I was finding it difficult to breathe.

“She took the message back to Colum, that first time. Extraordinary woman. Mane of auburn hair, delectable figure, quite enchanting. Eamonn certainly seemed to think so. Wasn’t paying much attention to that pasty little wife of his. Anyway, she was kindness itself. Said she’d convey my offer, and gave me a couple of her own men to escort me back to the coast. Still got them. Sound fellows. Silent, and handy with a knife, or their hands. So, I went back this time expecting a pretty good response from Sevenwaters. I was optimistic. Not only would I get you out of my way, I’d gain an advantage I never hoped for. Colum’s always been the hardest nut to crack. Not one for negotiation, not even with his allies. Position of strength. Everyone’s afraid of him. But this was different, I reasoned. Only daughter, and all that.” I waited while he polished his fingernails and held his hand out, studying them. He was playing with me, savoring every moment.

“Why would a chieftain of Erin sell out to such as me, you wonder? What was in it for Eamonn? He wasn’t letting on, not fully. But he had an interest in you, and in your father. Don’t forget, it was in his house I first heard the tale of Colum’s sons, how they vanished one day with not a trace left behind. Seems I’m not the only one interested in a little—expansion. Colum’s lands may be ripe for the picking, in the very near future. And Eamonn has a few tricks I could use in the field. I have men, and with the resources of Harrowfield I can arm them better than any other band of fighters, on either side of the water. What couldn’t we achieve, between the two of us?”

You’re a fool, I thought. A power-crazed fool. Eamonn is merely playing with you, and so is the lady Oonagh. Once they have what they want, they will discard you like the peel of an onion. In this game, you are the merest beginner. But what did my father say?

“Well, this visit really surprised me,” he said expansively. I’d left the men to get on with it, and traveled as I usually do, very discreetly, to visit my ally on his own territory. Marshlands. Endless peat bogs. Desolate spot. No wonder he wants to expand southward. Still, it’s easy to defend. Anyway, I got there safely. She was visiting again, the redhead, stunning woman. But Colum had knocked back my offer. Daughter or no daughter, he wouldn’t budge. Said if she chose to go and live among foreigners, she was no daughter of his. She’d made her bed and could lie on it. And if I thought he’d even consider giving away his hard-won land for such a feeble reason, I must be even more stupid than the rest of my kind. That hurts, doesn’t it, witch? Don’t put your hand over your face, you can’t hide that fetching little tear trickling down your cheek. Yes, it looks as if they don’t want you back. Not that I can blame them; you’re hardly the most appealing sight right now. Well, I was pretty disappointed, I can tell you, coming back empty-handed. But then the lady made me a counteroffer. Asked a lot of questions about you first. Had you any allies here, how were you spending your time, what were you telling folks about yourself. So I let her know about Hughie boy, how he was hot for you, but you weren’t playing, not yet; how you’d lost your voice, so you couldn’t tell secrets; how you spent your time wrecking your hands with your witch work. I could tell she didn’t like my answers, but she believed them all right.