“Not long, I suspect, from Sorcha’s look of misery,” said Diarmid bitterly.

“I would suspect, as little as one night,” said Conor. “In the old tales, it is dusk and dawn that are the times of changing. We must be prepared for the worst.”

“One night?” Diarmid was outraged. “What can be done in one night? I would have vengeance; I would undo the ill I helped create. But we are far from home, too far to return. Why are you here, Sorcha? What about Father Brien who was to have helped you?”

That was another story, and so could be told. I mimed for them. A Christian cross; coins on the eyelids. Flight up, up into the distant sky and away to the west. They understood me well enough.

“So our old friend is dead,” said Liam.

“And not from natural causes, I’ll be bound,” added Cormack. “That fellow was like an oak, slight though he was; he’d a strength in him better than many a good fighting man’s.”

“The lady Oonagh’s hand stretches out,” said Diarmid.

Conor glanced at him. “There will be vengeance,” he said. “Full and terrible vengeance. His killers will be scattered in pieces, and crows will pick at their white bones.”

We all stared at him. His tone had not even changed.

“We believe you,” said Diarmid, raising an eyebrow.

“He was a Christian,” put in Padriac. “Perhaps he would have wished forgiveness, not retribution.”

Conor stared into the fire. “The forest protects its own,” he said.

“This was a great loss to you, Sorcha,” said Liam. “Have you now no companions here, save solitude?”

“She cannot tell you,” said Conor. “But all this is for a purpose, I have no doubt. Sorcha, do you know the length of this enchantment? Is there an end to this? And when may we return here?”

I shook my head, placing both hands over my mouth. Why wouldn’t they stop asking questions? I felt a tear trickle down my cheek.

“It will be a long time, I think.” Finbar’s voice was very soft. “A time to be measured in years rather than moons. You must not press Sorcha for answers.”

Not one of them questioned what he had said. When Finbar spoke thus, it was always the truth.

“Years!” exclaimed Liam.

“She cannot be left here alone for so long,” said Diarmid. “It is not safe, nor seemly.”

“There is no alternative,” Conor said. “Besides, you know your old stories as well as the rest of us. There must be a purpose to this, but she is forbidden to tell. Right, Sorcha?”

“Tasks,” said Cormack quietly, from where he sat with his arms around the dog. “There will be tasks to complete before the end.” He saw my nod of agreement. “What can we do, Sorcha?”

I shook my head, spread my hands wide. Nothing. Nothing, but stay safe. Stay alive for long enough.

“It has something to do with her hands,” said Conor slowly, and his voice was dark with some feeling I could not fully understand. “Not for nothing would you damage yourself thus. There is some evil at work here, I am certain of it.”