Half a breath later, the arrow pierced the woman’s thigh. She took as little notice of it as she might a wasp’s sting, and drew a long sword from her belt, advancing on them.

Elissa was terrified. She had never fought like this, could not fight off a woman possessed by Python and armed with a sword, the red light from her eyes glowing demonic. There was no emotion in her face at all.

A movement caught Elissa’s attention to her right. She saw with dismay that Silvius was fingering the casket holding the Arrowhead.

‘Don’t,’ she muttered.

‘Centaurs are wilder than us. I think I can control it.’

‘Don’t risk it now!’

As the woman advanced, the curly-haired young man also leapt over the side, and the pair strode forwards in a pincer movement.

‘You’re still people!’ shouted Elissa. ‘You have homes, families, friends!’

Implacably the two marched onwards, forcing Elissa and Silvius against the stern.

The bag Elissa was carrying moved, and out shot Ruffler. He landed on the deck, and then skittered straight towards the woman, biting her in the leg. She stumbled.

Instinctively Elissa notched another arrow, this time as quickly and as neatly as if she was on dry land, and it lodged in the woman’s neck.

She fell to her knees, clutching at her throat, but she did not utter a sound.

The red light left her eyes, and for a moment she became just a terrified dying woman.

Elissa had killed someone. Someone who had had the terrible misfortune to be taken by Python. She felt suddenly numb.

‘Where … what … My flower! My little flower!’ She sobbed, and then she was gone. Her body slumped onto the deck, and a wave caught it, and rolled it over the side of the ship.

Elissa ran to where the body had disappeared, and watched it dip under the surface, hair floating around the body.

A harsh grip was on her shoulder. The curly-haired man, the one who’d been so patient with the paintbrush, had her in his grasp. She shrieked.

‘Give the Arrowhead to me,’ her captor hissed. ‘Give it to me, or I will kill her.’

‘Don’t!’ squealed Elissa.

Ruffler bit into the Enemy’s leg, and worried at it. But he took no notice.

‘Python rises,’ said the man, eyes glowing crimson. ‘He calls us and he rises. He will take back his lands. He will rule Delphi! The gods are leaving. Python will return. You will all worship him. Give it to me, join us and live!’

‘Don’t!’ shouted Elissa once more. The young man kicked Ruffler away, and the wolf cub arched his back, baring his teeth. Elissa watched Silvius, aghast. The golden chain glinted on his neck.