The Golden Acorn (22 page)

‘Aqua, please.’

The guard completely ignored him. If they weren’t going to give him any food or water he was probably going to suffer the same fate as Camelin.

Jack’s throat was dry. It was pointless shouting to the guard again; he’d just be wasting his breath. The heat from the sun was making him sleepy but the noise around the fort, as the soldiers continued their search, made it impossible to sleep. A group of four soldiers entered the quadrangle with drawn swords. Jack gasped. He thought they’d come for him but they hurried past and searched the undergrowth by the buildings.

Jack was trying to be brave but fear of the unknown was getting the better of him. He wondered if Camelin had gone back through the window in time; he didn’t want to be stranded in the past. To have come this far and fail at the first hurdle was almost too much for Jack to contemplate. He felt he’d let everyone down. He wished he could tell Camelin how sorry he was.

The search moved on.

Once the other soldiers had gone the guard moved into the shade and leaned against the wall. It was then that something hit Jack on the head. Not anything hard this time, something light, which seemed to have come from a great height. There by his feet was a stick. He poked his head out of the tunic and looked around.

‘Psssst,’ came a familiar voice from the tiled roof of the building opposite to where Jack was sitting.

Jack was so pleased to see Camelin he almost shouted his name out loud.

‘What’s happening?’ he whispered back. ‘I can’t understand what they’re saying.’

‘They’re looking for your clothes! Maximus has got Drusus in his office now demanding to know why he didn’t bring him all three plates.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He said the oak tree was his family insignia and since the plates were worthless he thought he’d keep it, but the good news is that all three plates are in one place now.’

‘What’s going to happen to me?’

‘You’re safe until tomorrow. Maximus told the guard you’ve got to stay out here without food or water until the morning, but don’t worry. We’ve got a plan. I’ll get you out of here at dusk.’

The guard stirred. When Jack looked back at the roof Camelin was gone. He pulled the tunic back over his head again. He wondered what Camelin had meant when he’d said
we’ve got a plan
. He’d no idea how long it was until dusk but Camelin had given him hope. All he had to do was sit it out until the sun went down. He closed his eyes; it might be a long wait.

Two soldiers shook Jack awake. One lifted him to his feet, the other undid the leg irons. He was grabbed once more underneath each arm and marched towards the Camp Prefect’s office.

As soon as Jack entered the room he saw the three cauldron plates laid out on the table. Drusus stood to attention in front of Maximus with a fixed expression. Jack assumed from the look on the Prefect’s face that he was still annoyed. Maximus banged his fist on the table making the plates rattle. He pointed at the plates and shouted at Jack. Each time he asked Jack a question he thumped the desk. Maximus picked up the plate embossed with the oak tree and held it in front of Jack’s face. Jack thought he knew what he was being asked but had no way of answering. He didn’t say a word. His silence seemed to annoy Maximus even more. The two guards restraining Jack were given more orders. Maximus was still shouting as Jack was marched out of the room and returned to the quadrangle where he was shackled again.

As the light began to fade the guard came over and checked Jack’s irons. Two guards arrived in the quadrangle. The soldier who’d been on duty spoke briefly with them, then left. The night guard had obviously arrived. Jack could smell food and hear the sound of cooking; everyone in the camp must be sitting down to eat. He was very thirsty and he hoped Camelin wouldn’t be long. Jack watched the rooftops as the sky darkened. The guards were laughing and chatting. Jack thought they were playing a game but by now it was hard to see across to the other side of the quadrangle.

Camelin appeared from around the corner of the office building. He covered the distance between Jack and the wall in a few hops.

‘I’m numb all over,’ Jack told him.

‘No time to talk. Come on, let’s get you out of those irons.’

Jack bent over and touched Camelin’s forehead. There was a blinding flash, which lit up the whole quadrangle.

‘Come on, we’ve got to get out of here,’ urged Camelin. ‘Now, before they come over.’

Jack looked at the soldiers. They were rubbing their eyes. He tried to take off but his body wouldn’t respond. The soldiers were on their feet. He hopped to the end of the building; Camelin followed looking concerned.

‘I can’t fly! I’ve got cramp in my muscles from sitting on the cobbles so long.’

They hid behind three large barrels and listened to the soldiers arguing about what could have caused such a bright light.

‘It’s Fulgora, Goddess of lightning. She’s angry. It’s always a bad omen to have lightning and no rain.’

