‘A fever. It carried her away almost overnight. A terrible time. Master Tóla was out of his mind with grief. He loved his wife above anything. Cara’s safety became all-important to him. As it still is. Not only to him but to all of us. The master’s actions may seem odd to you, Mistress Blackthorn, but every decision is made in Cara’s best interests.’

I held my tongue, though there was plenty I could have said. Sending her to Winterfalls without explanation, that first time, had led to her running away and almost being lost forever. If not for her own resourcefulness and Ripple’s tracking skills, she might now be in the Otherworld or worse. ‘I’ll give her your message, and I’m sure she’ll be glad to hear it. I know that she misses you very much. And the forest. That’s where she feels most at home.’

‘And she must be missing her father.’

‘Him too.’ Though in my opinion he didn’t deserve it. ‘Ah, I see the lake. We must be almost there. Does that side path lead to a cottage? The place where that man used to live, the one who is working with Grim and the other builders?’

‘What do you know about that?’ His tone was suddenly sharp, and I was reminded that he was a big, strong man, whose hands would be weapons in themselves.

‘The day Cara went missing, Grim and I were both in Longwater. Grim must have told you. I was assisting with a difficult childbirth and he had escorted me there. I sent him off to gather herbs and he happened to meet that man, Bardán, at the old hut.’

‘The folk at Longwater talked to you about the wild man? About the time when he lived there?’

‘The folk at Longwater had very little to say on the subject. Their attention was elsewhere, with one of their own in danger of dying along with her unborn babe. We were all working hard. I know not to gossip, Gormán. So does Grim.’

‘You seem unduly interested in our situation. I don’t understand why that would be.’

‘No? I’ve been placed more or less in charge of Cara. I like the girl. She’s interesting. A puzzle. She’s also sad and confused, and I wish I could help her more.’ Should I push this a little further? Risk getting myself in trouble with Tóla all over again? In view of what Gormán had already let slip, it might be worth trying. ‘She is keeping herself busy. She’s undertaken a kind of mission.’

‘A mission? What do you mean?’