‘What’s wrong?’ Flidais had seen something on my face. A slip. I had forgotten to guard my feelings. Here at Winterfalls nobody knew about my past. Except Grim, of course; but Grim was different.

‘Nothing. I should be heading home. Unless there’s anyone else here who needs my services.’ As healer and wise woman for the district of Winterfalls, including the prince’s household, I tended to a wide range of ailments and injuries. There was nothing wrong with young Aolú, but Flidais was a new mother and liked to be reassured regularly that he was progressing well.

‘No, but . . . Deirdre?’

‘Yes, my lady?’

‘Will you find Cara and ask her to come and speak with me, please? I’m not sure where she will be.’

‘Of course, Lady Flidais. It may take me a little while to find her.’

‘Who is Cara?’ I asked as Deirdre went out.

‘A girl who’s been sent to stay with us. Her father is Tóla of Wolf Glen. You’ll know of the place; it’s up in the forest to the west. Tóla is a kinsman of Oran’s, a rather distant one, but it means that if he asks a favour we try to say yes.’

‘Why has he sent his daughter here?’

‘I’m not quite sure,’ Flidais said. ‘It was all a little odd.’ She hesitated. ‘This is in confidence, Blackthorn.’

‘Of course.’

‘Tóla’s a widower; Cara is his only child. I’d never met the girl before, and Oran hardly knows her. Wolf Glen is only an hour or so away by horseback, but folk don’t go there often; the way through the forest is said to be challenging. Tóla and his daughter arrived here without warning, he spoke to Oran, Oran spoke to me, and the next day Tóla was off home again, leaving his daughter behind. We have no idea how long she’ll be staying and nor does she. Tóla said something to Oran about introducing the girl to a wider circle and improving her court manners. But that can’t be the only reason, surely, or he would have done things in a more appropriate way. A letter first, perhaps, asking if we’d be prepared to have her for a while. And . . . well, as time passes, I find I have very mixed feelings about the situation. It shames me to admit that. The girl is . . . unusual.’