My master nodded. ‘What are the other variables?’ he demanded.
‘We must make human sacrifices – three in all. These also have to be perfect. One must be female, and she must choose to die, giving her life gladly. The other two must be mages who also freely offer their lives to the god. I am to be one of the sacrifices. The other died at your hands beside the wooden tower!’ he said, glaring angrily at Shey.
The Spook nodded thoughtfully. ‘So the two mages who volunteer to die are responsible for overseeing the construction of the platform?’
‘Yes, it’s an ancient custom.’
‘So what will happen now that one of the volunteers is already dead?’
‘His name was Mendace: he was a brave man whose death at the hands of our enemies is as acceptable to Pan as if it had been part of the ceremony. That did not harm our cause.’
‘And what of you, Cormac?’ asked my master. ‘If you were to die here, then your death would be equally acceptable?’
‘Yes – if you kill me, you will contribute directly to the ritual,’ the mage said, smiling for the first time. ‘That is why I am not afraid. I welcome death!’
‘And if we choose not to kill you?’
Cormac didn’t answer, and it was the Spook’s turn to smile. ‘Then once the process has begun, a substitute is not allowed? To ensure success it must be you and no other! So if we keep you safe on this occasion, the raising of Pan will probably fail …’
The mage lowered his gaze and stared at the table for a long time without speaking.
‘I think Cormac’s silence tells it all,’ the Spook said at last, turning towards Shey. ‘We’ve already achieved our purpose. All we have to do now is keep him imprisoned here. Can this castle be defended against an attack by the mages?’
‘No castle is completely impregnable,’ answered Shey. ‘And our enemies will be desperate – they might well move against us here.’
‘Then you need to bring in as many men as possible to defend it, and also to stock it well against siege,’ my master advised. ‘Things couldn’t be better. Hold out here, and then, in midsummer, before they can try again and are weaker than ever, move against Staigue directly and finish them once and for all – that’s my advice.’
Shey smiled. ‘It’s good advice, John Gregory. We’ll do just that. Centuries of strife could be over at last, ending with their defeat. I thank you.’
Alice had been a silent witness to the interrogation, but now she gave the prisoner a steely stare. ‘Who’s the woman – the one who volunteered herself for sacrifice?’ she asked.
For a moment I thought he wasn’t going to answer, but then he stared straight at her. ‘It’s a witch – one of those who ally themselves with us.’
Alice nodded and then exchanged a quick nervous glance with me. So one of the Celtic witches was in the area and would have gone to Killorglin to sacrifice herself. Now she would no doubt come here, joining the siege of Ballycarbery Castle.
SHEY SENT MESSENGERS with word of the situation, and immediately preparations to defend the castle got underway. I was relieved to see a score of men begin to hack the ivy from the walls to prevent the enemy from climbing it.
The following day the landowners’ men started to arrive. There were far fewer than I’d expected – no more than fifty in all – but each small group brought with them weapons and food and supplies in excess of their own needs so that the castle was now adequately stocked for the anticipated siege – although we probably had fewer than eighty men to call upon.
‘I’d have thought you’d have been able to find more to rally to your cause,’ said the Spook as we gazed down from the western battlements on what the leader of the Land Alliance had told us would be the final contingent to arrive. It consisted of five armed men and two small wagons, each pulled by a donkey that seemed overburdened by the load and near to collapse.
‘It’s neither better nor worse than I’d hoped,’ said Shey. ‘Each landowner must also look to his own defences, and ensure that he has enough servants with him.’
The Spook nodded, pondering the answer while he gazed at the sun, which was sinking low towards the sea. ‘When will they attack?’ he asked.
‘Tonight or tomorrow,’ Shey replied. ‘They will come east through the mountains.’
‘How many?’
‘Probably about a hundred and fifty, by our most recent estimate.’
‘As many as that?’ The Spook raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘How many of those will be mages?’
‘In total there are probably about fifteen or so, along with half a dozen who are being trained. Probably about two thirds of that number will come here. The rest will stay behind in their fort at Staigue.’
‘And the others? Who are their servants and supporters?’
‘They keep about thirty armed men, and perhaps another ten who work as cooks and craftsmen, such as butchers, tanners and masons. But they can draw on many more to swell their ranks when it comes to a battle. These conscripts are taken from among the poor – those with a only tiny cottage and very little land, who live on the edge of starvation. They fight alongside the mages in return for food for their families, but also out of fear. Who can refuse the call to arms when an emissary of the mages visits your lonely cottage and summons you? The people they recruit now will be poorly armed and often weakened by hunger.’
‘And no doubt you and your servants will have eaten well through the winter; you’ll be strong and better able to fight …’ said the Spook.
I could hear the disapproval in my master’s voice, but Shey didn’t seem to notice. I agreed with the Spook. We had to make a stand against the dark and the threat posed by the mages, but as was often the case in this world, the powerful fought for land or pride while poor folk suffered.
‘That is certainly true,’ Shey replied. ‘We will have food and supplies inside the castle while the recruits outside will receive only meagre rations. I estimate that in less than a week, if they have not breached our walls, the mages will be forced to retire, defeated. We will harry them all the way back to their fort. And perhaps Staigue will finally fall, giving us victory at last.’
I slept well that night, but was brought out of a deep sleep by Alice shaking my arm. It was still dark outside and she was holding a candle.