Page 41 of The Witch and His Crow

‘Since the Witch Trials began, I haven’t been able to communicate with him. I thought it was due to space between us, but if Caym could have found me by now, he always has before. Something is… blocking us.’

I expected her to worry at the thought, but instead her eyes sparkled as though I had just exposed the secrets of the universe.

‘Old magic,’ Romy practically shouted, clapping a hand against the cover of the grimoire. ‘It has to be. Until the new Grand High is picked, and the source is handed over to them, it has to behere.’

Romy snatched my arm in hers, guiding me towards the door of the room.

‘Are you always this happy, even in the face of problems?’ I asked.

‘It’s called searching for a silver-lining, Hector. You should try it sometime and stop being such a cynical old soul.’

‘What do you suggest?’ I asked.

‘Well, first we make sure we’re seen by the surviving witches. No good speculating that you are weak and bed-bound after last night’s fun. Then we can try contacting Caym.’

I nodded, enjoying the feeling of having a path to follow. But there was the mention of Jordan again, and my mind twinged with a phantom ache. ‘You said something about seeing into the mind of the Witch Hunter, getting out information we need.’

‘One spell at a time, Hector.’

‘No, not with old magic,’ I said as Romy turned back to our door and locked it, pocketing the key. ‘I think we both know of a witch who would be a rather helpful ally when it comes to our plan.’

Romy smiled knowingly at me, as if she was piecing together the puzzle I laid out for her. ‘Then let’s go huntJordandown.’

CHAPTER TWELVE

It wasn’t a surprise to discover the castle empty of the dead bodies I’d passed last night. But the lack of their presence wasn’t the only thing to change. Walls had been repaired, furniture righted and placed back where it had been. Floors which had been drenched with blood and torn limbs never looked cleaner. There wasn’t a single sign of the countless battles which had occurred during the Culling.

Perhaps Romy was right in her hunch. Maybe therewasold magic here. It was the only way to explain the unexplainable.

We passed the Great Hall, noticing the bricks and doorway had been re-made. Inside, the room was set for breakfast. The inviting scents of cinnamon and golden syrup almost enticed me to change course. Unlike the night prior, there wasn’t a crowd of people inside. Small groups of three or four witches sat around a long table in clusters. They huddled over plates stacked with cooked bacon, toast, and bowls of pale sludge which could’ve only been porridge.

Heads snapped our way, witches eyeing us with caution. I didn’t recognise a single face, nor would I. But what we all shared was equal looks of pure exhaustion. Unless you’d hadyour head kicked in, I imagined not many people were afforded rest last night.

Only the dead slept soundly during the night of the first trial.

I followed Romy’s line of sight as she studied the chalkboard of names. Even since the last time I’d seen it, more names had been removed. Over half of what had been on there at the start.

First, I found Salem’s name and guilt reared its ugly head. After reading the beginning of Jonathan’s letter with Tomin, I couldn’t help but feel the need to speak to Salem again. Until I remembered what he’d done to the dying witch on the floor. Next, I found Arwyn’s name, then mine and Romy’s names. Jordan was still on the board, proving he had made it through the night. And Jaz.

How many of these people would I be forced to face? How many more would try and kill me?

And who was the Witch Hunter?

‘So he still lives,’ Romy said, her stomach growling in tandem with mine.

‘He does,’ I said, allowing her to draw me from the room. My stomach lurched in disappointment, but I promised myself I’d eat when we returned. ‘How many people do you think survived last night?’

‘Not even a fraction of those who came,’ Romy replied, wincing at the truth. ‘There was roughly three hundred and forty-two witches who put themselves forwards for the Witch Trials.’

‘Roughly? Sounds oddly specific.’

She scoffed, drawing me towards the northern part of the castle through winding corridors bathed in bright daylight. ‘I’m a sucker for numbers. I also take everything I do seriously. One thing Jonathan didn’t account for was me being prepared. I made sure I knew how many people were partaking, as well as studying those with Gifts that I believed could be a problem.’

It was the way Romy said it that made my mind land upon a single person. ‘It would suggest that Witch Hunters have sent a witch in then—otherwise finding the name of someone who wasn’t on your lists would be easy.’

‘Ding, ding.’ Romy’s steps faltered only for a moment. ‘Yes, like a witch who can turn any witch powerless with pain?’

‘You think the Witch Hunter could be Jaz?’

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