about.
I had plenty of time to think. Mostly I worried about Alice. What had become of her? I took the blood jar out of my pocket and held it in the palm of my right hand for a while. How long would it be before the Fiend realized that she was no longer protected? I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to Alice.
Then there was my master. Had he managed to escape? I wondered. If so, I knew he’d be planning to rescue me. It seemed hopeless – most probably he’dbe imprisoned himself. Could I escape from Greeba Keep before that happened? Would the shaman really let me go if I defeated Lizzie? Was he likely to keep his word?
There was poor Adriana too. What did the shaman mean by saying he had ‘other plans for her ‘? How could I just abandon her?
My fruitless speculations were brought to a halt by the arrival of the guards, this time to take me to face Lizzie. When we entered the long room, I noticed that there were a lot more men sitting on the straw bales. Many were standing too, and money was changing hands, but they all fell silent when I was brought in, staring at me in silent appraisal.
The dogs were in their cages against the left wall of the room, and to my relief Claw, Blood and Bone were still amongst them. Would the shaman really let me take them with me if I won? I’d no choice but to fight anyway. If I did nothing, Lizzie would soon put an end to me.
It was then that my eyes settled on the furthest cage,the one nearest the entrance to the buggane’s tunnel. Yesterday it had been empty; now there was something inside it – but not a dog. At first glance it looked like a bundle of dirty rags. But then I made out a figure curled into a ball, hands gripping ankles, head resting on knees.
Lord Barrule got to his feet and came across the sawdust floor towards me. ‘Are you ready, boy?’ he asked. ‘I have to tell you that most of the sensible money is on the witch. We all saw what she was capable of when we captured her. Five of my men died; another two lost their minds. So we’ve tried to give you a fighting chance. We’ve done the same to her as we’ve done to her pet. Come and see …’
He led the way to the furthest cage, the guards pulling me after him. He halted there and pointed down at the bundle of rags on the filthy straw. I saw the pointy shoes even before she raised her head.
It was Alice, and at the sight of her my throat constricted with emotion. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, and her expression was one ofpain and hopelessness. They had stitched her mouth shut with thin brown twine. Her lips were tightly bound together so that she couldn’t speak.
‘I’ve had the same done to her mistress. The witch can’t utter spells now, boy! But no doubt Lizzie will still manage something …’
At that moment, had my staff already been in my hands, I would have thrust its silver-alloy blade into his heart without a moment’s hesitation. I was furious at what had been done to Alice. But then despair took over: if I won and the shaman kept his word, I’d be free to take the dogs with me; but Lizzie would die and so would Alice. Either way, I’d lose.
Still, at least I knew that she hadn’t been seized by the Fiend and dragged off to the dark. Things looked grim, but as my dad used to say, while there’s life there’s hope.
‘Right! Let’s make a start!’ Lord Barrule said, and as he returned to his seat, the guards dragged me to the very centre of the long chamber. A dozen yeomen came in, each gripping a long spear, and formed a wide circleabout me; then each went down on one knee, facing me, so that the gamblers behind would still have a clear view. Their spears were pointing inwards, and it was clear that their purpose was to mark the boundary of the arena and prevent any escape or retreat from the contest.
Lord Barrule stood up and raised his hand, and I heard a commotion from the doorway; the same one from which I’d entered. Bony Lizzie was brought into
I had plenty of time to think. Mostly I worried about Alice. What had become of her? I took the blood jar out of my pocket and held it in the palm of my right hand for a while. How long would it be before the Fiend realized that she was no longer protected? I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to Alice.
Then there was my master. Had he managed to escape? I wondered. If so, I knew he’d be planning to rescue me. It seemed hopeless – most probably he’dbe imprisoned himself. Could I escape from Greeba Keep before that happened? Would the shaman really let me go if I defeated Lizzie? Was he likely to keep his word?
There was poor Adriana too. What did the shaman mean by saying he had ‘other plans for her ‘? How could I just abandon her?
My fruitless speculations were brought to a halt by the arrival of the guards, this time to take me to face Lizzie. When we entered the long room, I noticed that there were a lot more men sitting on the straw bales. Many were standing too, and money was changing hands, but they all fell silent when I was brought in, staring at me in silent appraisal.
The dogs were in their cages against the left wall of the room, and to my relief Claw, Blood and Bone were still amongst them. Would the shaman really let me take them with me if I won? I’d no choice but to fight anyway. If I did nothing, Lizzie would soon put an end to me.
It was then that my eyes settled on the furthest cage,the one nearest the entrance to the buggane’s tunnel. Yesterday it had been empty; now there was something inside it – but not a dog. At first glance it looked like a bundle of dirty rags. But then I made out a figure curled into a ball, hands gripping ankles, head resting on knees.
Lord Barrule got to his feet and came across the sawdust floor towards me. ‘Are you ready, boy?’ he asked. ‘I have to tell you that most of the sensible money is on the witch. We all saw what she was capable of when we captured her. Five of my men died; another two lost their minds. So we’ve tried to give you a fighting chance. We’ve done the same to her as we’ve done to her pet. Come and see …’
He led the way to the furthest cage, the guards pulling me after him. He halted there and pointed down at the bundle of rags on the filthy straw. I saw the pointy shoes even before she raised her head.
It was Alice, and at the sight of her my throat constricted with emotion. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with tears, and her expression was one ofpain and hopelessness. They had stitched her mouth shut with thin brown twine. Her lips were tightly bound together so that she couldn’t speak.
‘I’ve had the same done to her mistress. The witch can’t utter spells now, boy! But no doubt Lizzie will still manage something …’
At that moment, had my staff already been in my hands, I would have thrust its silver-alloy blade into his heart without a moment’s hesitation. I was furious at what had been done to Alice. But then despair took over: if I won and the shaman kept his word, I’d be free to take the dogs with me; but Lizzie would die and so would Alice. Either way, I’d lose.
Still, at least I knew that she hadn’t been seized by the Fiend and dragged off to the dark. Things looked grim, but as my dad used to say, while there’s life there’s hope.
‘Right! Let’s make a start!’ Lord Barrule said, and as he returned to his seat, the guards dragged me to the very centre of the long chamber. A dozen yeomen came in, each gripping a long spear, and formed a wide circleabout me; then each went down on one knee, facing me, so that the gamblers behind would still have a clear view. Their spears were pointing inwards, and it was clear that their purpose was to mark the boundary of the arena and prevent any escape or retreat from the contest.
Lord Barrule stood up and raised his hand, and I heard a commotion from the doorway; the same one from which I’d entered. Bony Lizzie was brought into
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