I couldn't think straight; didn't know what to say. Suddenly the tears were streaming down my cheeks. Embarrassed, I tried to brush them away. Mam leaned across and put her arm around my shoulders.
'It happened a long time ago, son. Anyone who lives that long is no longer the same being. You evolve and change. Become someone else. That's a truth well worth knowing, for it is exactly what has happened to me. I've little in common with the Lamia who slew so many; I have now served the light for many years. I married your father so that I could bear him seven sons. I bore you as my gift to the County. More than that – my gift to the world. For it is in you to destroy the Fiend and begin a new age of light. When you do that, my penance will be completed. I will have made full restitution for my terrible crimes.
'I know this is really hard for you to take in, but try to be brave and remember that you're more than just a weapon to use against the dark. You're my son and I love you, Tom. Believe that, whatever happens.'
I couldn't think of anything to say and we walked back into the house in silence. Mam locked the door and we strode out towards the wagon. She paused briefly and looked back.
'I won't come here again,' she said sadly. 'The memories of your dad are so sharp that it's like being bereaved for a second time.'
During the ride back to the ship, I tried to digest what Mam had said. I had been told a terrible truth. One that was almost impossible to bear.
CHAPTER
10
A DELEGATION OF THIRTEEN
When I climbed out of my hammock at dawn, there were five more wagons waiting on the quay. Alice was down there on the edge of a group of Pendle witches – those from the Deane clan. She looked lost and unhappy, but when I walked down the gangplank her face brightened and she hastened towards me.
'What's up, Tom?' she asked. 'Where did you go with your mam yesterday? Had bad news? You don't look happy at all . . .'
'Then that's two of us that look unhappy,' I told her.
Without another word we began to walk away from the boat and out of earshot of the others. Alice stood and waited expectantly, but I couldn't bring myself to tell her who Mam was. It was bad enough knowing it myself. I felt hurt and ashamed of what she'd once been.
'Mam took me to the house she once shared with Dad,' I told Alice. 'That's all.'
'But what did she tell you, Tom? Must have said something to make you look so low!'
'It was sad – that's all. Going back there made her feel like she'd lost Dad all over again. But she wanted me to see it.'
Alice wasn't entirely satisfied with my answer, and as we walked back towards the Celeste, I saw Mab Mouldheel staring at us. She could tell that neither of us was happy and she had a big smirk on her face.
It took an hour to load our provisions, and by then the sun was climbing high into the sky. The witches finally disembarked; a few of them managed to find space enough to ride in a wagon, but the majority walked. We set off eastwards: Mam's wagon, surrounded on all sides by her escort, led the way. Next came the supply wagons, and then the witches, led by Grimalkin, Alice at her side.
I walked behind with Bill Arkwright and the Spook. Whereas I'd put my bag in Mam's wagon, John Gregory was still carrying his, despite the heat. I wondered again what Mam had written to make him join us so late, leaping onto the boat at the very last moment. What exactly had changed his mind? Did he know the truth about who she was? No, I felt sure that if he'd known my true parentage, he would have had nothing more to do with me. I'd be banished for ever just like Alice.
We travelled all day under the fierce heat of the sun, following the Kalamos river valley towards the town of Yiannena. My spirits were really low. I couldn't stop thinking about Mam's true identity. No one was talkative though. The sun was intense and it took all our strength to keep up with the wagons.
We passed through villages with white-painted stone houses and groves of olive trees, and attracted a few curious stares. I wondered if there were spies out there, reporting our progress to the maenads. We were here to do battle with the Ordeen and were therefore their enemies – at some point they were certain to attack. And as our party and the maenads were both heading towards the Ord, it seemed inevitable that our paths would cross at some point.
I was used to the lazy summer drone of insects back home, but here they were everywhere. There were swarms of flying things that got inside my hood and bit me.
'Does it ever rain here?' I asked, looking up at the blue sky and scorching sun.
'It rains a lot in winter, I believe,' Arkwright replied, 'and it can get cold too. Your mam says it's a totally different place in spring, with carpets of wild flowers.'
'I'd like to see it then,' I remarked. 'Who knows? Once we've sorted things out we may be able to come again one day. I'd love to see more of Mam's country. But what's that whirring noise?' It was in the background all the time and was starting to annoy me.
'Cicadas – a sort of grasshopper,' Arkwright explained. 'Noisy blighters, aren't they? It's the bigger creatures we need to watch out for though, Master Ward – like wild boar. Tasty to eat but painful if you get in the way of their tusks! And then there are wolves and even bears.'
'Aye, it's a different land to our own,' said the Spook. 'Greece is far wilder and more dangerous. And that's before we consider the power of the dark. In addition to the maenads, there are lamia witches up in the mountains – lots of 'em – not to mention the Ordeen herself, and the host of fire elementals that will come through the portal with her.'
