Joseph Delaney - The Spook's Mistake

I pulled the knife from my belt and tried to relax.

Don't fight. Let her pull you back. Wait your chance.

Over my shoulder I glimpsed open jaws, huge canine teeth ready to bite. It was a water witch! So I thrust my knife towards that ferocious face. The water made it difficult, slowing my arm, but the blade made contact and I pushed it home just as hard as I could. For a second nothing happened. Then my ankle was released. Close behind, I could see two figures struggling. I glimpsed leather belts, sheaths and blades adorning the body of one and knew that it was Grimalkin. Quickly I turned and kicked myself clear of the tunnel, rising swiftly.

As I broke the surface, I tried to call out a warning about the witch but began to cough and splutter. The Spook, Alice and Arkwright were staring down at me anxiously. Claw was growling low in her throat. My master had his staff at the ready, the blade pointing towards the water. Alice waded down the steps and gripped my right arm, helping me out. Seconds later I was back on the flags, the blade still in my hand. I looked back. There was blood in the water, rising up in dark ribbons from the tunnel.

'A witch!' I shouted at last. 'There's a witch in the tunnel! There's another underwater route into the tower! From the lake!'

We stared down into the water but she didn't emerge.

'Are you hurt, lad?' the Spook asked, his eyes flicking anxiously from the water to me and back again.

'It's not my blood,' I told him. 'It's hers. But there could be more. '

I dressed quickly and pulled on my boots. Then we left the tower, the Spook locking the door behind us.

'This should slow 'em down,' he said, pocketing his key again. 'I very much doubt they'll have a key to this lock. Prisoners were no doubt brought into this tower by human accomplices, then transferred later by the short connecting tunnel. The lake route would be no good. Humans wouldn't survive underwater that long.'

'No doubt you're right,' Arkwright agreed. 'But I was out cold until I woke up in the other tower.'

We hurried towards the boat as fast as we could but were hampered by Arkwright, who was considerably weakened and kept having to pause to catch his breath. At any moment we expected another attack and Claw kept circling, alert for danger. At last we reached the shore, where Deana Beck was waiting for us. At first it looked like we'd have to make two trips but the Spook wouldn't hear of it. The boat sat dangerously low in the water but we made the crossing safely.

'You're welcome to spend the night back at the cottage,' Deana offered.

'We thank you for the offer, but you've done enough already,' said the Spook. 'No, we'll be on our way just as fast as we can.'

The ferryman had called Deana Beck 'Daft Deana', though she seemed as sensible as any woman I'd ever met. By 'daft' he'd really meant 'too brave'. She'd certainly risked her life to row us out to Belle Isle. If the witches found out that Deana had helped us, her days on this earth would be numbered.

Our journey south was relatively slow but the attack we feared never came. I didn't know how many witches had entered the tunnel from the lake, but I'd either killed or badly wounded the one who'd seized my ankle. Perhaps Grimalkin had slain the rest — or at least delayed them, giving us a chance to get away.

Just before nightfall, we halted amongst the trees. By now we were clear of the lake and the threat of attack by water witches had abated.

After nibbling a little cheese from the Spook's supply, Arkwright immediately fell into a deep sleep. He was exhausted after his ordeal, and walking in bare feet wasn't helping. But despite his pale cheeks and gaunt face he was breathing slowly and deeply.

Alice touched his forehead with her fingertips. 'Ain't that cold considering what he's gone through. Neck could get infected though.' She looked up at the Spook. 'Want me to see what I can do?'

'If you think you can help him, by all means go ahead,' he replied, but I could see him watching her very carefully. She held out her hand for the water bottle and my master handed it to her. From her pouch she drew a small piece of leaf — a herb I didn't recognize — dampened it and pressed it against Arkwright's neck to cover the wounds.

'Did Lizzie teach you that?' asked the Spook.

'Some of it,' she answered. 'But when I stayed at the farm, Tom's mam taught me lots of things as well.'

The Spook nodded in approval at Alice's reply.

There was a silence and I decided to tell him about Grimalkin. I knew he wouldn't like the idea of her being involved in any way and I wondered what he'd make of it.

'Mr Gregory,' I said. 'There's something I should tell you. Grimalkin used a mirror to warn me about the witches. Then she came to the surface of the pool to talk to me. She even fought off some of the witches and helped me to escape. '

The Spook looked at me in surprise. 'Mirrors again? When was that, lad?'

'Back in the second tower. I saw her image in the water. She said something strange — that the water witches were "our enemies".'

'I would never want to admit to having anything in common with the dark,' said the Spook, scratching at his beard, 'but as the Pendle clans seem to be at war, perhaps that conflict extends to fighting water witches up north. But why Grimalkin would try to help you puzzles me. After what you did last time you met, I'd have thought she wanted you dead!'

'But if Grimalkin's really on our side, that's got to help. And we need all the help we can get!' I said.

The Spook shook his head firmly. 'There's no doubt that witches being at odds with each other can only weaken them and further our cause. But I keep telling you — we can't side with any of them. The Fiend may well try to compromise you and thus bend you slowly towards the dark. So slowly that you might not even realize that it's happening!'

'I'd never serve the dark!' I said angrily.

'Don't be so sure, lad,' the Spook continued. 'Even your own mother once served the dark! Remember that. It could happen to you.'

I had to bite my lip to stop myself giving an angry retort. The silence lengthened. The Spook stared at me hard. 'Cat got your tongue, lad? Could it be that you're sulking? Can't you stand to hear a few home truths?'

I shrugged. 'I can't believe you think I could end up on the side of the dark. I thought you knew me better than that!'

'I just worry about it, lad. That's all. It's a possibility we face. That you might be corrupted. I'll say this to you now, and I don't ever want you to forget it. Don't ever keep secrets from me. Tell me everything, no matter how badly you think I'll take it. Is that clear? Everything! These are dangerous times and I'm the only person you can truly trust,' he said pointedly, looking in Alice's direction. 'Do you understand?'

I could see Alice watching my face very carefully. I felt sure she was wondering whether I'd tell him that she was preparing to use a blood jar to keep the Fiend at bay. If the Spook knew that, he'd send her away. That or worse. He might even consider her an enemy. He bound witches in pits and Alice had once come very close to suffering that fate.

I knew a lot hinged on my reply. The Spook was my master but Alice was my friend and an increasingly powerful ally against the dark.

'Well?' said the Spook

'I understand,' I told him.

'That's good, lad.'

He nodded but didn't comment and the conversation came to an end. We took it in turns to stand guard, watching for danger. Arkwright slept on so we decided to spend the night in the same spot.

But my sleep was fitful. What I'd just done filled me with fear and uncertainty. My dad had brought me up to be honest and truthful, but Mam, although she was an enemy of the dark, had told Alice to use anything to keep me safe from the Fiend. Anything .