Once again we began to run, but this time the sounds of pursuit drew steadily closer no matter how quickly we sprinted. At one point I glanced back and saw three men in the distance; however, the dogs were gaining fast.
I had no staff, no weapons to fight off the dogs. In minutes they would catch us and we’d feel their teeth for sure. They might do us a lot of damage before their handlers caught up.
It was then that something cut right through my fear and panic and brought me to a breathless halt. Alice turned to look back at me and stopped too.
‘It’s all right, Alice!’ I said, struggling to get the words out as I fought for breath. You see, I’d recognized the barks at last. ‘They’re Bill Arkwright’s dogs!’
Theirs was a distinctive harsh sound, accompanied by the occasional howl. And I was soon proved right. It was Claw and her pups, Blood and Bone. They bounded towards me, and moments later were in competition to lick my face and hands. But who were the three men following them? There should just be one – my master …
I peered at them carefully. One was indeed the Spook, I realized, and he was carrying both our bags and staffs. As they approached, I recognized the second as Captain Baines. He must have found my master and told him about our capture and what we’d faced. But who was the third? He was a young man no older than twenty or so, with fair hair and an open, honest face.
‘Well,’ said the Spook when they finally reached us, ‘you certainly led us a merry dance.’
‘We’ve been chased already,’ I told him. ‘We thought it was more of the same lot from Greeba Keep …’
‘How did you get away?’ asked the captain.
‘We were tested in the barrels on Slieau Whallian – we wedged ourselves in and managed to survive in one piece. Then Alice pretended to be dead and knocked the guards out with a rock.’
I couldn’t tell the Spook that she’d used dark magic to stop her heart and breathing, so I left that bit out. He’d already be angry that she’d come with me after he’d forbidden it.
‘They’ve rolled you already?’ the fair-haired man demanded, speaking for the first time. He looked distraught. ‘They weren’t supposed to do the next batch until late evening!’
‘They did it early – just before dawn, to stop too many people coming to gawp,’ I told him.
‘Then what happened to the others? Did they escape too? Was there a girl there called Adriana?’ he asked anxiously.
I nodded. ‘There were six of us in all. Adriana was alive when she reached the bottom and was taken away with another survivor. Two other women died in the barrels.’
‘Then I’m too late to save her,’ he groaned. ‘Now they’ll take her to the buggane at Greeba Keep …’
‘This is young Simon Sulby,’ explained the captain. ‘He was on his way to try and rescue his lady friend when the dogs sniffed him out and our paths converged, so it seemed wise to proceed in convoy. Sadly, it seems that we’re too late.’
‘I’ll head for the keep!’ said the young man, his face twisted with desperation. ‘I’ve got to try and save her—’
‘No, that’s madness,’ said Captain Baines, seizing him by the arm. ‘No good setting off alone and half-rigged.’
‘Aye, I agree with that,’ said the Spook. ‘But in the meantime we could all head towards Greeba. That will give us time to collect our thoughts. I’d also like to tell you all I know about bugganes – it might just help. And here, lad, you can carry these. I’ve lugged them around long enough!’
So saying, the Spook handed me both bags and my staff; then, after Alice had put her shoes on, we set off for Greeba Keep.
The most direct way was to follow the narrow track the cart had used. But to avoid bumping into the yeomen, we took a more round-about route. The country was hilly, with mountains in the distance; the wooded valleys reminded me of the County. The journey was pleasant but overshadowed by Simon Sulby’s grief; he was near to despair. After all, what hope did he have of rescuing Adriana from those dungeons?
In the early evening we halted for the night in a small wood overlooked by Greeba Mountain. I made the fire, and Alice went off and caught three rabbits and a large hare. While she cooked them, we gathered around the fire and talked over what had happened in more detail.
‘So a real County witch came ashore,’ said the Spook. ‘One or more?’
Captain Baines shrugged. ‘Who knows? But there were two men dead, and it gave the Ruling Council just the excuse they needed to authorize the testing.’
‘And thumb-bones were taken, you say?’
‘Aye, and both fishermen were dead and drained of blood. Their throats had been cut.’
‘That could suggest two witches,’ said the Spook; ‘a bone witch and a blood witch …’
‘Or it could be Lizzie,’ said Alice, turning the hare on the spit. ‘She uses both blood and bone magic. She had a familiar once too, but it was killed. Maybe she was cut off from Pendle after she escaped from the pit – and headed west towards the coast!’
‘It’s a possibility, girl, I’ll grant you that, so we must be on our guard.’
Soon we were tucking into our supper – I shared the hare with Alice, but Simon stared at his rabbit for a long time before pushing it away.
‘Eat up, Simon. Try a little bit at least. You need to keep your strength,’ advised Captain Baines.
‘No,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘I’ve got to press on towards the keep. Once it’s dark, the buggane will go into the dungeons and Adriana—’
‘Sit yourself down,’ said the Spook. ‘She’s in no danger tonight – and perhaps not for several nights to come either. Trust me, although I’ve never had to deal with one directly, I know as much about bugganes as anybody. No doubt there are still things to be found out, but I know that they concentrate on one victim at a time and usually drain them over several days. How many prisoners have already been taken to the keep?’
‘They’ve been testing for almost a week,’ Simon answered. ‘At least seven or eight have been pulled alive from the barrels. A couple may have died of their injuries though …’
‘Are they all County refugees?’
‘All but Adriana. But for Lord Barrule’s interest in her she’d be safe at home.’