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Chapter 21 Wolf Boy

You ought to talk to Morwenna before you go," Jo-Jo told Septimus and Nicko. They were back at the campfire saying good-bye to Sam, Jo-Jo, Edd and Erik. Wolf Boy stood behind them, staring at Septimus, who shifted uncomfortably. He always knew when someone was watching him.
"Morwenna's scary," said Nicko. "What do we want to talk to her for, anyway?"
Jo-Jo heaved himself to his feet while the others lay on their backs, idly staring up at the small patch of brilliant blue sky, which shone through the leaves.
"She's the Witch Mother," said Jo-Jo. "She knows everything. I'll bet you she'll know where Jenna has gone."
"Perhaps we ought to see her," said Septimus. "Dad says that Morwenna has the gift of second sight."
"She's still scary," said Nicko, "and she always hugs you like she's going to squash you flat."
"C'mon," said Jo-Jo, "I'll take you there. It's on your way anyway."
A mocking chorus started up from the three boys lying around the fire. "He's going to see Mar-iiii-ssa, he's going to see Mar-iiii-ssa, he's going to see"
"Oh, shut up," growled Jo-Jo. He stormed out of the clearing and headed into the trees.
" 'Bye then," said Nicko to the remaining Heaps.
" 'Bye."
"Yeah."
"See ya."
"Um. 'Bye," said Septimus.
"Yeah."
'"Bye."
"See ya."
Nicko and Septimus caught up with Jo-Jo, who was waiting for them behind a tree, out of sight of his brothers. They set off together, with Wolf Boy following noiselessly as they made their way through the trees. Jo-Jo knew the way well; he took them along a narrow but well-worn path that, after about half an hour's walking, brought them to the Wendron Witches' Summer Circle.
The Summer Circle consisted of a circle of tepees, constructed just like Jo-Jo's. They were perched on the top of the only hill in the entire Forest. It was a small hill and did not even reach above the canopy of the Forest itself, but it was light and airy and gave the witches a good view of all that went on around them.
As the four boys followed the footpath that spiraled around the hill, taking them up toward the tepees, a steady hum of purposeful chatter drifted down to them. Suddenly a voice called out, "Joby-Jo! Hello!"
"Marissa!" Jo-Jo called back, smiling broadly.
"Joby-Jois that what she calls you?" snorted Nicko, as a tall girl with long brown hair appeared at the top of the hill, waving and laughing.
"So?" asked Jojo. "So what if she does?"
"So nothing. Just asked." Nicko smirked.
Marissa came running down the hill to meet them.
"Marissa," said Jo-Jo, "these are my brothers Nicko and Septimus."
"Whatmore brothers, Joby?" Marissa laughed. "How many brothers do you need?"
"Don't need any more, that's for sure. I've brought them to see Morwenna."
"Good. She's expecting you. I'll take you to her. She's up in the Circle."
Morwenna Mould, Witch Mother of the Wendron Witch Forest Coven, was sitting on a rug at the entrance of the smartest tepee in the Circle. She was a large, impressive woman and she wore a capacious green summer tunic, which was tied around the middle with a white sash. Her long graying hair was held back with a green leather headband, and her piercing witch-blue eyes watched Wolf Boy, Jo-Jo, Nicko and Septimusparticularly Septimusmake their way across the Circle to her tepee.
"Thank you, Marissa dear," said Morwenna, then turned and smiled at the boys. "Welcome to the Forest, Septimus, Nicko. I have heard so much about you both from your father, my dear Silas. And you both look so much like him. In fact wherever I go in the Forest now I seem to bump into smalland indeed, some not so small anymoreversions of Silas. And all with the same wonderful green eyes too. Now, boys, sit down beside me for a few minutes. I won't keep you long, for you have a hazardous journey before you."
Nicko shot Septimus a glance, which said, What docs she mean, hazardous?
