Jack was sitting on the porch reading thenewspaper. It was a warm summer day, but the porchwas shady and cool. Annie poked her head out of the screen door. Hey,Mom says she'll drive us to the lake this afternoon,she said. Jack didn't raise his eyes f...
Jack, Annie, and Teddy crunched through fallenleaves until they came to Merlin's oak. They foundthe hidden door near the rope ladder. Teddy pushedon the bark. The door opened. One by one, they slipped into thecandlelit hollow of the tree trunk. Merli...
A little croak came from the cage on the floor. Teddy! cried Annie. We almost forgot you! said Jack. Queek, Teddycroaked again. Let me change him back, Annie said to Jack. Okay, but let me get out of the way firsts 11 saidJack. He handed Annie the ha...
Jack and Annie were too stunned to speak. Staringat the bizarre creature, Jack remembered the story ofthe Raven King-how the king had wanted to be abird, how he had stolen a spell from the Wizard ofWinter, how the spell had worked only halfway andlef...
Jack and Annie perched on the ledge and peeredinto the nursery. Teddy's lantern and hazel twig werestill on the floor. But there was no sign of Teddy. Teddy's not here yet,croaked Annie. Let's go aheadand putthe diamond back in its place. Jack didn't...
Teddy dropped down to a ledge. Jack and Anniefollowed. Hidden in the shadows they crouched together, their dark feathers touching. They peered out at the moonlit lair of the Raven King. 68The king's giant nest was tucked under a rockyoverhang. It was...
CRA-JAH! CRA-AWK-NEF,! Teddy croaked. Teddy was speaking Raven now, but Jack understood him perfectly. Teddyhad said, So+qV, Jackand Annie! Annie stepped forward. Sh, fluttered to the windowledge and perched with Teddy. GRA-QUORK! shecroaked. That's...
So that's why Merlin sent for those books! saidTeddy. What books? Who's the Raven King? said Jack. Now it all makes sense, said Teddy. Who's theRaven King? said Jack. But I wonder how he found the Diamond ofDestiny, said Teddy. Teddy, who's the Raven...
Jack and Teddy were speechless. They kept staringat Annie as she got down on her knees and talked tothe invisible dog. Hi, you, she said in a soft voice. Are youhungry?The bone dropped toward the floor. It flipped over,then rocked from side to side....
AHHH! yelled Teddy. AHHH! yelled Jack. AHHH! yelled Annie. Still screaming, they all ran toward the door. Thebone came after them. Teddy led the way as they tore through thearchway and scrambled up the winding staircase. Jack looked behind them. It's...