The Golden Acorn Read Online Free Page A

frightened. Nothing will hurt you.’
    Jack wasn’t sure he liked the sound of strange thing s but before he had time to worry about anything Nora continued.
    ‘Now, I believe you have something which belongs to me.’
    Jack shook his head. He’d put the bandages in the bin; what else could he possibly have that belonged to Nora?
    ‘If you haven’t brought it, you’ll have to run along home and collect it because you’ll need it once we get to the middle of Glasruhen forest.’
    ‘I don’t know what you mean,’ replied Jack.
    ‘Something you might have found yesterday afternoon? It’s probably in your pocket?’
    Jack felt uncomfortable.
    ‘The acorn?’
    ‘Yes, the acorn. You do still have it don’t you?’
    Nora and Elan looked expectantly at Jack. He brought the acorn out of his pocket and offered it to Nora.
    ‘No, I want you to have it for now but you must keep it safe. It’s the only one we’ve got.’
    ‘What do you see Jack?’ Elan asked.
    It seemed like a stupid question but Jack answered politely.
    ‘A golden acorn.’
    ‘I knew it!’ Nora said as she took Jack’s other hand and shook it vigorously. ‘I knew you were The One .’
    ‘Er…. I don’t understand.’
    ‘There’s a prophecy, which was given to us. It tells of a mortal boy who can see the Druid’s Acorn,’ explained Nora.
    ‘That’s you Jack,’ continued Elan. ‘No other mortal can see it’s made of gold.’
    ‘You’re The One . I knew I was right. You’ve been chosen ,’ continued Nora.
    ‘Chosen to do what?’
    ‘Help me,’ said a voice from the doorway that Jack thought he recognised.
    As he turned around his mouth dropped open. There in the doorway was the raven from the Cricket Club. He looked at Nora, then Elan. Could they see and hear the talking bird too?
    ‘Is it real?’ he asked nervously.
    ‘Of course I’m real,’ the bird croaked.
    ‘I believe you two have already met,’ said Nora.
    The raven gave a rather loud caw as it made its way across the stone floor. There was a lot of wing flapping as it passed Jack but his head never moved and he watched Jack with a jet black eye.
    ‘Let me introduce you to Camelin.’
    ‘Don’t see the point of introductions,’ muttered Camelin. ‘He’s not going to stick around long enough to help. Look at his legs. They’re trembling!’
    ‘Camelin, that’s enough,’ Nora chided. ‘I’m sorry Jack. Camelin forgets himself sometimes and can sound quite rude. He’s not used to visitors but I’m certain you two are going to get along just fine.’
    A grumpy sound came from Camelin’s direction and Jack tried a smile but without any conviction.
    ‘Nora sent Camelin to put the acorn where we hoped you’d see it,’ explained Elan. ‘You passed the test when you picked it up.’
    Jack frowned and looked directly at Camelin. ‘I bet Nora doesn’t know the acorn was bounced off my head,’ he thought to himself. He suspected the talking bird had done it deliberately.
    ‘We can talk when we get back from Glasruhen, when Jack’s been introduced to Arrana.’
    ‘If you think I’m rude wait till you meet her,’ Camelin grumbled.
    ‘Oh!’ exclaimed Jack, looking worried, ‘who is she?’
    Nora gave Camelin a reproachful look then turned to Jack.
    ‘Arrana is a Hamadryad. She lives in the oldest oak tree at the heart of Glasruhen forest. She’s very old now and doesn’t always appreciate being disturbed by visitors, especially not ravens with sharp claws, but I’m sure she’s going to like a polite boy like you Jack.’
    Camelin began muttering to himself again.
    Jack stared at Nora in disbelief. His mum used to tell him stories about nymphs and dryads, but they were only myths, not real life. He wished he could go back to Grandad’s but he wasn’t going to be able to excuse himself, not so soon after arriving. He wasn’t sure he ought to go into the forest. Grandad said it was all right for him to visit Nora and Elan but he didn’t know