‘What exactly is it you want me to do?’

‘You made the wards, my boy. With Kit. I had hoped for that. And you did well.’ He smiled once more, with a great effort, showing uneven, yellowing teeth. ‘Many things. Many things, which will become apparent in time, if you listen and learn. For now …’ Again he paused, as if uncertain where he was or what he was doing.

Tom trembled a little, looking at his uncle’s powerful fingers. Then Jack returned his gaze to Tom once more, his eyes shining with unfathomed depths. ‘For now, I wish that you do go to Zita. She shall show you what’s what. I’m strong, still.’ He patted his chest. ‘But it has to be a Swinton. Kit and Zita cannot do it alone.’ He coughed and Tom made as if to help him, but Jack held up a hand as if to say, Do not worry.

From across the bare floorboards, his uncle Jack looked to Tom like nothing so much as an eagle.

‘But what is it?’ Tom asked, as firmly as he could manage. ‘What is it only a Swinton can do?’

Jack uttered a guttural laugh and coughed into his fist. His britches were a little loose, Tom noticed, and Jack hitched them up. ‘Those as are outside. Those as are always outside. Only I have the key to what they want. And it will be your duty to stop them. I am too old now. Too old. Everything is too much. I’ve had my time. I earned it. It seems odd now.’ He expelled a deep sigh. ‘I have almost forgotten why I wanted it. But now.’ He gestured towards Tom.

‘And what if I don’t want to do this job?’ Tom paced up and down before him, twisting his fingers together.

‘You’ll want it, boy. You’ll want it.’

Tom halted in a patch of warm sunlight.

‘Why will I want it?’

There was stillness in the room, as thick as night. ‘You’ll want it, Thomas, as there isn’t anything else. Now be off with you.’ He laughed again, and the sound filled Tom’s ears. ‘We will see each other again.’

Feeling more than a little bewildered, Tom left, and soon found Zita sitting cross-legged on a large red cushion in the middle of the entrance hall. There was a low fire burning, and it gave off a sleepy, sweet scent. Leana was dozing in front of the fire, and she lifted her head slowly, before snuggling back down.

When Zita looked up at Tom, he had a sudden flash of something, as if he’d seen her before.

‘Your face,’ he said. Then he felt foolish. ‘Are you …?’