Silver Hill Read Free Page A

the spare key for the lock. We were going to get his wand out and put a twig in its place so Nora wouldn’t know he’d got it back. Then he was going to big us both.’
    Berry nodded in agreement and continued explaining.
    ‘We made a hole in the back of the dresser and got into the drawer but there are lots of keys. We’ve been trying as many as we could when Nora’s been visiting you.’
    ‘And you didn’t find the right key.’
    ‘No,’ replied Fergus. ‘None of them would turn in the lock. I said to Camelin that Nora might have put a spell on the lock but he said she wouldn’t have, it’s the only cupboard in the whole house he can’t get into, which is why she put it in there in the first place.’
    ‘Have you tried them all?’
    Berry shook his head.
    ‘Not yet, but Camelin said it didn’t matter if we couldn’t find the spare key. He’s sure Nora’s special key is in the drawer too.’
    ‘Special key?’ asked Jack.
    ‘It’s supposed to open anything,’ replied Berry. ‘But how could just one key open any lock?’
    Fergus shook his head and rolled his eyes.
    ‘Because it’s special, it’s a magic key.’
    ‘There’s nothing special in that drawer. We should know, we’ve been in and out of it for the last ten days,’ said Berry.
    A flapping of wings made them all look up.
    ‘I thought I told you two to meet me by the shed in the kitchen garden,’ grumbled Camelin as he landed on a branch. ‘What are you doing here?’
    Fergus and Berry didn’t reply.
    ‘Are you two listening? You can go and do that special job for me at lunchtime. You won’t be disturbed for at least an hour.’
    Fergus coughed and stood on his haunches.
    ‘If you don’t mind we’ve decided not to be bigged after all.’
    Camelin glowered at Jack.
    ‘You told them, didn’t you?’
    ‘It was only fair they knew what happened to the bun.’
    ‘I thought you were my friend?’
    ‘I am but you wouldn’t want to hurt Fergus and Berry would you?’
    Camelin shook his head.
    ‘But I want my wand back.’
    ‘I think you’re going to have to wait until Nora says you can have it.’
    Camelin let out an exasperated sigh.
    ‘Life’s not fair, especially when you’re a raven.’
    Berry looked relieved.
    ‘We’ll be off now,’ said Fergus, and without waiting for a reply they both scampered away.
    Jack felt a bit guilty. The willow tree would have heard the whole conversation and it wouldn’t be long before Nora found out what Camelin was up too. Unless she knew already, keeping any kind of secret from Nora was difficult. If she did know, he doubted she’d have left the spare key in the drawer. It was also unlikely she’d keep her special key in a place where it could easily be found.
    Camelin sighed.
    ‘You can tell me about the book now. I’ve got nothing better to do until lunchtime.’
    Jack found a comfortable spot, lay on his back and began to tell Camelin all about dragons.

HOWLING HILL
    After lunch Nora decided Jack ought to go home. She said he wasn’t to overdo it on his first day out. He hadn’t realised how tired he was until he got back and immediately fell asleep. He’d slept again after supper. When it came to bedtime Jack was wide awake. He lay in bed trying to feel sleepy but his mind was racing. Too many thoughts about dragons were filling his head. He heard the hall clock chime eleven. It wasn’t long before Grandad climbed the stairs and started getting ready for bed. When the house was quiet, Jack reached over to his bedside table for his Book of Shadows, picked up his wand and created a light from the tip so he could see to write to Elan.
    Half an hour later, he’d written three pages. He watched the ink disappear and shut his book. He didn’t expect an answer tonight. Before he put his wand away Jack tiptoed over to Orin’s cage.
    ‘Are you asleep?’ he whispered.
    The curtain twitched before Orin poked her head out.
    ‘I thought you were in bed.’
    ‘I’ve been watching