Septimus raised his eyebrows at Nicko but kept his gaze fixed on Morwenna. Septimus liked the Witch Mother, but he knew that underneath Morwenna's motherly appearance something unpredictable and powerful lurked. Until Morwenna had taken over the Forest Coven, the Wendron Witches had been greatly feared by the inhabitants of the Castle. But since Morwenna had become Witch Mother, the Wendron Witches had changed, although no one knew whyexcept for Silas Heap. Silas Heap knew it because one night many years ago, when he was a young man with only one baby son, and Morwenna was a beautiful young witch, Silas had rescued Morwenna from a pack of wolverines. In return Morwenna had offered him anything he wanted and, to her disappointment, he had asked that the Wendron Witches stop preying on the inhabitants of the Castle. A few years later, when Morwenna Mould became Witch Mother, she had kept her promisebut no one was sure how long the apparent truce would last, and it was still considered wise not to offend the Forest Coven.
Morwenna began to speak in a low, musical voice, and everyone paid attention. "You are going on a long journey and I foresee some troubles ahead," she said. "There are three things you must know. The first is that you will search for, and indeed find, your sister in the Port. The second is that a tall dark man, a stranger to some but not to all, will also search for your sister in the Port." Morwenna paused. The boys waited politely for her to tell them the third thing they must know, but Morwenna stayed silent, lost in thought and gazing at the changing patterns of the leaves against the sky.
Eventually Septimus said, "Excuse me, Witch Mother, but what is the third thing we must know?"
"What?" Morwenna snapped herself out of her reverie. "The third thing? Oh, yesdon't go to the circus."
Nicko burst out laughing. Septimus nudged him urgently and said, "Nikdon't be rude. It's not funny."
"Yes ... it is," spluttered Nicko under his breath, his shoulders shaking. He rolled onto the grass and lay on his stomach with his hands over his head, emitting loud snorting noises.
"I'm sorry about my brother, Witch Mother," said Septimus, worried. "He nearly got eaten by a wolverine last night and it has affected his mind." Septimus aimed a kick in Nicko's direction. It had no effect. Nicko was beside himself, snorting like a pig in a trough.
Morwenna smiled. "Do not worry, Septimus, I am used to the antics of young Heaps now. Maybe before your brothers had come to live in our Forest I would not have understood, but now, believe me, nothing surprises me where a Heap is concerned. They are their father's sons. And Nicko is only laughing. There is no harm in laughter."
Morwenna stood up. Septimus, Jo-Jo, Marissa and Wolf Boy respectfully leaped to their feet. Nicko still lay on the grass, shoulders shaking.
"Well, boys," Morwenna said, "we will meet again." She reached into her pocket and brought out a small bundle of soft leaves, which she pressed into Septimus's hand. "These will take away your bruise from the fall you had last night," she said to him, "and the swelling from your ankle."
"Thank you, Witch Mother," Septimus said. He hauled Nicko to his feet. Nicko's eyes were streaming, and he was weak with laughter. "I will take my brother away now, Witch Mother. I am sorry for his rudeness. Thank you for your advice."
"Heed it well, Septimus, and you will find what you are looking for." Morwenna smiled. "Farewell, boys. I wish you good speed on your journey." She turned and disappeared into the tepee.
Nicko made a beeline for the edge of the Circle and threw himself to the ground. Then he rolled over and over, hurtling down the grassy slope, still shaking with laughter. A moment later Septimus joined him.
"Nicko," he chided, "you just do not laugh at a Wendron Witch Mother. Ever."
"II'm sorry, Sep," spluttered Nicko. It was just ... it was all so serious ... and witchy ... and we all sat waiting and ... and I thought the third thing would be something ... really important ... and then she said ... she said"
"Don't go to the circus!" Septimus gave in and, yelling with laughter, he rolled down to the bottom of the hill with Nicko.
"You were really disrespectful to the Witch Mother," said Jo-Jo grumpily when he and Wolf Boy joined them at the bottom of the hill. "Marissa is mad. She says I shouldn't have brought you."
"Oh, don'thic!be silly, Jo-Jo," said Nicko, who had stopped laughing but now had the hiccups.
"Are you going now?" Jo-Jo asked in a tone of voice that meant he hoped they were. "I'll take you to the boat."
Nicko and Septimus nodded. They both wanted to be out of the Forest and on their way to find Jenna before the day drew on.
Jo-Jo glanced in Wolf Boy's direction. "You still taking him with youor is he staying here?"
