This creature, which Grimalkin had termed a battle entity, had been designed to kill and devour soldiers. Those villagers going about their business would probably be indistinguishable.

I began to grasp at straws. What could I do to stop this attack? Could I summon the boggart to my assistance?

I had no doubt that Kratch would be able to deal with the vartek, but I needed a ley line to allow the boggart to travel here. Picturing my master’s maps, which had been destroyed in the fire, I vaguely remembered that there was one a few miles farther east. But how could I get the vartek to cross its path? I couldn’t think of any way to achieve this.

The creature continued moving until about an hour after midday. Then it came to a halt again, and it still hadn’t moved at nightfall.

By now I was desperate to find some way of halting the vartek. I spoke to Grimalkin, hoping that she might have some ideas.

“Couldn’t you use your magic against it?” I asked. I glanced across at Jenny. She was fast asleep, exhausted by the chase.

The witch assassin shook her head. “I have already tried spells of binding and confusion,” she replied. “They have no effect on it at all. I am dealing with an entity that seems resistant to human witch magic. Such defenses may have been built into it quite deliberately. Of course, in time I may learn ways to overcome such a creature. That is why it is vital that I obtain knowledge of Kobalos magical practices. But for now we can only be patient and make sure that we are there when the vartek emerges.”

Her words were like a blow. It seemed that there was nothing we could do. I felt so helpless. Soon I sensed the vartek stir beneath us, and I quickly shook Jenny awake. It was moving much more slowly now, but still heading in the same direction.

As we followed, my anxiety grew.

Just before dawn it speeded up again, and our stroll became first a fast walk and eventually a jog. I was soon running, and Grimalkin and Jenny kept pace with me.

The sky was pink with the dawn light, and I could see trees ahead and a couple of low hills, which functioned as landmarks. I took my bearings again, and a wave of relief crashed through me as I realized that the creature would miss Jack’s farm.

But the village of Topley was now directly in its path.

My relief gave way to shame. What about those hundreds of innocent people at the market? I thought.

Then I realized that my family was not safe after all. My brothers visited Topley market on Friday mornings. At least one of them would be there, I was sure of it.

By now I could see the familiar hill in the distance and felt a surge of hope.

“Is that Hangman’s Hill?” Jenny gasped, struggling to keep up.