‘That was sorcery, nothing to do with Fulgora, but I agree it’s a bad omen. Sorcery, you mark my words.’

They were too busy trying to decide who was right to notice Jack had gone.

‘I need water,’ croaked Jack. His throat was so parched he could hardly speak.

‘Do you think you can fly now?’

‘I think so.’

‘Follow me. I’ve got supper waiting and plenty to drink too.’

Together they flew across the rooftops and out over the wall. Jack’s body ached. He felt weak and faint.

‘Have we got far to go?’

‘No, over here,’ replied Camelin as he began to descend.

Jack followed. They landed behind one of the large round houses on the outskirts of the fortress. Jack could hear faint clucking sounds coming from a coop and smelt cooking coming from inside the house. His stomach growled.

‘Over here,’ croaked Camelin.

Jack followed him over to a pen which smelt strongly of pig. There by the fence were two troughs, one full of water and the other food. Jack was so thirsty he hopped onto the top of the trough and was about to scoop up a beakful of muddy water.

‘Not there!’ Camelin cried. ‘Over here.’

Much to Jack’s relief he saw a bucket of fresh water. He drank his fill then drank some more.

‘I thought I was going to die of thirst,’ he gasped.

‘When we’ve eaten I’ll tell you about our plan.’

‘I’m starving,’ said Jack as his empty stomach growled again.

This time Camelin led him back to the trough.

‘Pigswill!’ exclaimed Jack.

‘It’s all we’ve got, unless you want to go digging for worms!’

THAT WHICH WAS LOST

Jack closed his eyes before plunging his beak into the trough of swill. He knew he had to eat.

‘It’s not that bad,’ said Camelin when he saw Jack pulling his face.

‘It’s not that good either.’

‘When you’ve finished I’ll tell you what we’ve decided to do.’

‘Who’s we?’

‘Me and Medric.’

‘Medric?’

‘Didn’t I tell you? We’ve got some inside help.’

‘You didn’t.’

‘Well, you know Gerda’s mate who went missing?’

‘Yes, but what’s that got to do with us getting the cauldron plates back?’

‘Gerda’s mate’s here.’

‘Here!’

‘Soldiers captured him and brought him to Maximus a few weeks before they started burning the groves. They’d probably have eaten him but Maximus wanted him to guard the shrine.’

‘I don’t understand. Why would Maximus need a goose as a guard when he’s got a fort full of soldiers?’

‘A goose is special; it honks loudly if it’s disturbed. Nora once told me that a flock of geese saved Rome from being attacked. Medric used to be Nora’s watchgoose before the soldiers took him. That’s why Gerda does it now.’

‘I still don’t see how it helps us.’

‘Maximus has his own reasons for not using soldiers to guard the shrine; it’s where he keeps his stash. Only Medric knows where it is and he’s not going to raise the alarm when we’re inside the shrine.’

‘That’s great but it’s the cauldron plates we need, not a stash of gold.’

‘I’m coming to that but you keep interrupting me. While you were in the quadrangle I went back on the office roof so I could find out what was happening. That’s when I heard what Drusus had to say. Maximus wasn’t pleased; he gave him a double guard duty for keeping the plate. When Drusus left it all went quiet and I had to drop down onto one of those barrels so I could see inside the window. Maximus took the basket with all the metal things inside and tipped them out. Then he sorted everything into piles. There were brooch pins, daggers and some more plates in there. He laid all the plates out on the table, matched our three together and tossed the rest back in the basket.’

‘Is that when he sent for me again?’

‘Yes, but I didn’t know you spoke Latin?’

‘I don’t.’

‘Well the guard told Maximus you’d asked for water.’

‘I did. I know a few Latin words but I can’t speak it and I couldn’t understand what Maximus was saying.’

‘Well, Maximus said that a night without food or water should improve your memory since he knew you could understand his questions and chose not to answer.’

‘Thanks for getting me out of there. I dread to think what he’d have done in the morning.’

‘When you’d gone he spoke to centurion Titus Antonius again. He asked him about the plates and about me. Maximus thinks they must be really important if someone sent a thief into the camp to steal them. He told Titus Antonius he’d keep them safe until he found out who you were, how you got into the fort without being seen and why you stole the plate.’

‘That means we’ll never get them back.’

