The Hero's Tomb by Conrad Mason Page B

then!’
    ‘He could be anywhere now,’ said Newton firmly. ‘I’m sorry, Tabs, but we can’t allow the League to find out that the Demon’s Watch is here in Azurmouth. It could put everyone in danger – not just us and Master Gurney, but the whole Academy, and Port Fayt too. They’ll think we’re spies, or worse. Can you imagine what would happen if the League sends another fleet to attack Fayt? We beat them once, but we couldn’t do it again.’
    ‘So what do we do, Newt?’ asked Frank.
    ‘I’d say Ty’s our best bet for now. He can head out and scour the city. He doesn’t have a shark tattoo, and he can escape quickly. Back by dusk though, understand?’
    ‘I’ll do my best, mister,’ said Ty, saluting. ‘Not promising nothing, though.’ He leaped off the bookcase and darted out of the window.
    ‘And what do you intend to do with me?’ Derringer demanded.
    Newton ignored him. ‘The rest of you – sit tight at the Academy till I get back.’
    ‘What do you mean, till I get back? ’ snappedTabitha. She felt the tears welling again, and fought them down fiercely. ‘You can’t tell us to wait here, then head out into the city all on your own.’ He was up to something. Something to do with that night in the library. Something to do with the Sword of Corin. But what?
    Newton lit his pipe, avoiding Tabitha’s glare. ‘I won’t be on my own,’ he said. ‘I’m taking our friend Cyrus here with me.’

Chapter Eleven
    Joseph was bundled down the steps into a big room directly below the attic. Sunlight filtered through a small, grubby window, leaving most of the room in shadow. The walls were shelved and cluttered with busts and wigs, just like in the attic, and in the middle of the room sat a plain wooden table and chairs. A selection of tools was spread out on the table. Tinderboxes. Wooden clothes pegs. Crowbars. Keys. Knives.
    His heart jumped at the sight. They’re going to torture me! No, that was ridiculous. You couldn’t torture someone with clothes pegs. Could you?
    The horse thrust Joseph into a chair, pinning himdown with hands that felt large, strong and entirely immoveable. The cat came behind, closing the door quietly. He moved so much like the animal that Joseph half expected him to curl up in a patch of sunshine and start licking his paws.
    No such luck.
    A third figure materialized out of the darkness from a corner of the room. A pale, cadaverous woman, dressed entirely in black. Her eyes were tiny, solid black and glistening, and she was completely bald – without even any eyebrows. She looked like a walking skeleton.
    The spider , Joseph realized with a jolt.
    The three shapeshifters loomed over him, watching, appraising. They made an odd trio, but no less menacing for that. The cat leaned suddenly across the table, peering curiously at Joseph’s face. For a second Joseph could have sworn his nostrils flared, as though he were snuffling at a mouse hole.
    Joseph changed his mind again. They’re definitely going to torture me. Or kill me. Or both. They’re dangerous criminals, and I got one of them arrested.
    He didn’t stand a chance.
    ‘I—’ he began, but the spider laid a long, bony finger over her lips.
    ‘You took this from me once,’ said the cat. Hedrew the wooden spoon from his pocket. ‘Back in Port Fayt. I stole it, and you stole it back from me. Do you recall?’
    Joseph was gripped by sudden desperation. Somehow, the thought of his own death seemed less terrible than the loss of the spoon. ‘Please,’ he said. ‘I need it. Just for a day. You can have it afterwards, I swear, then you can do what you like to me.’
    Maybe they’d take pity on him? His father had always told him, There’s a little bit of demon and a little bit of seraph in everyone, Joseph. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
    ‘We don’t want it,’ said the spider. Even in human form her voice was barely a whisper, and her strange black eyes gave nothing away.
    ‘Don’t need