I expected the Island men to argue the point or to refuse outright. Why would any reasonable person believe we could travel by some uncanny path and be at our destination in time? Why would they trust our safety to someone who’d popped up out of nowhere and was obviously not human? But Cionnaola simply looked Conmael up and down – my fey friend was waiting at a distance, out of earshot – and asked me if I was sure he could be trusted. That was fair enough, since Conmael would have to be told our secret destination. All Cúan asked was whether the journey would be safe for the horses. Then Cionnaola said, ‘Prince Oran trusts your judgement, Mistress Blackthorn. If you can vouch for your friend there, and if you believe this will be safe, we will try it.’ I must have gaped at him, for he went on, ‘We are trained to deal with the unexpected. To weigh the odds and to make decisions quickly. Our original orders were to get you to the hearing on time and safely. If accepting this person’s help will allow that to happen, I won’t refuse.’

There was time for Grim to wash and change his clothes, and for all of us to have a quick meal, though I was too nervous to eat much. Conmael sat down with us and shared the food, which felt odd. At one point Cionnaola took him aside and they had a brief conversation in lowered voices, I assumed to discuss exactly where we were going.

‘What about Ripple?’ I asked Grim. The dog was lying prone before the fire, snoring gently.

‘We can’t leave her behind,’ Grim said. ‘Might be best if she goes up on the horse again, with me this time. Feeling a bit odd about this myself. Worse for a dog. You can’t explain to them. You can’t tell them they’re safe and it’ll be over soon.’

‘Hope it is over soon, or you’ll be falling asleep while you ride.’

Grim smiled. ‘Doubt that. When we get there, maybe. Depending.’

‘I can’t believe this is happening at last. I’m scared I’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream.’

Grim reached up to touch the fresh bandage I had wrapped around his head. ‘It’s real enough,’ he said. ‘Sore head and all. Hope they’re all right. Bardán and his girl. Big change for both of them. Be hard for a while.’

‘Brígh’s stronger than she looks. And those are good folk over in Longwater. If Tóla leaves them alone they might do very well. Though with Bardán’s hands the way they are, it could be hard for him to earn a living.’

We both looked over at Conmael.