‘I’m asking you not to blurt out every little detail about what happened. Cara’s safe, she’s not hurt, she’ll be home very soon. She’ll tell him her own version of why she was wandering about in the woods. I’ll tell him where we found her and how she got herself out when she heard us. I’ll tell him it was thanks to you and your dog that we did find her, which is the truth. No need to say any more.’

‘Mm-hm.’ This is odd. It’s all odd. ‘Won’t Cara tell him about the birds anyway? And perhaps about whatever it was that was talking to her in the bottom of that hole that might be the same one Bardán fell down a long while ago?’

‘Why would it be the same?’ He’s quick with this. Edgy. Talking the way Master Tóla talks. ‘What’s Bardán been telling you?’

‘Not a lot. Might be the same spot. Might not be. Why is it we’re not telling the master all this?’

‘Can’t you just do as you’re asked to, Grim?’

‘I could. I could follow orders and never ask a single question. Only, I’m sorry for the wild man. You know I don’t think he’s being treated fair. And I’m going to have a word with the master about it, I’ve told him so. What if it’s all linked up, Bardán falling into the Otherworld and getting trapped there and Cara nearly doing the same?’

‘That’s nonsense. Why would you think it was the same?’

‘Didn’t you hear? About someone down there talking to her, making promises, offering things? Sounds like someone wanting her to go right in, don’t you think? Trap her the way they trapped Bardán.’

‘Shh, keep your voice down, you’ll wake her. Grim, this is not your concern. Just do the job you came to do and forget about everything else, will you? There are good reasons for keeping Bardán away from other folk. There are good reasons for Tóla not wanting everyone in the district knowing the story. About the heartwood house, I mean. And there are good reasons for Cara staying at Winterfalls and not coming home until the building is done. A word of warning. Speak to Tóla about the wild man if you will. Argue for better conditions. But don’t talk to the master about Cara, beyond saying you’re glad we found her. She’s his girl; his only child. He loves her above the rarest jewel in the world. His worst nightmare is some harm coming to her. He’d do just about anything to keep her safe. Do you understand?’