It wasn’t long before my question was answered …
There was a shimmer in the darkness by the tunnel; a luminosity in the air. I stood up in alarm. Was it the buggane in its spirit form? But the shimmer quickly assumed an appearance of solidity, taking a shape I recognized: a tall, skeletal figure with a cruel expression, dressed in a dark robe. It was the shaman, Lord Barrule. Although somewhere else withinGreeba Keep, he was projecting his spirit into my cell.
‘The buggane certainly wants you, boy,’ the apparition said. ‘It likes what it sniffed, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Did you enjoy what you saw tonight?’
I shook my head.
‘It could have been much worse. I could have pitted your own dogs against each other. The mother against her whelps perhaps. It could still be done …’
I didn’t reply. I had rarely seen such malevolence and cruelty in a face. This man was capable of anything.
‘I’d spare your dogs if you were willing to put your own life on the line. You’ve seen my gambling friends – I’d like to offer them some special entertainment tomorrow night: a spook’s apprentice in combat with a witch. Who would prove victorious? The outcome is uncertain enough to make it interesting, even though the odds are firmly on the witch. But you’d be free to use the tools of your trade. I’ve left you your silver chain and I’ll return your staff. Defeat the witch and I’ll let you go. You can even take your dogs withyou. But lose and I’ll make them fight to the death!’
‘You want me to fight Adriana?’ I asked. I couldn’t believe what he was asking me to do.
‘No, you young idiot! Not that foolish girl. I’ve got other plans for her! You’ll face a much more dangerous opponent – one who’s from your own neck of the woods. I mean Lizzie, the bone witch!’
‘B ony Lizzie’s here?’ I asked in alarm.
‘She’s my prisoner, boy. And soon she’ll be dead – that’s if you have the skill and guts to put an end to her! What do you say?’
I didn’t reply. Was it a trick or a real chance of freedom?
‘Of course, if you lose, you’ll forfeit your own life. I’ve made the witch the same promise. And I’ll let her take her pet away with her too; lose, and it dies with her. Come on, make up your mind. Don’t keep me waiting!’
‘Her pet?’
‘The other witch. The one she controls. No doubt shecame with her from over the water. Together they cut the throats of those poor fishermen. For that they both deserve to die. My own money will be on you. I like to bet on long shots …’
What choice did I have? I gave the merest of nods to signal my acceptance of his offer. Immediately the image of the shaman began to fade as he withdrew his spirit back into his body.
The next day they fed me well. The first meal was a hot plate of lamb with roast potatoes and carrots.
‘Eat up, boy! My master wants you fighting fit!’ jeered the mocking guard who handed me the meal. ‘And you’ll need every last ounce of strength to face what he’s got planned!’
He and his companion left, laughing as if at some private joke, and were back just over six hours later with a delicious venison stew. I ate sparingly – despite the fact that I had eaten little the previous day and was very hungry. I needed to prepare myself to face the dark – though I also knew I would need all my speedand strength to overcome Lizzie: it would be a difficult test. I could use my staff and chain against her, but no doubt she’d be armed too; a bone witch like Lizzie was skilled in the use of blades. And if she won, she’d take my bones …
And who was this other witch, the ‘pet’ whom she’d brought over from the County with her? She was a completely unknown entity – probably a young witch Lizzie had taken under her wing to train. Maybe it was one of the witches who’d released her from the pit in the Spook’s garden. She would be dangerous too – one more servant of the dark to worry
There was a shimmer in the darkness by the tunnel; a luminosity in the air. I stood up in alarm. Was it the buggane in its spirit form? But the shimmer quickly assumed an appearance of solidity, taking a shape I recognized: a tall, skeletal figure with a cruel expression, dressed in a dark robe. It was the shaman, Lord Barrule. Although somewhere else withinGreeba Keep, he was projecting his spirit into my cell.
‘The buggane certainly wants you, boy,’ the apparition said. ‘It likes what it sniffed, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Did you enjoy what you saw tonight?’
I shook my head.
‘It could have been much worse. I could have pitted your own dogs against each other. The mother against her whelps perhaps. It could still be done …’
I didn’t reply. I had rarely seen such malevolence and cruelty in a face. This man was capable of anything.
‘I’d spare your dogs if you were willing to put your own life on the line. You’ve seen my gambling friends – I’d like to offer them some special entertainment tomorrow night: a spook’s apprentice in combat with a witch. Who would prove victorious? The outcome is uncertain enough to make it interesting, even though the odds are firmly on the witch. But you’d be free to use the tools of your trade. I’ve left you your silver chain and I’ll return your staff. Defeat the witch and I’ll let you go. You can even take your dogs withyou. But lose and I’ll make them fight to the death!’
‘You want me to fight Adriana?’ I asked. I couldn’t believe what he was asking me to do.
‘No, you young idiot! Not that foolish girl. I’ve got other plans for her! You’ll face a much more dangerous opponent – one who’s from your own neck of the woods. I mean Lizzie, the bone witch!’
‘B ony Lizzie’s here?’ I asked in alarm.
‘She’s my prisoner, boy. And soon she’ll be dead – that’s if you have the skill and guts to put an end to her! What do you say?’
I didn’t reply. Was it a trick or a real chance of freedom?
‘Of course, if you lose, you’ll forfeit your own life. I’ve made the witch the same promise. And I’ll let her take her pet away with her too; lose, and it dies with her. Come on, make up your mind. Don’t keep me waiting!’
‘Her pet?’
‘The other witch. The one she controls. No doubt shecame with her from over the water. Together they cut the throats of those poor fishermen. For that they both deserve to die. My own money will be on you. I like to bet on long shots …’
What choice did I have? I gave the merest of nods to signal my acceptance of his offer. Immediately the image of the shaman began to fade as he withdrew his spirit back into his body.
The next day they fed me well. The first meal was a hot plate of lamb with roast potatoes and carrots.
‘Eat up, boy! My master wants you fighting fit!’ jeered the mocking guard who handed me the meal. ‘And you’ll need every last ounce of strength to face what he’s got planned!’
He and his companion left, laughing as if at some private joke, and were back just over six hours later with a delicious venison stew. I ate sparingly – despite the fact that I had eaten little the previous day and was very hungry. I needed to prepare myself to face the dark – though I also knew I would need all my speedand strength to overcome Lizzie: it would be a difficult test. I could use my staff and chain against her, but no doubt she’d be armed too; a bone witch like Lizzie was skilled in the use of blades. And if she won, she’d take my bones …
And who was this other witch, the ‘pet’ whom she’d brought over from the County with her? She was a completely unknown entity – probably a young witch Lizzie had taken under her wing to train. Maybe it was one of the witches who’d released her from the pit in the Spook’s garden. She would be dangerous too – one more servant of the dark to worry
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