Joseph Delaney - The Spook’s nightmare

‘Do what she wants, Tom. Please,’ Alice begged.

So I nodded and pulled the key from my pocket.

I’d have to make a stand against Lizzie soon, but I’d do it when she was least expecting it. I just hoped that whatever was in the chest would be of no use to a bone witch.

The special key, crafted by the Spook’s brother Andrew, a master locksmith, didn’t let me down this time. I lifted the lid and saw that the chest contained money: bags of both gold and silver coins.

I thought Lizzie would be disappointed, but she only smiled again. ‘Useful thing, money,’ she said. ‘Put it to good use, I can. Lock it up again, boy. We don’t want anyone else to get their thieving hands on it.’ She looked around the room, her eyes settling on the bottles and jars, then finally on the open notebook. ‘I’ll be having a good root around in here before long,’ she muttered. ‘See what he’s been up to. Who knows – I might learn something new.’

How long did Bony Lizzie intend to stay? I wondered. Was she serious about ruling the island? If so, how did she plan to do so with her enemies gathered beyond the keep? They’d been badly frightened, but that wouldn’t last for ever. Soon they’d come back in force. They’d captured her before; if enough of them could summon up the courage, they could do it again. Then Alice and I would suffer as her accomplices.

The eighth door led to a large dressing room containing clothes – rich, elaborate gowns, suitable attire for a royal court. They must have belonged to Barrule’s wife.

‘They look just my size,’ Lizzie smirked. ‘Know what you two are going to do next?’

We didn’t answer.

‘Fill my bath!’ she cried. ‘Heat the water in the kitchen and bring it up. Half an hour and I want it done!’

‘Washing behind your ears ain’t going to turn you into a queen!’ Alice snapped.

Lizzie hissed furiously and Alice gave a cry of fear and backed away. I gripped her hand and quickly led her back into the antechamber, then down the steps to the throne room.

‘What we going to do, Tom?’ she asked.

‘Escape and find the Spook,’ I told her, ‘though I don’t know how yet. We can’t go that way…’ I pointed at the window. Down below, the courtyard was empty. There seemed to be nobody at all within the walls of Greeba Keep, but there were still plenty of men beyond the open gate. They’d lit fires and were standing or sitting around them.

‘I wouldn’t like to risk the tunnels,’ Alice said. ‘I know what Lizzie’s capable of. The buggane’s as good as hers already. She’d send it after us for sure.’

‘Then there’s only one thing we can do for now,’ I told her. ‘Get Lizzie’s bath ready…’

Alice nodded. ‘At least it’ll make her smell better!’ she retorted.

So we went down to the kitchen and, after helping ourselves to some cold chicken, prepared Lizzie’s hot water. The cooking fires were still burning and there were barrels of water there. Soon we had water heating in three big cauldrons. That was the easy part; getting it up the stairs and into Lizzie’s bath was back-breaking work.

Down in the throne room again, we sat in the window seat and looked out. Beyond the moat nothing had changed, but spits had been set up above each fire; the yeomen camped around them were preparing to eat. There seemed to be no immediate danger from them.

‘Alice, why is Lizzie suddenly so strong?’ I wondered. ‘She stopped me from using my chain against her earlier – I couldn’t even get my hand into my pocket. She seems so confident. Look at the way she’s allowed us to roam free while she bathes – as if she has nothing to fear from us – and she’s right. I can sense her new strength.’

‘Some truth in what she said before about her age,’ Alice answered. ‘Pendle witches reckon to come into their full strength when they turn forty. But Lizzie’s always been powerful and dangerous. I know what she’s capable of. Got fresh bones too – a shaman’s – so that’s bound to help her. Tricked him and beat him good and proper, she did. Rare and hard to get, a shaman’s bones. No knowing how strong that might make her- Look, Tom!’ Alice cried, pointing towards the portcullis. ‘Something’s happening down there. Looks like they’re getting ready to attack…’

But it was only two yeomen crossing the bridge, and they seemed to have a prisoner between them, his hands bound behind his back. Once in the courtyard, they cut the ropes and freed him, then thrust something at him – a staff.

It was the Spook.

‘Quick, Tom. Go down and warn him!’ Alice cried as she saw the Spook walking towards the tower. ‘What chance has he got against Lizzie now?’

‘Come with me,’ I said, tugging at her arm.

‘No, I’ll stay here and keep her royal highness occupied. I’ll ask her if she wants more hot water. The longer we keep her in that bath, the more chance Old Gregory will have. Don’t you worry, I’ll be fine.’

I didn’t like leaving her with Bony Lizzie but I had little choice. What Alice said made sense. Maybe she could distract the witch. I knew I had to warn my master. If he came up not realizing how strong Lizzie was now, he could end up either dead or in the dungeons, food for the buggane.

So I left Alice and began to run down the steps as fast as I could. I met the Spook as he was coming through the guardroom. We almost collided.

‘Steady on, lad!’ he cried.

‘Lizzie’s really powerful now!’ I said, struggling to catch my breath. ‘She can freeze you with a word. She stopped me from getting my chain out of my pocket!’

The Spook leaned his staff against the guardroom table and took a seat. ‘I thought there must be something different about the witch. There’s a small army out there and yet they don’t feel able to walk in through the gate and deal with her. They think the shaman’s dead. Is that so?’

I nodded. ‘Lizzie took his bones.’

‘So that’s one less servant of the dark to worry about… Lizzie’s got the yeomen scared all right – they’ve resorted to sending me in to deal with her – a spook, and a foreigner to boot. These people have always been fiercely independent, so they must be desperate.’

‘She’s talking about becoming Queen of Mona…’ I told my master.

He raised his eyebrows at that. ‘So tell me all about it. Take your time and leave nothing out-’

‘But she’s having a bath right at this moment. This could be your best chance!’

‘Bony Lizzie having a bath? Now I’ve heard it all!’ said the Spook, giving me a rare smile. ‘But I won’t take another step until I know what’s what. Sooner you start, lad, the sooner you’ll finish!’

So I did as he asked. I told him about Alice and Lizzie’s lips being stitched and the buggane’s tunnels leading into each cell. Then about the fight and our escape, and then how she’d crooned to the buggane; finally about facing the dogs, the appearance of Bill Arkwright’s ghost and the shaman’s death.

My master shook his head. ‘She’s certainly got delusions of grandeur – though she’s dangerous all right. Poor Bill… at least once we’ve sorted Lizzie, he’ll be able to break free.

‘But this is as bad as it could be, lad. I’ve been sent in here to sort out that witch, but once it’s done, they won’t need me any more. There’ll be a new master of Greeba Keep and things will go on much the same as ever. We might well end up in the dungeons again. They’ll carry on appeasing the buggane even though the shaman’s dead. They’ll be back to their old tricks. It’s the way of the world, I’m afraid. History repeating itself.’ My master sighed deeply, lost in thought for a moment.

‘I’ve faced similar situations before. I’m getting weary of it all, lad – tired in body, mind and spirit. Still, we’ll worry about that later. First we must sort out Lizzie,’ he finished, getting to his feet.