itâs not easy. It can sometimes take years of practice to get it right but Iâm sure youâll get the hang of it.â
âDidnât you know, heâs a natural,â muttered Camelin.
Jack ignored him and spoke directly to Nora.
âIf you show me how, Iâll practise till I get it right.â
Camelin humphed again and grumbled under his breath.
âYou can watch if you want to,â said Jack.
Nora picked up the bucket and tipped the grubs out into a dish.
âOff you go to your grandadâs and Iâll sort out these little delicacies. By the time you get back we should be ready to start.â
âDonât eat anything thatâs wrapped up,â Camelin warned Jack as he reached the kitchen door, âyou never know what might be inside.â
âI wonât,â Jack assured him.
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By the time Jack and Elan returned to the kitchen the table was laden with all kinds of food. Jack could see several dishes at one end of the table, each piled high with tiny leaf parcels. In Camelinâs place was his favourite bowl, already full of his favourite things.
âNora said I could choose first if I helped,â explained Camelin when he saw Jack looking at his bowl.
âI didnât mean before everyone arrived,â said Nora.
âI donât have to put it all back do I?â
âEurgh! No!â replied Elan. âWe donât know where your beakâs been.â
Camelin puffed out his chest feathers.
âIâll have you know I keep my beak perfectly clean.â
Jack smiled. He didnât think it was the right time to remind Camelin about the pizza cheese that quite often got stuck on it.
âAny sign of the Dorysk?â asked Nora.
Jack heard a loud buzzing and a tiny voice.
âDid someone mention my name?â
He watched as the Dorysk shape shifted twice in mid-air before his feet touched the floor. His usual prickly form hurried over to Nora. He bowed low to her, then to Elan and finally to Jack.
âWhat about me? Donât I get a bow?â grumbled Camelin.
The Dorysk ignored him and offered Jack something very small. Jack could barely hold it between his finger and thumb.
âWhat is it?â
âFor the great Jack Brenin, an invitation,â replied the Dorysk as he bowed again.
Camelin frowned and began muttering to himself.
âThe great Jack Brenin, what about the magnificent Camelin?â
âOh youâre not included. I was instructed to give it to Jack.â
Camelin hunched his wings and glowered at the Dorysk. Jack held the paper up to the light and tried to examine it more closely. Nora got out her wand.
âI think we need to make this a bit bigger so you can see what it says, donât you?â
She carefully aimed at Jackâs fingers. As she whispered, Amplio, the tiny paper began to grow until Jack could see it was a small delicate envelope. The front was covered in strange writing. Camelin flew up onto Jackâs shoulder to get a better look.
âNot again, doesnât anyone use proper letters? What was the point of me learning my alphabet when no one else uses it?â
âItâs fairy script,â explained Nora. âIf youâd paid more attention over the years youâd have recognised it.â
âFairies,â grumbled Camelin, âworse than Timmery for twittering and wittering, usually about nothing.â
âAnd how would you know that?â asked Nora, âI didnât know youâd shared food with them.â
Jack smiled as Camelin tried to put on his innocent look. If Camelin had sampled fairy food, it would explain his warning about the small green parcels. He could ask Camelin about it later when they were alone. Right now, Jack was too excited; his heart was racing as he looked at the writing on the front of the envelope.
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âI can tell you what it says,â said the Dorysk, âIâm an expert in