Arriving at the Academy.<\/p>\n
Gargoyles also lined the sides of the bridge, staring inwards menacingly at the ones crossing it. Gertie nearly jumped out of her skin when the largest gargoyle on the left, half way across, yelled \u201cSTOP!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ma stopped. In fact, she stopped so fast that Gran bumped right into her and dropped Owl\u2019s log. She managed to catch it before it bounced up and hit Fang\u2019s mother who was following along closely behind. Ma was still staring at the gargoyle as if wondering if it really had spoken at all.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fang hurried past them all with a look of smug satisfaction on his face. His expression seemed to say, I know something that you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cDon\u2019t tell me you don\u2019t know about the Stone Guardian?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cCourse we do,\u201d replied Gran, with her bloodshot eye daring Fang to contradict her.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d he replied, just as smugly. \u201cGo on then.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gran looked like she had the urge to turn him into a bat, but held her temper. After all, his mother was a friend. Sort of. She got a cunning look on her face instead.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNo, you go first,\u201d she replied. \u201cSo we can see if you know about the stone garden.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGuardian,\u201d corrected Fang.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gertie saw Gran\u2019s casting finger begin to quiver.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGo along then, Fang,\u201d his proud mum urged. \u201cThe little imp. He\u2019s so excited,\u201d she said as she passed Ma and Gran.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gertie stared around herself, not believing all this was real.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fang proudly stopped in front of the gargoyle and loudly announced \u201cFang, reporting for my accepted place at the Academy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The stone guardian was the only thing Gertie had not seen flinch from the spit that flew from Fang\u2019s mouth every time he spoke.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A moment passed, and then the deep rumbling voice boomed, \u201cYOU MAY PASS.\u201d It sounded like the beginning of a rockslide. Fang and his mother walked on proudly to approach the huge wooden doors bound with iron hinges that were now swinging open.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cHm,\u201d muttered Gran, watching the pair vanishing into the dark mouth of the building. \u201cNowt clever about that. Gertie\u2019s here,\u201d she shouted at the gargoyle, as the doors swung shut with a dull echoing thud behind Fang\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A moment or two passed, but there was no reply from the gargoyle.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAre you deaf?\u201d called Gran, thoroughly wound up by Fang. \u201cGERTIE\u2019S HERE.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME,\u201d the gargoyle boomed. \u201cGERTIE WHO?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGERTIE GRIMTHORPE,\u201d yelled Gran, leaning closer to the gargoyle so it could get the full impact of her bloodshot eye. It was now very bloodshot.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cNOT ON MY LIST,\u201d replied the guardian. \u201cGO AWAY.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThere must be some mistake,\u201d Ma said, seeming to be in fear of Gran doing something she might regret. Not that Gertie had ever known Gran to regret anything she had done. When Gran turned that bright shade of purple however, something usually died.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI DON\u2019T MAKE MISTAKES,\u201d replied the gargoyle.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cWELL YOU HAVE DONE THIS TIME, BUSTER,\u201d threatened Gran, waving Owl\u2019s log about. \u201cCHECK AGAIN.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI DON\u2019T NEED TO CHECK AGAIN,\u201d said the stone guardian in a bored voice. \u201cI ONLY HAVE ONE LIST\u2026OH\u2026I HAVE TWO LISTS THIS TIME DON\u2019T I? THERE\u2019S AN EXTRA ONE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYes, we know,\u201d interrupted Ma before the gargoyle could say the word \u201cpay\u201d She didn\u2019t want Gertie to know she was any different to anyone else attending the Academy.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cYOU\u2019RE JUST THE FIRST TO ARRIVE WHO HAS TO\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOKAY!\u201d yelled Gran. \u201cWe get the picture. Just check your OTHER list.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A few more moments passed.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cUHM. I DO HAVE A GERTIE HERE. I SUPPOSE YOU CAN GO IN,\u201d replied the gargoyle, rather grudgingly.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThank you,\u201d replied Ma, before she set off after Gran who was already stomping up to the double doors. If they didn\u2019t open, Ma knew she was ready to batter them open with Owl\u2019s log. She hurried along holding Gertie\u2019s hand, Owl clutched in her other arm. Owl looked like he was trying to keep sight of his log, but wasn\u2019t succeeding very well because Gran kept swinging it this way and that.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIs everything alright, mummy?\u201d asked Gertie.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cOf course!\u201d Ma replied. \u201cJust a mix up with the silly list, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before Gran got to do any battering, the huge doors creaked open. She still gave the one nearest to her a knock with the log for good measure. She entered through the doors still muttering to herself. \u201cYou would think a place like the Academy would make sure their animation spells worked properly\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ma and Gertie followed quietly behind.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Arriving at the Academy. Gargoyles also lined the sides of the bridge, staring inwards menacingly at the ones crossing it. Gertie nearly jumped out of her skin when the largest gargoyle on the left, half way across, yelled \u201cSTOP!\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ma stopped. In fact, she stopped so fast that Gran bumped right into her and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5,7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-promotion","category-childrens-books","category-fantasy","category-humour"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lynnenorth.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}