The way Gormán talks about the girl, you can tell he’s fond of her. As if she was his own daughter, almost. And Tóla listens to him more than he listens to other folk. ‘Very well,’ says the master. Notices Ripple, who’s been sitting quietly, waiting. ‘Can your dog track?’ he asks.

‘Not sure how she’d go in the dark.’ I don’t tell him Ripple’s only been with me since last summer. Or that she was trained by someone else. ‘Have to take her on a long rope or risk losing her.’

‘Get him a rope, Gormán.’

Everyone’s gathered by the barn. Tóla raps out instructions. There’s a search on at Winterfalls too, since that’s where Cara must have started off. But the messenger that brought the news thought she’d be trying to walk home, and that’s what Tóla thinks too. Must be feeling guilty. You would, wouldn’t you? Blackthorn said he hadn’t gone down to see her even once.

The master sends four men off along the track toward Longwater. Four more down the track toward Winterfalls. Three to check the area to the south, but not to go too deep into the forest.

‘And you,’ he says last, looking at me and Ripple, ‘see if the dog can pick up a scent. Della!’

I haven’t noticed Mistress Della standing there quietly in the shadows, but now she comes forward with a garment, perhaps a shift, and passes it to me. I bend down and let Ripple have a sniff. Can’t tell if the dog knows what it’s all about or not. ‘Might start down on the Winterfalls side,’ I say. ‘Only not on the main track, if what Gormán said before is right. Sounds like Cara would stay off paths where she might meet folk.’ I look at Mistress Della. ‘Might be best if I take this with me.’ She nods, and I tuck the shift or whatever it is into my belt.

‘Gormán will go with you,’ says Tóla. ‘My sister and I will stay here and wait for news. Cara may somehow make her way home without encountering any of the searchers. I want to be here if . . . Keep your lights burning and go carefully once you’re off the main paths.’