‘Your daughter who’s missing,’ I say to the master. ‘You mean Cara? The girl who was staying at Winterfalls?’

It’s like a jolt goes through Tóla’s body. ‘How do you know my daughter’s name?’ he roars.

Morrigan’s britches, this man makes things hard for himself. ‘Can’t help knowing it,’ I say. ‘Young Cara’s been visiting Blackthorn most days. That’s Mistress Blackthorn the healer, who shares a cottage with me. Cara’s happier there than at the prince’s house. That’s what Blackthorn tells me.’

‘You were ordered not to gossip. Not to talk about your work here.’

Lots of things I could say. While you’re ranting about this, your daughter’s still out there somewhere, or, No wonder Cara ran away, with you for a father. Or, If you’d bothered to visit the girl even once, you’d have known she wasn’t happy. ‘But Blackthorn wasn’t ordered to keep quiet about who might have dropped in to see her,’ I say. ‘Lady Flidais suggested Cara went over there. Thought it would be good for the girl, seeing as she was unsettled.’

Tóla’s on the brink of another outburst.

‘I’ll help you search,’ I say. ‘My guess is, she’d be trying to get home. She did that once already, only Blackthorn stopped her.’

‘How – never mind. The messenger said she might have been missing since this morning. Even with the rain, even on foot, she would have been here by now.’

‘If she stuck to the main path, yes,’ put in Gormán. ‘But Cara wouldn’t do that. She’d be wanting to get here without anyone seeing her. Not wanting to be stopped.’

‘Gods!’ says Tóla. ‘She could be anywhere! How could they just let her wander off? A royal household with so many guards? It’s beyond belief! I thought she would be safe there.’

Gormán makes a little sound, but does not speak.

‘Would have been busy this morning,’ I say. ‘The prince and his lady were heading off to court. A council, called at short notice. Would have been a good time to slip away quietly.’

‘Cara is wood-wise,’ Gormán says. ‘Swift as a wild creature. Adept at hiding. Master Tóla, if anyone could find a way safely through the forest, she could.’

A man comes up, one of the household retainers, with a pack on his back and a staff in his hand. ‘Master Tóla, we’re almost ready. Just waiting for your instructions.’

‘Get everyone together in the stable yard. I’ll be there shortly.’

‘Yes, Master Tóla.’