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things you ought to know. Never stab it in the leg – it only makes it angry. And never get in close. Such an animal must be killed from a distance. They are immensely strong: once a bear has hold of you, you’re as good as dead. They can tear off your limbs or crush your skull with one bite.’
    Thorne chewed her meat thoughtfully. ‘I’ll remember that the next time we go bear-hunting,’ she said.
    I almost laughed out loud at the presumption of that ‘we’, and I smiled at her. ‘You were afraid, child, and yet you obeyed me and attacked the bear. So, yes, I will begin to train you. I will give you a month to prove yourself.’
    I picked up the new blade that Thorne had used to stab the bear. ‘Here,’ I said, handing it to her, ‘this is yours now. You have earned it. This is your first blade.’
    Thus I began to train Thorne, but I did so in secret. There were three reasons for that. Firstly, if any of my enemies knew of it, the girl would become a target. By capturing or hurting Thorne they might seek to bring pressure to bear upon me.
    Secondly, I was jealous of my reputation and wished to continue to inspire fear for my ruthlessness and independence. It was for this reason that I carved the image of scissors on trees.
    Thirdly, the successor to the Malkin witch assassin had traditionally been chosen through combat. I judged it best that after my death the practice should continue once more: witches would then compete with each other for the title; I did not wish it to look as if I was personally selecting my protégée as my successor. If Thorne became the next assassin, she would have to earn the position in the conventional manner. I had no doubt that she would do so.
    The month passed quickly and all was to my satisfaction. The girl was courageous, and obedient too – the latter was important. I prefer to work alone, but with a partner I must be in charge and there is no room for wayward behaviour.
    I remember the first time Thorne showed her true worth and I realized just how good an assassin she might one day become.
    Water witches dwell in the far north of the County. They are no friend to the Pendle covens and they had recently killed a Malkin witch who had been travelling south through their territory. I had been despatched by my clan to kill three of their number in retaliation.
    Thorne took no part in the slaying of the water witches. She was there to watch and learn. I killed three, as directed; then, choosing a clearing in the forest, I placed their heads on stakes, carving the sign of my scissors on the surrounding trees. Thus there could be no mistake. It was not just for vengeance; it was a warning.

    With hindsight I realize that I should have left immediately afterwards and sped back to Pendle. Instead Thorne and I spent a useful day on the shores of the lake some call Coniston. It was a day of training and I pushed the girl hard. The sun had just gone down behind the trees when we began her knife training. I was trying to teach her to be calm and control her anger. She had the blades; I used my hands.
    ‘Cut me!’ I shouted, slapping her face and stepping back out of range.
    Thorne whirled towards me, wielding two blades, slashing at me, her face full of fury. I stepped inside her guard and slapped her even harder; twice this time, stinging both cheeks and bringing tears to her eyes.
    ‘Keep calm, girl! It’s only pain!’ I mocked. ‘Think! Concentrate! Cut me!’
    She missed again, and I gave her another hard slap. We were close to the water’s edge and by now it was twilight; tendrils of mist snaked towards us over the lake’s surface.
    Thorne took a deep breath and I saw her face relax. This time she feinted, and the arc of her first blade came so close that I felt its breath whisper over the skin of my shoulder. I smiled in appreciation and took a rapid step backwards to avoid her next thrust. I was inches from the water’s edge and the lake was deep.
    The attack came