‘Naw, just the opposite.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘Guess where he’s put them?’

‘I’ve no idea.’

‘In the shrine! He’s got a hidey-hole and Medric knows where it is. He saw Maximus put something large and heavy into it. Now that we know where the plates are the rest’s going to be easy.’

Camelin started hopping around. He looked disappointed when Jack didn’t join in.

‘What’s the matter?’

Jack sighed.

‘I’m worried what might happen if I get caught again. They’ll search the whole camp once they find I’m missing.’

‘Come on then. If we go back now we can be on our way home before they miss you.’

They flew back to the roof of the Camp Prefect’s office. Camelin looked down into the shrine area. Before he could call Medric they both heard one of the guards from the quadrangle cry out. They looked to see Titus Antonius running into the quadrangle. It was Drusus who stood next to the post.

‘The prisoner has gone!’

‘Escaped?’ asked Titus Antonius.

‘Gone,’ replied Drusus in disbelief. ‘The irons and tunic are still here but he’s not.’

‘Sorcery, I said it was sorcery!’ the other soldier next to Titus Antonius cried. ‘We must report this to the Camp Prefect at once.’

‘I’ll make the report. Make sure nothing is disturbed. Maximus needs to see this for himself or we’ll get the blame,’ Titus Antonius informed them, but before he had chance to leave the quadrangle the silence of the night was shattered. The horn sounded five times from the top of the northern gatehouse.

There was a stir of excitement throughout the camp.

‘A rider approaching,’ Titus Antonius announced. ‘I must go and see what’s happening at the gate first before I go to the Prefect and report the prisoner’s escape. You two must stand guard here until I return.’

Drusus stood a little way from the post after the centurion left the quadrangle. He didn’t look happy.

‘It must be something important,’ whispered Camelin.

They listened intently. It wasn’t long before they heard hoof beats pounding down the main street. The rider pulled the horse up outside the offices, jumped off and banged loudly on the Camp Prefect’s door.

‘An urgent message for Quintus Flavius Maximus from the Commander of the Fourteenth Legion,’ the soldier shouted. When he didn’t get an answer he banged even louder on the door.

In the distance they could hear Titus Antonius shouting orders. The commotion from the fort continued.

‘Gaius Rufus Octavian,’ the rider announced and saluted when Maximus eventually opened the door. ‘I have a message for you from our commander. Mona is taken, the Druids are slain, their groves destroyed.’

Camelin and Jack exchanged looks. They were both aware from history what had happened but to hear the news, delivered like this, was quite a shock.

‘Excellent,’ Maximus said joyfully.

‘I also have an urgent order from the Commander,’ continued Octavian. ‘We have been recalled to march to Londinium as soon as possible. Boudicca, Queen of the Iceni, has raised an army. Camulodunum has been destroyed.’

‘You’d better come inside and tell me all you know.’

The soldier tethered his horse to the nearest post and went inside with Maximus.

‘That’s not good news for Medric,’ explained Camelin. ‘If the legion is moving out they’ll kill and eat him before they go.’

‘We’d better warn him.’

‘It won’t be necessary. I’ve already told him we’ll help him escape, you know, in return for helping us. As soon as we’re in the shrine and you’ve transformed open the gate. Before he goes he’ll show you where Maximus hid the plates.

‘Couldn’t he have flown out of there before?’

‘Medric’s a big bird. He needs a long run up to take off and gain height. There just isn’t room to do that in the shrine. He needs the main street. He’ll try and escape once you’ve let him out.’

‘What if they see him?’

‘They’ll shoot him. He’s lucky there’s no moon tonight. Lets hope they’ll all be busy once the news about marching out spreads.’

‘The soldier mentioned Camulodunum. Was that Colchester?’ Jack asked.

‘It was. Boudicca’s army destroyed London and St Albans too. They were heading this way before they finally stopped her. Her tribe, the Iceni, really put the wind up the Romans you know.’

‘Do you think it’s safe to go down into the shrine? I’d like to get this over with as quickly as we can.’

‘You’re right. Medric will be waiting for us.’

‘Once I’ve got the plates I can throw them in the spring can’t I?’

‘That’s the plan,’ croaked Camelin. ‘Ready?’

Jack nodded, but as they were about to fly off the roof they heard louder knocking on the Camp Prefect’s door.

