‘She wants to find the story of the heartwood house,’ I said as we rode down to level ground and the last approach to Longwater settlement. The lake was slate-grey under the clouds; a few swans floated there, ghost-pale against the water. ‘She’s looking for it in the prince’s books. Hoping it might explain the situation.’

‘Tell her to stop.’ Gormán drew his horse to a halt; mine came to a stand beside it. ‘Tell her to stop looking. This is best left alone. Master Tóla would say the same. Let Cara continue down that path and she’ll stir up something nobody would want. Believe me.’

‘I won’t ask you to explain that. I’ve had some doubts about her project too. But it is keeping her occupied. Giving her less time to brood about the injustice of her situation. As she sees it,’ I added hastily. ‘I can’t order her to stop. It’s for her father to do that, if he doesn’t want her finding out the truth. But, Gormán, this is not some sweetly biddable young woman. Cara loves her father. She wants to please him. But she’s no longer a child, and she has good cause to want the truth. Tóla might order her to stop looking now, and she might do as she’s told. But sooner or later she’ll try again. If there’s some kind of secret, sooner or later she’ll find it.’

There was a long silence then. Long enough to bother me. The horses didn’t move; we didn’t move; it felt as if time stood still for a while. Then Gormán said, ‘You and Grim. Fond of each other, are you?’

‘That’s none of your business!’ My voice was a snarl. I felt myself flush.

‘And this is none of yours, Mistress Blackthorn. You and your friend should step back from this now. Grim with his questions and you with your . . . encouragement of Cara. Go any further and you will put several folk in danger. Yourselves included.’

I could think of nothing to say.

‘I’m entirely serious,’ Gormán said. ‘If you value Grim’s safety, if you value your own, stop meddling now.’

Chapter Thirty: Cara

30

~Cara~