were going to be there all night, and then Camelin started his shuffle dance. Jack decided to join in. Unfortunately, the branch wasn’t strong enough to support a lot of bouncing up and down. There was a loud crack that echoed round the forest; then the branch came down. No one was hurt but it sent all the creatures on the ground scurrying away, except for one.
    ‘Got you!’ cried Camelin as he grabbed a large beetle in his claw.
    ‘Let me go you big bully,’ a small voice replied.
    ‘I’m not a bully. I’m just good at catching Dorysks.’
    ‘Alright, you recognised me. You get to ask your question.’
    Camelin released the beetle. In a flash it shape shifted into what looked like a large hedgehog. It had prickles all over its body except for its face. On the end of its nose was a small pair of glasses. It shuffled and snuffled around Jack’s feet, until eventually, it sat on its haunches and sighed before speaking.
    ‘Let’s get down to business then.’
    ‘Business!’ exclaimed Jack.
    ‘Don’t worry,’ said Camelin as he stepped in front of Jack. ‘I’m in charge here.’
    There was a tittering from Timmery and Charkle, which Camelin chose to ignore.
    ‘What have you got to trade?’
    ‘We didn’t come to trade, we’re visiting. Jack’s new to the area and I’m showing him around.’
    ‘So why’d you catch me?’
    ‘I wanted Jack to meet the most knowledgeable Dorysk in the West.’
    ‘Only the West? I think you’ll find I’m the most well informed Dorysk in the whole kingdom.’
    ‘I told you he was famous,’ Camelin said as he turned to Jack.
    ‘If you’re visiting, where’ve you been?’
    ‘Uriel’s well.’
    The bats and Jack nodded. The Dorysk looked shocked.
    ‘Uriel’s well! No one goes there!’
    ‘Jack hadn’t seen gargoyles before, I told you he’s visiting. We’re off to see Coriss next.’
    ‘At the Mere Pool?’
    ‘Yes, at the Mere Pool. Now we really must be going, we’ve got a lot of other places to go to before daybreak.’
    The Dorysk looked thoughtful. It ran its sharp claws through the dead leaves, found a maggot, flipped it in the air and gulped it down.
    ‘Care for one?’ he asked Jack.
    ‘No thank you. We ate before we came out and we really need to be going now.’
    ‘No matter,’ the Dorysk replied as he dug out another maggot. ‘I’m sure we’ll meet again another time.’

    ‘You were brilliant,’ Jack told Camelin once they were airborne.
    ‘They’re not very clever, you know, not as clever as ravens.’
    ‘Do you think he realised you’d tricked him?’
    ‘Naw, he’ll be tucking into those maggots now and won’t give us another thought. Come on, we’d better get you back to your room.’
    Timmery and Charkle said goodnight when they reached Grandad’s house.
    ‘Let us know when you’re off out again, we’d like to come with you,’ piped Timmery.
    ‘Maybe you could come and help us search for my brothers,’ added Charkle.
    ‘Once the cauldron is remade and everything’s been sorted out we’ll come and help you, won’t we Camelin?’ said Jack.
    Camelin grumbled to himself.
    ‘We will,’ Jack assured Charkle. ‘I’ve got to go now or I’ll never get up in the morning.’
    ‘See you after school then,’ said Camelin once Jack had transformed and was in his pyjamas.
    Jack yawned, but before he could answer, Camelin was gone. Once Jack was in bed Orin came and lay down next to him on the pillow. She said something, but Jack was too sleepy to go and find his wand.
    ‘It’s been quite a night,’ he told her. ‘I don’t think I’ll be going on any more night flights but at least we know where Coriss is now. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning.’
    Jack closed his eyes. He couldn’t keep them open any longer.

THE MERE POOL
    Jack could hear Grandad calling him from downstairs. He forced his eyes open but they promptly closed again. Orin nudged his ear with her nose, but even