His words made us fall silent, each locked in our own thoughts. Great danger lay ahead and it had to be dealt with before we could return to the County. I wondered if we'd ever see its green shores again.
We halted a couple of hours before sunset after passing through the village of Kreatopolio, which means butcher. It did have numerous butchers' shops, with the carcasses of lambs hanging outside, and we took the opportunity to buy fresh meat. Mam's friends erected three tents – the largest for her; a guard kept watch outside all night. Some of the witches used the other tents, but most of us slept under the stars. I was tired and fell asleep the moment I closed my eyes.
Although we needed to reach our destination as soon as possible, Mam had decided that we should rest here for a day before heading on. She feared the maenads. Scouts would go out the following morning to see if there was any immediate danger.
We rose early and ate just before the sun came up. Breakfast was simple – just some white goat's cheese called feta and a couple of slices of bread without butter.
'I could murder a plate of bacon and eggs!' I complained to Arkwright.
'So could I, Master Ward,' he replied, 'but I believe some of the lads not needed for scouting are off hunting wild boar this morning. So perhaps we'll eat better later. If not, there's always the lamb we bought yesterday.'
After breakfast the Spook, Arkwright and I walked a little way from the camp and found a clump of olive trees under which to shelter from the fierce morning sun. But the Spook seemed agitated and couldn't keep still. He soon got to his feet.
'We're not being told enough!' he complained. 'I'm going to talk to your mam, lad!'
He was away about an hour. When he returned, his expression was grim.
'Well?' Bill Arkwright asked. 'Did you get any answers?'
The Spook laid down his staff and hunkered down between us in the shade of an olive tree. He took a long time to reply.
'It seems that once the Ordeen arrives through the portal, a delegation from the local area enters the citadel of the Ord,' said the Spook. 'It's a ritual that never changes. The delegates hope to appease her and mitigate the effects of her visitation. But the truth is, nothing they do ever makes any real difference.'
'Then why do they bother?' I asked. 'What's the point of it if they achieve nothing?'
'It's because they're human, lad. Human beings have hope. No matter how desperate things are, they convince themselves that they can change things for the bett
er; that this time their visit will alter the outcome.
'The Ordeen needs human blood to wake her from her deep sleep on the far side of the portal. Few of the delegates return, and those who do rant and rave in a delirium. The horror of the experience deranges their minds. Kalambaka is planning to send a delegation of thirteen people – the usual number – but your mam has other ideas. Thirteen of us will be going in their place.'
Arkwright whistled through his teeth. 'Did she say which of us?'
The Spook stared hard at me. 'She just named one so far, lad. You. You'll be part of that delegation.'
The thought scared me but I tried not to show it. I hoped the Spook, Arkwright or Mam would be with me. Then at least I wouldn't be alone.
'No doubt it's some sort of trick. A way to get inside and take the enemy by surprise?' Arkwright asked.
'Aye, that's the idea. She's not thought it through yet, but she's hoping to create some sort of diversion. The main attack would be launched while the delegation pretends to go about its business. She's going to hire mercenaries – a lot of 'em. Savage warriors from the north.'
Arkwright soon went off with the dogs and I was left alone with the Spook. He looked ill at ease and kept muttering to himself and shaking his head.
'What's wrong?' I asked.
'Wrong? Too much is wrong. This is just about the most dangerous situation I've ever walked into with both eyes open, lad. If we survive a likely attack by maenads, we have to cross the Pindhos Mountains, and they're likely to be crawling with feral lamia witches. And all before we even set eyes on the Ordeen . . .'
His reference to lamias made me think of Meg, the love of my master's life, and her sister, the feral Marcia. They'd both sailed back to Greece the previous year. Maybe our route would take us close to where they were staying? I wondered if he was still missing Meg.
'Will you go and see Meg while we're here?' I asked.
The Spook bowed his head, and for a moment I thought he wasn't going to answer – or would tell me in no uncertain terms to mind my own business. But then he looked up and I saw sadness in his eyes; even before he began to speak, I knew that he had been considering it.
'I've thought about it, lad, but decided against it. You see, she told me where she was heading. By now she'll be living in a remote farmhouse far to the south. Because she's kept her distance from people, she'll have changed back to her feral form. I'd hardly recognize her now. A year or so and she'll be no different to her sister, Marcia. She's lost to me now. She might as well be dead. The woman I knew and loved is certainly gone, so I'd like to keep my last memories of her just as they were . . .'
He shook his head sadly and I could think of nothing to say that might make him feel better. But to my surprise he was smiling as he got to his feet.
