After a moment the terrifying grin was joined by a low, hissing chuckle and a sarcastic clap “well I will say this much for you half kin, whatever you happen to lack in other aspects you certainly make up for it in sheer audacity. You expect us to settle near the territory of a cursed Bogle on nothing but your word that he can’t leave?”

Rowe turned her back exposing the long still healing slash on her back. “Na just mi word firsthand experience, I trespassed and I’m still here reet? Do ye reckon I would be here if he could follow ous oot?”.

“What exactly are you showing us half? We can’t see like you in case you forgot.“

Rowe flushed as she realised her mistake, how the bloody hell could she have forgotten the things without eyes didn’t see? Now she felt like an idiot. “Scars on mi back inflicted on mi way oot, he ripped mi back up, took a witches concoction ta shift the leftover contamination.”

Now that got a response, the concerned whispers in those strange sibilant voices seemed to almost fill the place as they conferred.

“Yet here we are still talking, impressive, bogles aren’t known for their forgiving nature, so the fact it hasn’t hunted you down and torn you to shreds yet does support your claim. So how exactly are we going to perform this little journey?” The Gremlin asked with another eerie smile.

“Well if ye can get out of here meet ous in the trees just on the north side of the village, we’ll move while it’s still dark, but it’ll tek ous about an hour ta get the baccy for ya” she chuckled., after all I’m na exactly known about town as a smoker. Worst comes to worst I’ll tell em it’s an offering for the Bwyca. Ah’ll na ask for yer word or a deal, nor will I ask your name, for both our sakes, but we need to move fast. I’ll head outside now and wait ten minutes afore telling Henry ye cleared oot. Ye have mi word I’ll be there afore the hour is done.”

She got the feeling she would never get used to the sensation that went with her word since awakening, all she could think was her word was more solid now. Like there was a compulsion to keep it to the letter. But now there was a slightly more pressing concern, she left the shed and started to make preparations.

About 50 minutes later she was set. She waited round in the pitch dark woods infinitely glad of her improved night vision. She didn’t have to wait long, thank heaven for small mercies, as she just gor settled down to wait when 20 Gremlins emerged silently from the undergrowth.

“Alreet this may be a bit of a trip, but if we keep up a decent pace we should be there afore daylight. If ye have any questions feel free ta ask, ye can call ous chancer, it’s na mi name but it’s the only yan I’m willing to give in the circumstances.”

“Then call me sprocket“ the lead gremlin snickered, “it’s not my name either, but in the circumstances I think we can both agree a trade of names isn’t on the cards.”