Jack Shian and the Mapa Mundi Read Free

being orphans and having nowhere to stay.”
    â€œSo who’s been looking after them since Dunvik?” challenged Jack.
    â€œSome of the Elle-folk took them, up to Iceland, I think. But they can’t stay there forever. I can’t see them fitting in.”
    â€œIt’s not like they fit in here either,” pointed out Petros.
    â€œThere you are.” Their grandfather’s voice carried out to them from along the castle ramparts. “I see you’ve been enjoying what’s left of the snow.”
    â€œGrandpa, why are Fenrig and his sister here?” asked Jack. “That’s asking for trouble.”
    Grandpa Sandy stopped. He looked down at the three youngsters thoughtfully.
    â€œPetros,” he said after a few moments, “your mother would like you and Rana to go and unpack your bags. Would you go and help, please?”
    Petros threw Jack a quizzical look, but decided against arguing.
    â€œI need to get out of these wet clothes anyway. Come on, Rana.”
    â€œJack, we can have a little chat, just ourselves. I’ll get you dried when we get to the Stone Room.”
    Jack’s eyes opened wide. He had only twice seen the Stone: just after he had arrived under the castle, and once after the fight at Dunvik. The long winter shutdown had meant further visits had been out of the question.
    Wordlessly, Grandpa Sandy led Jack to the castle’s War Memorial entrance, from where they could see the stairs leading to the Stone Room.
    â€œWe’ll just wait here a minute,” whispered Grandpa, pulling Jack into the darkened doorway. “They’ll be finished soon.”
    Jack’s damp clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin. He shivered.
    A short while later, a man emerged from the doorway. He turned the key with a flourish, walked smartly across the small square and disappeared into the castle’s Great Hall.
    â€œWe can go now.” Leading Jack by the hand, Grandpa walked up to the locked door. Placing his left hand against it, he whispered, “ Perlignum! ”
    Jack felt a sudden lurch as he was pulled forward. Gasping slightly, he saw that he and his grandfather were at the foot of some stairs. They began to climb and soon reached the Stone Room’s large security door.
    â€œThis one is alarmed,” whispered Grandpa. “Stand back a minute.”
    Grandpa Sandy took out his sceptre and aimed it at the solid steel door. The sceptre’s ruby glowed, and Jack was aware of a soft shimmering sound, like far-off thunder. He stared in astonishment as the door melted in front of his eyes. Once they were through, the door reappeared. Jack found that his clothes, suddenly, were dry and warm.
    â€œYou haven’t come in that way before, have you?” asked Grandpa.
    â€œNo. You’ve only ever brought me up from the square. How d’you make the door disappear?”
    â€œOh, ways and means. You’ll learn them as you get older. I’d better deal with the cameras.”
    Grandpa Sandy held up his sceptre to the vaulted ceiling, putting the cameras on hold. Then he clicked his fingers, and two chairs appeared by the glass cabinet. Jack had seen the King’s Chalice in the cabinet once before, but the sight of it made him catch his breath.
    â€œIt does look good in there, doesn’t it?” said Grandpa. “The humans are delighted, even if they only get it for half the year.”
    They settled down into the chairs, and Grandpa began.
    â€œI’m sure you’re surprised to see Fenrig. Quite a lot changed at Dunvik: although the Brashat got suspended, there was an agreement that all Shian should have access to the Chalice and the Stone.”
    â€œI still don’t see why we have to share them with the Brashat,” snorted Jack. “They wouldn’t share them if they’d won.”
    â€œThe power of Gosol, Jack, remember. It’s about the goodness of the creator force. We must do the