“I’m sorry,” he said. “I hoped to bring him home. Even after so long, I believed it possible. As you see, I did not find him. And I have no news for you. I regret that I could not—that I—”

“I’ve learned not to hope too much,” said his mother, and she was blinking back tears. If there were to be weeping, it would be later, when she was quite alone. “You are home safe. We must be grateful for that.”

“It was as if he had vanished into thin air,” said Red. “It is indeed a strange country, and abounds in tales of just such happenings. Nonsense, of course. But we went close, very close to the place where so many of Richard’s men perished. That he was once there is beyond doubt. But there was no trace, no sign that Simon had ever been with them. We spoke with whom we could, under cover of darkness. None knew of prisoners taken, or of fugitive or hostage. I come back empty-handed, Mother. I am sorry, sorry for the trouble my absence has caused you; sorry to bring no answers.”

“I confess, I had hoped for something,” she said. “Not that he would come home, not now, after so long. But something, some small token to tell me if he lived or died, any answer to end this terrible waiting.”

There was a small pause.

“There was nothing,” said Red. “Nothing at all.”

I found I had been holding my breath, and let it out in a rush. But I was not safe yet.

“It appears you have not returned entirely empty-handed,” said his mother, and she looked me up and down as if inspecting a cut of meat for the table that was not to be her satisfaction. I stared back steadily. I was not ashamed to be Lord Colum’s daughter, in spite of everything he had done. My people were old, far older than hers, and I was the daughter of the forest.

“How can you bring one of—one of them into your house? How can you bear even to be near her? These folk took your brother; they killed Richard’s men in the most barbaric way imaginable, with unthinkable cruelty. Their ways are not just strange; they are lost to all goodness. How can you bring her into my house?” Her voice was quivering with emotion. Here it comes, I thought. Now he tells her I’m the one link with her younger son. Now she demands my information right away, anything to convince her that her boy still lives. And they try to get me to talk, any way they can. How can he deny his own mother? Strangely enough, I understood just how she felt.

Red stood up and moved behind me, and I felt his big hands on my shoulders.

“Her name’s Jenny,” he said levelly. “She’s here in my household as my guest, for as long as it suits her. It may be quite a while. And she’ll be treated with respect. By everyone.” His mother was staring at him, her mouth slightly open. My expression must have mirrored hers, for I had not expected this. A job in the kitchens, maybe, scouring pans; that was the best I had hoped for. “I mean no insult, Mother. I’m just telling you how it will be.” He raised his voice, just enough to be sure all those present heard him. “This young woman is welcome in my house. She will be treated as a member of the household. You will offer her the kindness and hospitality that befits any guest of mine. I’ll tell you this once only. Let it be understood.” There was a hint of threat, I thought, in these last words, but he needed to say no more. A deathly hush fell over the room.