Read Online Jack Shian and the King's Chalice by Andrew Symon - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Andrew Symon
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d’you mean?” asked Jack, slowly starting to get his thoughts in order. “Luck for what? And what was all that stuff about a mascot?”
“We’re goin’ to France for a game o’ Shian football. We do it every year, to play for the King’s Cup.”
“But we’re starting work tomorrow,” said Jack. “We can’t go anywhere else today.”
“Tonight, you mean.” Rana was getting annoyed. “We should’ve been at the castle ages ago.”
“It’s just a game o’ football,” said Ossian. “Cos-Howe against the Claville boys. They’ve been doin’ it for years. ’Course, the Stone bein’ back has made the journey a lot easier.”
“We’re already late,” Lizzie sided with her sister. “What’ll Mum think?”
“I’ll send a grig to let her know we’re OK,” said Ossian. “The grig can take the bags as well.”
“How will a grig carry all our bags?” asked Rana incredulously.
“Wi’ a charm, o’ course,” replied Ossian testily. “Now, has anyone got anythin’ to pay her?”
Petros reached into his pocket and took out a tiny coin. “Is that enough?” he asked.
“That’s fine. I won’t be long.”
Ossian, however, was gone for ages. The party continued, and every now and then someone would come up and compliment Jack on his courage. Jack’s back still ached, but the glow of the praise had a remarkably painkilling effect. He took another sip of the wine, and this time it did not burn his mouth.
Jack was basking in the unaccustomed feeling of being praised for his bravery, when one of the Cos-Howe group came up. Expecting another compliment, Jack looked up eagerly. His anticipation, however, was misplaced.
“Kids” snarled the youth, and turned on his heel.
Jack blinked in astonishment. What was all that about?
Lizzie began to fidget, asking repeatedly what time it was. Petros tried to sound as if he was in control.
“I think the castle’s about two miles away, but we could easily get lost. It’ll be getting dark soon. Why don’t we just hang out with Ossian and go and watch the game?”
“How are we getting to France?” asked Rana. “That’s a long way. I want to go home.”
“Ossian said the Stone had made the journey easier,” stated Petros. “That’s got to be worth trying.”
There followed a heated discussion about the rights and wrongs of travelling to France. Eventually, Petros said to his sisters, “All right, you two can try and get back on your own. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’ll get lost, and then what will you do?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” said Jack encouragingly. “How often will we get the chance to do this again?”
Ossian returned and informed them that a grig had been despatched to tell Aunt Katie that they were all all right. The music had died down, and Jack could see that people were starting to drift towards the great wooden door.
“How are we getting there?” he asked.
“Horse and hattock!” replied Ossian.
13
The Night Flight to France
Emerging through the great wooden door, Jack saw that about thirty people had congregated in the entrance chamber. Ossian was busy explaining to Petros about the history of the game against Claville. Rana and Lizzie followed reluctantly.
Cosmo, organising people into small groups, caught sight of Ossian.
“Can you get the others to France all right? You’re good with horses.”
Ossian indicated that this was no problem. He ushered them together to face the side wall of the chamber, ensuring they were all holding hands. Holding up his own right hand against the rock wall, he whispered, “ Effracto. ”
A section of the rock wall opened away from them, like a hinged door.
“Come on, quickly!” snapped Ossian.
Stepping smartly through the doorway, they changed back to human sizes again.
“You don’t get very long,” explained Ossian. “That’s why you do it in small groups. But we need to be human-size to get the horses.”
“Where are we getting the horses
“We’re goin’ to France for a game o’ Shian football. We do it every year, to play for the King’s Cup.”
“But we’re starting work tomorrow,” said Jack. “We can’t go anywhere else today.”
“Tonight, you mean.” Rana was getting annoyed. “We should’ve been at the castle ages ago.”
“It’s just a game o’ football,” said Ossian. “Cos-Howe against the Claville boys. They’ve been doin’ it for years. ’Course, the Stone bein’ back has made the journey a lot easier.”
“We’re already late,” Lizzie sided with her sister. “What’ll Mum think?”
“I’ll send a grig to let her know we’re OK,” said Ossian. “The grig can take the bags as well.”
“How will a grig carry all our bags?” asked Rana incredulously.
“Wi’ a charm, o’ course,” replied Ossian testily. “Now, has anyone got anythin’ to pay her?”
Petros reached into his pocket and took out a tiny coin. “Is that enough?” he asked.
“That’s fine. I won’t be long.”
Ossian, however, was gone for ages. The party continued, and every now and then someone would come up and compliment Jack on his courage. Jack’s back still ached, but the glow of the praise had a remarkably painkilling effect. He took another sip of the wine, and this time it did not burn his mouth.
Jack was basking in the unaccustomed feeling of being praised for his bravery, when one of the Cos-Howe group came up. Expecting another compliment, Jack looked up eagerly. His anticipation, however, was misplaced.
“Kids” snarled the youth, and turned on his heel.
Jack blinked in astonishment. What was all that about?
Lizzie began to fidget, asking repeatedly what time it was. Petros tried to sound as if he was in control.
“I think the castle’s about two miles away, but we could easily get lost. It’ll be getting dark soon. Why don’t we just hang out with Ossian and go and watch the game?”
“How are we getting to France?” asked Rana. “That’s a long way. I want to go home.”
“Ossian said the Stone had made the journey easier,” stated Petros. “That’s got to be worth trying.”
There followed a heated discussion about the rights and wrongs of travelling to France. Eventually, Petros said to his sisters, “All right, you two can try and get back on your own. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’ll get lost, and then what will you do?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun,” said Jack encouragingly. “How often will we get the chance to do this again?”
Ossian returned and informed them that a grig had been despatched to tell Aunt Katie that they were all all right. The music had died down, and Jack could see that people were starting to drift towards the great wooden door.
“How are we getting there?” he asked.
“Horse and hattock!” replied Ossian.
13
The Night Flight to France
Emerging through the great wooden door, Jack saw that about thirty people had congregated in the entrance chamber. Ossian was busy explaining to Petros about the history of the game against Claville. Rana and Lizzie followed reluctantly.
Cosmo, organising people into small groups, caught sight of Ossian.
“Can you get the others to France all right? You’re good with horses.”
Ossian indicated that this was no problem. He ushered them together to face the side wall of the chamber, ensuring they were all holding hands. Holding up his own right hand against the rock wall, he whispered, “ Effracto. ”
A section of the rock wall opened away from them, like a hinged door.
“Come on, quickly!” snapped Ossian.
Stepping smartly through the doorway, they changed back to human sizes again.
“You don’t get very long,” explained Ossian. “That’s why you do it in small groups. But we need to be human-size to get the horses.”
“Where are we getting the horses
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