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 escapetoo? 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 willgive 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
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 escapetoo? 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 willgive 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
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