The Spook's Sacrifice Read Online Free PDF Page A

the Spook's reaction
would be.
    'I know you'll find it hard because of what your
master's taught you,' Mam said, laying a hand on my
shoulder, 'but we can't win without them. It's as
simple as that. And we have to win, we really do. We
have to defeat the Ordeen. We cannot afford to lose.
If we do, not only the County but the whole world
will be at risk. You go and bring your master down to
see me. Then keep out of the way while I try to talk
him round.'
     
    I did as Mam asked – went up to Hangman's Hill and
told the Spook that she wanted to speak to him. I
revealed no more than that, but perhaps my master
read something in my face, for, as he walked down
towards the farm, he looked far from happy.
    Leaving him in the kitchen with Mam, I headed
towards a small rise from where I could look down
upon the campfires of the witches in the southern
pasture. The smell of cooking wafted towards me on
the breeze – rabbit stew. Folk in the County were short
of food and rabbits had been hunted so much that their
populations were depleted and they were now hard to
find. But no doubt our visitors from Pendle had their
own dark methods . . .
    I thought back over my own dealings with witches
and shuddered with horror. I remembered being
trapped in a pit while Bony Lizzie sharpened her
knives as she prepared to cut the bones from my living
body. Then there was that awful moment when Mab
Mouldheel had held a knife to little Mary's throat,
clearly prepared to kill her had I not surrendered the
keys to Mam's trunks.
    Malevolent witches were ruthless creatures of the
dark who killed innocents to use their blood or bones
in their magical rituals. So the Ordeen must be terrible
indeed if Mam was prepared to forge an alliance
with such evil beings. But could I blame her? I too had
been forced to compromise by fighting alongside
Grimalkin to defeat Morwena and a host of water
witches.
    My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the
back door slamming, and then I saw the Spook
striding across the yard, his face like thunder. I ran
towards him but he scowled and turned north before I
reached his side.
    'Follow me, lad – we need to talk!' he snapped over
his shoulder as he set off towards Hangman's Hill.
After crossing the north pasture, he paused at the
border of Jack's farm and turned to face me.
    'What's wrong?' I asked, by now thoroughly
alarmed. I was sure that the discussion with Mam had
gone badly.
    'What's wrong? Everything, lad. Just about everything!
You know my feelings about using the dark. It just
can't be done. You can't make alliances with witches
and suchlike and hope to avoid being contaminated and
drawn towards the dark yourself. Above all, lad, you can't risk it. That's exactly what the Fiend wants, as I've
told you often enough. So you've got an important
decision to make. Think it over very carefully—'
    'Think what over?'
    'What your mam's proposing. Going to Greece,
joining forces with witches and . . . well . . . I'll let her
tell you herself. I can't do it – the words would choke
in my throat. I'm going straight back to Chipenden
now. If you're not back within three days I'll know that
you're following your mam's wishes. In that case your
apprenticeship with me is over!'
    'Please!' I called, following him across the boundary.
'Don't go. Can't we talk about it?'
    'Talk? What is there to talk about? Your mam's made
an alliance with the Pendle witches. It's as plain as the
nose on your face. So think on, lad, and make your
choice. I've already made mine!'
    So saying, he turned, climbed over the fence and set
off up the hill without a backward glance. I watched
him disappear amongst the trees, hardly able to
believe what he'd just said. He was ending my
apprenticeship? How could he do that after all we'd
been through together? I felt shocked, hurt and angry.
I didn't deserve that.
    I went down the hill and crossed the yard, heading
straight for the kitchen again. I needed to talk to Mam
and try to sort things