A slow smile spread over Ségán’s aquiline features. ‘Not with my men at Winterfalls, Mistress Blackthorn. Our role here extends to regular patrols of the district. What that man revealed suggested you might have information of value. Of such value, indeed, that you required immediate protection. We have been watching over you, to the extent that your work makes it possible to do so covertly.’

‘That doesn’t fully explain today’s episode, Ségán.’

‘Until today, we had not realised you were writing this document. Its existence, along with certain developments that I am not at liberty to tell you, changes the situation considerably.’

‘Not at liberty to tell me. But it’s my document. Which it appears you have read without my permission.’

‘Entirely justified, under the circumstances. Is this a true account, Mistress Blackthorn? Correct in every detail?’

I’d have to tell him. I’d have to risk it. ‘It’s a true account of what happened, yes. In saying so, I’m trusting you with my life, Ségán. If the man named in that document knew it existed, he would work even harder to hunt me down, and this time he’d make sure he silenced me for good. Even with your men in the district.’

‘Which is why, from now on, we want you to take a personal guard – one of us – whenever you leave the safety of this household.’

Could this be what it seemed to be? ‘Ségán. Might this document be . . . useful? In the work you are doing for Prince Oran?’

‘It might. It might be still more useful if the writer were present to back up her account in person.’

Oh, gods! Was this the chance, the one chance I had dreamed of?

‘I must put something to you before we go any further, Mistress Blackthorn.’

I waited. He had answered my question, in a manner of speaking. I owed him an answer in return.

‘If Prince Oran knew the contents of this account,’ Ségán said, ‘he would have told me about it. I must assume, therefore, that although you have been living and working in the district that lies under his authority for some considerable time, you chose not to divulge these important details to him. Why?’