Septimus Heap, Book Six_ Darke - Angie Sage [127]
And so, as they drew near to Bleak Creek and they saw the telltale chop of the water that heralded the Bottomless Whirlpool, Septimus told Jenna and Nicko how he was going to find Alther and bring him back to the Castle through Dungeon Number One. He told them not to worry because he had the Darke Disguise. And even though he didn’t believe it, he told them that he would be fine and he would see them soon. When he had finished talking, Nicko and Jenna were silent. Jenna wiped her eyes with her sleeve and Nicko coughed.
“We’ll be there waiting, Sep,” said Jenna.
“Outside Dungeon Number One,” said Nicko.
“No. You can’t do that.”
Jenna put on her best Princess voice. “Nicko and I will be waiting for you at the entrance to Dungeon Number One. No, don’t say anything, Sep. We can get through the Darke with my witch’s cloak. You are not in this alone. Got that?”
Septimus nodded. He did not trust himself to speak.
A shout from Rupert broke the moment. “Nik—she’s beginning to go!”
Nicko leaped up. He could feel the pull of the current beneath them and the flapping of Annie’s sails told him that the boat’s prow was being pulled into the wind and she was losing way—they were heading toward the wisp of spray that marked the Bottomless Whirlpool. Nicko raced back to the stern. He grabbed the tiller from Rupert—who was not a natural sailor—and yelled, “Oars! Everyone, get the oars!”
Annie’s four long oars were snatched off the roof. Standing along the sides of the boat, Sarah, Simon, Lucy and Rupert dug them into the water. Frighteningly slowly, the boat’s progress toward the Bottomless Whirlpool halted.
Septimus got to his feet. “I have to go, Jen,” he said. “I’m putting everyone at risk.”
“Oh. Oh, Sep.”
Septimus hugged Jenna and quickly stepped back. “That witch’s cloak is really . . . zingy. It buzzes when I touch it.”
Jenna was determined to be positive. “Good. That means it’s full of, er, witch stuff. It will get me and Nik through the Castle.”
“Right.” Septimus forced a smile. “I’ll see you there, then.”
“At the door to Dungeon Number One. We’ll wait for you. We’ll be there, I promise.”
“Yeah. Okay. I’ll go and find Marcellus now.”
“Yep. See you, Sep.”
Septimus nodded and picked his way back along the deck, past Simon and Lucy, who were sitting like gloomy seagulls on the cabin roof.
“Good luck, Sep,” said Lucy.
“Thanks.”
Simon held out a small, black metallic Charm. “Take it, Septimus. It will guide you through.”
Septimus shook his head. Right then it was hard to turn down any offer of help, even from Simon. But he was determined. “No thanks. I don’t take SafeCharms from anyone.”
“Then take some advice—always take the left.”
Septimus reached the cockpit of the boat, where Marcellus had just emerged from the cabin.
“It is time, Apprentice,” Marcellus said, with an anxious glance at Sarah. He had just had a fraught conversation with her, trying to impress upon her how she must let Septimus go without upsetting him. He wasn’t sure that Sarah was going to manage it.
But Sarah did—just. She enveloped her youngest son in a desperate hug. “Oh, Septimus! Be careful.”
“I will, Mum,” said Septimus. “I’ll see you soon. Okay?”
“Okay, sweetheart.” With that Sarah rushed down into the cabin.
Nicko and Rupert hauled the little coracle down from the mast and dropped it over the side, hanging on to its rope. The flimsy round boat made of willow and skin bobbed lightly on the water like a leaf. Aware that everyone—except Sarah—was watching him, Septimus gave a tight smile and climbed down the ladder into the coracle. Nicko handed him the single paddle. “Okay?” he said hoarsely.
Septimus nodded.
With every instinct telling