‘It’s Titus Antonius!’ exclaimed Camelin. ‘It won’t be long before Maximus knows you’ve escaped.’

‘Not now centurion,’ Maximus shouted when he finally opened the door.

‘I wouldn’t have disturbed you if it wasn’t important,’ the centurion replied.

‘Be quick,’ snapped Maximus.

‘The prisoner has disappeared.’

‘Disappeared! How?’

‘I don’t know Prefect. The tunic is empty and the leg irons are still closed.’

Maximus, still dressed in full armour with his sword and dagger, pushed past Titus Antonius and marched around the corner towards the quadrangle.

‘Search the camp,’ he ordered. ‘He has to be here somewhere.’

‘It’s now or never,’ said Camelin.

They flew down into the shrine. A large white goose, bigger than Gerda, waddled over to them.

‘Shield your eyes,’ warned Camelin.

Medric stood still and obediently put his head under his wing. The flash of light momentarily lit up the whole courtyard. Jack went straight over to the tall gate and lifted up the wooden bar. He opened it enough for Medric to make his escape.

‘He says if you go behind the shrine and look near the ground there’s a loose stone. Behind the stone is a hole. Maximus keeps all his valuables in there, wrapped in a cloth. Medric says he’s put the cauldron plates in there with his gold.’

Jack made his way around the shrine as he’d been instructed. He found the loose stone, pulled it out and put his hand inside the hole.

‘I’ve got them!’ exclaimed Jack triumphantly as he pulled the plates out.

He started to make his way around the shrine so he could throw the plates in the water when Maximus stepped out in front of him.

‘Camelin!’ Jack yelled as he dodged past Maximus who’d immediately begun shouting. ‘What’s he saying?’

‘He says he’s got you this time and now he’s going to deal with you himself once he gets his hands on you,’ Camelin explained. ‘Don’t let him catch you. He says he’s going to kill you.’

The second voice distracted Maximus. He looked around to see who’d spoken. Jack ran around the back of the shrine again.

‘The gate’s open. Make a run for it,’ yelled Camelin. ‘We can throw the plates in the river when we get outside the fort.’

Jack knew if he left the safety of the shrine he’d never make it out of the camp. He had to get back around to the front of the shrine; he had to throw the plates into the water. Maximus was quicker than Jack anticipated. As he turned Jack felt a strong hand grab the back of his neck. He heard Maximus draw his sword. The grip on Jack’s neck tightened. Maximus forced Jack onto his knees before the shrine. He pushed his head into the water. Jack struggled. He felt the water surge up his nose. He struggled again and managed to raise his head. Jack saw Camelin swooping towards the Prefect. Once more Maximus thrust Jack’s head back under the water. Then he heard Maximus cry out in pain; Camelin must have used his claws but Maximus didn’t release his grip. Jack had to do something quick or it would be too late.

‘Jennet!’ he shouted as loudly as he could into the water with the last of his breath.

Seconds later Jack felt the water begin to bubble. A long-armed, green-skinned nymph appeared and rose past Jack’s eyes, her face shrouded in a tangle of dark green hair. Maximus must have seen her too. He let go of Jack’s neck and leapt back from the water’s edge. Jack gasped for breath. He could see the look of horror on the Prefect’s face as he wiped the water from his eyes. Maximus opened his mouth but not a sound came out. Jack’s whole body was shaking. He coughed and spluttered as he tried to clear the water from his lungs. Maximus seemed unable to move. Jack quickly thrust the plates into Jennet’s outstretched hand. For a moment everything went quiet. Then the nymph screeched loudly and dropped the plates into the water. She stretched out her long arms and grabbed Maximus and pulled him into the spring. Once his legs disappeared the whole spring erupted in a mass of bubbles.

‘Quick!’ said Camelin. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

Medric burst out of the doorway and started to run towards to the end of the main street. Once he was there the street would be long enough for him to take off and clear the wall. Jack and Camelin touched foreheads, the light once again lighting up the whole shrine. As they flew up onto the roof they saw bubbles rising again from the spring. There was another loud screech as Maximus was ejected from the water. He landed with a thud on the ground, spluttering and coughing, wearing only his tunic. His magnificent armour and weapons were gone. He’d been stripped of every shiny bit of metal he possessed. Maximus grabbed the package that contained his treasure and shook it into the spring. All his golden torcs, brooches and belts clattered into the water.