Cúan stuck his fingers in his mouth and delivered a piercing whistle. Remarkably, the dog pulled herself to a halt and came back, obedient as always, to stand beside my horse. Her whole body was quivering.

‘So much for an approach by stealth,’ commented Cionnaola. ‘If that was what you were planning.’

‘I don’t think there’s a plan,’ I said. ‘Cara’s in charge. What should we do, Cara?’

‘Ride straight to the house. When I tried to speak to my father before, he cut me off. I need to tell him what I know. I want him to give me the true story. But he’ll be angry. Not only with me, Mistress Blackthorn, but with you too.’

I grimaced. ‘I can cope with that. I don’t imagine Master Tóla would physically threaten either of us, but I suppose he might try to remove you from my bad influence. You two,’ I looked at the Island men, ‘should make sure that doesn’t happen. This may have been Cara’s home for the last fifteen-odd years, but I doubt she’ll be staying here.’

‘And I want to talk to my other father,’ Cara said. ‘My real father. I want to know if he’s safe. After this, he might not want to stay here either. But I don’t think he’s got anywhere to go.’

‘We’ll face that problem when we come to it,’ I said. Let Grim be all right. Let him be safe.

There was no sign of activity at the barn, though Ripple clearly wanted to go there. I leashed her, then we rode on down to the big house and waited in the courtyard while a serving man went to tell Tóla we were there. But it was not the master who came out. Instead, in the doorway stood Tóla’s sister, Mistress Della.

‘Cara!’ she exclaimed. ‘What is going on? Who are these people?’ Her gaze went from guard to guard, finally lighting on me. ‘Why have you come here?’

‘Aunt Della, I . . .’ Cara seemed suddenly struck dumb.

‘Good day to you, Mistress,’ I said, lifting my chin and straightening my shoulders. ‘I’m not sure if you know this, but Cara came here earlier today wanting to speak to her father. He frightened her away. So she’s brought . . . reinforcements. These men are from Prince Oran’s household. Could you tell Master Tóla we’re here, please?’

The woman had gone white. ‘I heard a – disturbance, in the morning. But I did not realise – Cara, is this true? Were you involved?’

Cara opened her mouth and closed it again without a sound. Cionnaola spoke for her. ‘Mistress, this is quite true. And we are in haste. Where is Master Tóla?’ His hand made the slightest of movements toward the weapon at his belt.

‘Are you threatening me?’ Mistress Della was no shrinking violet. I almost expected her to add, young man.