Septimus looked at Wolf Boy only to meet his deep brown eyes staring at him again. He wished he would stop staring like that. Surely even Wolf Boy should have got used to the Apprentice robes by now. They weren't that weird, were they?
"He's staying here," said Septimus.
"But, Sep, we need him. He's the reason we came here," said Nicko. "We'll never find Jenna without him now. The trail is over a day old. Only Wolf Boy can pick up a trail that cold."
"But we know where Jenna is now," said Septimus. "She's in the Port."
Nicko was silent for a moment.
"You didn't believe that crazy witch, did you?" he asked, amazed.
"Nicko! She's not crazy."
"She's a witch though. And worse than that, she's a Wendron Witch. They used to kidnap babies. And if the baby was a boy they'd leave him out for the wolverines. And if you got lost in the Forest and asked them the way, you'd end up in a Witch Pit. Bo Tenderfoot's aunt spent two weeks in a Witch Pit and she"
"Bo who?"
"Jenna's best friend. You remember. Nice kid with carroty hair."
"Look, Nik, concentrate. We want to find Jenna. Remember? That's why we're here. And I believe Morwenna. Even Marcia says Morwenna has second sight, and Marcia thinks witches are a waste of space. I think Jenna is in the Port."
"Don't know why she'd go there," grumbled Nicko. "It's a dump."
"Simon must have taken her thereto hand her over to that stranger you said was asking about her and that Morwenna said was looking for her. We've got to get there as soon as we can."
"Okay." Nicko sighed. "We'll go to the Port."
Jo-Jo led the way down the beach where the boat was moored, and,despite what Septimus had said, Wolf Boy still followed them. Then, when Nicko had untied the boat and Jo-Jo was pushing them off the shingle into the deeper water, Wolf Boy suddenly took a flying leap and landed in the boat, just as the current was taking it out into the middle of the river.
"Hey!" yelled Nicko as the boat rocked precariously. "What d'you think you're doing?" Wolf Boy crouched on the deck like a wild animal and stared at Septimus until Septimus could stand it no longer.
"Stop staring at me!" he yelled.
Wolf Boy's brown eyes did not flicker. They looked at Septimus closely until Septimus felt a strange shiver of recognition pass through him. He had been here before. On a boat. On the river. By the Forest. With Wolf Boy.
Suddenly he felt cold. He squatted down in the boat next to Wolf Boy, staring at him in return. "Four-oh-nine?" Septimus whispered.
Wolf Boy nodded and spoke for the first time in four years.
"You." He grinned. "Four-one-two."
They sailed down the river on the outgoing tide. Wolf Boy and Septimus sat on the deck of the boat with their arms around each other's shoulders smiling broadly.
"He reminds me of you when we found you," mused Nicko. "I remember you never said a word. Just stared at us as if we were all mad. It gave me the creeps."
"Oh," said Septimus. "Sorry."
"We didn't mind. Not really. We liked you. Just couldn't understand why you didn't speak. But it must be something to do with the Army. Must have been horrible."
"It was," said Wolf Boy very slowly, getting used to the sound of his own voice. "You couldn't trust anyone. But I trusted 412."
A silence fell in the boat. Nicko busied himself adjusting the sails and Septimus stared at the river. After a while Septimus said to Wolf Boy, "I tried to get them to go back for you. I really did. But they wouldn't. They wouldn't. The Leader Cadet laughed and saidwhat did we expect? It was a Do-or-Die. And you were the first Die. He was really excited about that. I tried to jump in after you but the Leader Cadet knocked me out. I came to when the boat landed and they threw me in the water. I'm sorry. I should have saved you."
Wolf Boy said nothing for a while. And then he said, "No, I should have saved you. I escaped the Army and you didn't. I swam ashore and hid. The next morning I saw you in the Forest. But I was afraid of being seen, so I stayed hidden. I should have saved you and we could have both been free. Not just me."
"It doesn't matter," said Septimus. "I would never have found out who I was if you had. And we're both free now."
"Free..." murmured Wolf Boy, gazing dreamily over the side of the boat as it cut through the calm green water, heading for the Port.