'Do you know, lad, my old bones have never felt better! It must be the heat and the dry air. No doubt they'll soon start aching again once we get back to the County. But for all that, I'll be glad to be home!'
Late that afternoon Seilenos and three of his men returned after a successful boar hunt. The other warriors had been out scouting or guarding the perimeter of the camp.
That night we dined under the stars, on wild boar and lamb. 'All's well for now,' Mam said. 'There's plentiful game in the area and the men report that there's no sign of enemy activity. Tomorrow we press on towards Meteora.'
Seilenos looked across at the Spook, who was merely picking at his food. 'Eat up, Mr Gregory!' he said with a smile. 'We have dark to fight soon. Need to build up strength!'
The Spook looked back at him dubiously. I could tell he didn't really approve of Seilenos. 'Back home in the County, we spooks don't eat much when the dark threatens,' he replied, his manner cool. 'When things become critical, we fast, denying ourselves food so that our minds and spirits are better prepared to face our enemies.'
The Greek spook shook his head. 'That I cannot understand!' he cried, throwing up his hands in bewilderment. 'You weaken yourself by such foolish practices. Food and wine give strength. Is that not so? You will need your strength to face the salamander!'
'What's a salamander?' I asked.
'Highest and most powerful form of fire elemental is this salamander. More powerful even than asteri. A big lizard, it is, basking at the heart of fierce flames. It spits fire too. Also blows scalding steam from its nostrils. Need lots of food inside you to fight such a formidable thing. Eat up, young spook! You will need all your strength soon. Do your wives not feed you well at home?' Seilenos asked, looking at Arkwright and the Spook in turn.
'I have no wife,' Arkwright growled.
'We County spooks don't marry,' John Gregory explained. 'A wife and children would distract us from our vocation, which is to fight the dark.'
'A pretty wife could be a distraction, yes,' Seilenos agreed. 'Fortunate it is that my wife is ugly and has a sharp tongue!' he went on, giving me a wink. 'I've five little ones to bring up too. That's why I travel with you. To escape wife and earn money from your good mother!'
I was hungry and ate until I was full. Even so, compared with Seilenos, I picked at my food. He ate until his belly seemed sure to burst, applauded by his men, who seemed to delight in his insatiable appetite. When I settled down to sleep, he was still eating – and drinking a good deal of wine.
I thought over what the Spook had reported earlier. Mam hadn't mentioned her plan at supper, so she must still be thinking it through. Why had she picked me to be part of the delegation? The thought was frightening but I had to trust Mam's judgement.
Soon after dawn, we continued our journey eastwards.
We travelled for three days, each stage of our journey more wearisome than the previous. It was hot and dusty, the sun beating down mercilessly. After the third day we skirted the town of Yiannena.
At last we saw a ridge of mountains on the horizon, the ones we needed to cross in order to reach Meteora. Two nights later, as we made camp on their lower slopes, those high Pindhos Mountains loomed very close. Tomorrow, well before noon, we would start to climb. Beyond the mountains awaited the plain of Kalambaka, where the Ordeen would emerge from her fiery portal. Every mile brought us closer to that ultimate danger.
CHAPTER
11
NIGHT ATTACK
Ilay wrapped in my cloak some distance from the cooking fire. It had been a hot day but the stars were bright and the air was starting to cool a little. Just as I started to sink into sleep, I was awoken very suddenly by a loud noise.
It sounded like wild laughter but ended in a frenzied scream. I looked out into the darkness beyond the fire. Immediately the sound was repeated from a different direction and I lurched to my feet, snatching up my staff.
It was maenads – I felt sure of it. They were preparing to attack. Other people were stirring about me. In the light of the embers I saw Bill Arkwright's shaven head as he kicked dirt across to extinguish the orange glow of the fire, plunging us into relative darkness. In the distance the other fires were also being doused, so that the enemy had only starlight to see us by. I saw Arkwright crouch down to make himself less of a target and I did the same.
There were more shrieks and yells, this time from behind us and much closer. We were surrounded: the maenads were moving in, about to attack. A shadowy figure ran straight at Arkwright and he struck out at her with his staff. The maenad fell at his feet with a grunt but others were sprinting towards us from all directions. I could hear their feet thumping on the dry earth. I whirled to meet an attacker at my left shoulder, swinging my staff in an arc. I caught her on the head and she overbalanced and fell away. I pressed the catch in my staff and the blade emerged with a click. It was a fight to the death now. Maenads were all around, some stabbing at me with long cruel blades, others charging with bare hands. Some had killed already. The mouth of one was dripping with blood and she had pieces of skin and flesh trapped between her teeth. I whirled round, trying to keep them at bay. There were too many to fight off and I'd no hope of help. Eve
ryone else was in the same predicament. We were heavily outnumbered.