Read Online The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper - Free Book Online Page A

me?’
    ‘No, this is something you need to see and do for yourself.’
    ‘How will I know where to find the Gnori and what am I looking for?’
    ‘The path will lead you. When you can’t go any further you have arrived.’
    Jack wanted to ask Elan what he would say to the Gnori but she’d already disappeared.
    ‘Bye,’ she called from the other side of the hedge. ‘See you tomorrow.’
    Jack looked around. He’d hoped Camelin might have been flying overhead but he couldn’t hear him. He took a deep breath and set off to find Newton Gill Forest. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the canopy as Jack walked along the path. He could see the trees whispering to one another. Unlike Camelin Jack didn’t mind Arrana and Nora knowing where he was. He didn’t feel alone with the trees for company.
    The changes were so gradual that Jack didn’t notice them until a sudden shiver went up and down his spine. The light was fading even though it was still early afternoon. The leaves had disappeared. Thick bare branches lined each side of the path and none of the trees swayed or whispered. He didn’t like the deepening gloom. It was different from Glasruhen; here nothing moved. There were no nymphs peeping out from behind the trees. As Jack peered through the shadows he thought he could see gnarled, sad-looking faces on every trunk. Jack’s heart felt heavy. He didn’t want to go any further.
    ‘Hello,’ he whispered.
    He held his breath. There wasn’t a sound.
    ‘Hello,’ he called more loudly. ‘Is anyone here?’
    A cracking branch made Jack swivel round. He wasn’t sure but the face on the tree next to him seemed to move. Jack reached out and touched its twisted misshapen nose with his finger. Immediately a pair of eyes opened. Jack jumped backwards.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ he gasped. ‘I didn’t realise you were alive.’
    ‘I wouldn’t call this being alive,’ the tree replied. ‘There aren’t many mortals who come here and even fewer who talk to me. Who are you?’
    ‘I’m Jack Brenin. Nora sent me to look for the Gnori of Newton Gill Forest. Is that you?’
    ‘Goodness no! You’re in the forest but to find the Gnori you’ll have to go further in. If I’m not mistaken you’re the Brenin we’ve been expecting.’
    Jack shouldn’t have been surprised. Everyone and everything seemed to know who he was.
    ‘Do you have a name?’
    ‘Not any more. We’re all the same. We’re Gnarles. Dead wood. This is what happens to trees when the Hamadryad dies. The Gnori you’re looking for is a hollow tree now. Dead wood. It used to be Allana the Beautiful.
    ‘I’m so sorry,’ Jack replied. ‘I’ve met Arrana so I understand.’
    Without Allana we are nothing. Once Arrana is no more the Gnarles will disappear too. All the Dryads left Newton Gill a long time ago. We’re all alone now.’
    Jack felt sad as he watched a tear trickling down the gnarled face.
    ‘Is there anything I can do to help?’
    ‘I doubt it. There isn’t much life left in any of us now. For a while the Dryads used to come back and sing but that was a long time ago. I can’t remember the last time we heard any singing.’
    ‘I can sing something for you.’
    More eyes had opened and were staring hopefully at Jack. This really was something he could easily do. He’d been in the school choir since he was six. He thought about the beautiful music he’d heard in Glasruhen and he knew some hymns that were similar. The Gnarles might like one of them. He closed his eyes to concentrate and sang the tune without the words. His voice rang through the forest pure and clear. When he’d finished he heard a great sigh from the Gnarles. Each wore a strange crooked smile and tears were in all their eyes.
    ‘That was beautiful. You sing as well as any Dryad.’
    Jack didn’t think this was true but he was pleased the Gnarles liked his song.
    ‘I ought to go and find the Gnori now.’
    ‘You will come back and sing to us again sometime,