I stood. Found that my legs would support me, just. I took the red kerchief out of my belt and tied it around my neck, bringing a smile to Grim’s face. I thought of all the women I was speaking for, women with no voices, women hurt and downtrodden and abused, women struggling to go on living their lives after what Mathuin had done to them. I thought of Strangler and Dribbles, Poxy and Frog Spawn and the other broken men who’d shared our time in the lockup. I thought of the prisoner who had been tortured with hot iron and had taken too long to die. I remembered how we had sung songs and told tales all night, until with the dawn he’d fallen silent.

‘All right,’ I said, finding my voice. ‘I’m ready.’

It was a gathering that might have struck a far bolder speaker dumb. The chamber was similar to Prince Oran’s large council room, with a raised section at one end holding a long table with three rather grand oak chairs behind it. To one side was a writing table where the two scribes sat, their materials before them. The main part of the room was bare of furniture; it seemed those gathered would remain standing, which suggested a short hearing indeed. A number of men stood in small groups, talking quietly among themselves. All were dressed very plainly, in clothing more suited to farmers or craftsmen or scholars than to the kings and chieftains they were.

I recognised Oran’s father, Ruairi of Dalriada, but not the tall, grey-bearded man he was speaking to. Cúan, who had come to stand beside me and Grim, whispered, ‘Lorcan of Mide. And the fair-haired man is the High King’s representative, a senior councillor. Over there, chieftains from Ulaid and Tirconnell, Laigin and Connacht. And the man in blue’ – he indicated a handsome individual of about five-and-forty, his dark curls frosted with grey – ‘is Lady Flidais’s father, Lord Cadhan.’

No wonder they wanted to keep this quiet. It had the potential to cause a storm of unrest. Perhaps to unseat the High King, should his involvement reach the wrong ears. And what about Mathuin’s family? He had grown sons.

There were Island men at every entry, silent and watchful. No doubt they ringed the outside of the house as well. It must have been quite a feat to get everyone here without arousing suspicion. And Mathuin – how had they done that? And where was he?

I had wondered which of them would lead the proceedings. Somewhat to my surprise, it was Prince Oran who went up to the platform and took the central position, with a black-robed lawman on either side. Donagan moved to stand behind the prince. Everyone hushed.