‘Needs fixing up before you can live in it,’ said one of the Longwater men. ‘We could get it done in a few days. Mend the roof, clean things up a bit. You can stay at our place until it’s done. Me and Luíseach and our son here. If it suits you.’

The son was Fedach. Which meant that if she stayed there, she would meet the woman who had nursed her when she was an infant. ‘Is that all right?’ she asked Bardán. ‘Only, if we’re staying with other folk, you’ll need to have a wash. Cut your hair. Put on clean clothes.’

‘I made a promise. That I wouldn’t, until I got back what Tóla had stolen from me. I couldn’t remember what it was then. Only that it was what I held most dear in the world. My precious thing. My hope and joy, my smiles and tears.’

‘That must have been a hard promise to keep,’ Brígh said, wishing she could stop crying.

‘I got used to it. Got used to being the wild man. But not anymore. I will wash myself clean. A new man.’

‘A new life,’ Brígh said. ‘The best one we can make, yes?’

‘It is already the best,’ said Bardán.

Brígh said goodbye and thank you to Mistress Blackthorn. Bardán hugged Grim, who looked pale under the bandage Mistress Blackthorn had wrapped around his head. The wise woman said she would come to Longwater as soon as she was home from her journey. It was plain to Brígh that Blackthorn had other things on her mind; she kept looking at Grim, then looking down toward the house.

Aunt Della embraced Brígh and offered a home for the future, again.

‘You are very kind, Aunt,’ Brígh said. ‘But I must be with my father; I only just found him. I’ve tried your patience badly over the years. I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry you had to spend all that time looking after me instead of living your own life. What will you do now?’

‘I will leave Wolf Glen,’ Aunt Della said. ‘But not before I set my brother’s household to rights after this disturbance. And someone must ensure he prepares himself for Prince Oran’s council. I will be here some while longer. May I visit you in Longwater, Cara? Brígh?’

‘Of course. But . . . I cannot see him again. Not so soon.’

‘I understand, child. I will explain that a visit would do his case no good. For the longer term, you and he will have to reach an agreement of some kind if you are to be living in Longwater, so close.’

‘Thank you, Aunt Della. And good luck.’

‘Ride safely, my Cara. I will miss you, child.’