‘Underhill?’ Mathuin was talking now, all the way to the door and out. ‘Where in God’s name is Underhill? This is a travesty! You’ll never get away with . . .’ He was gone.

With a speed born of the Island men’s rigorous training, the kings and chieftains were escorted away, each at his appointed time and with his appointed guards. By dusk on the day of the hearing, only Grim and I and a small complement of warriors were left. Oran and Donagan, with two guards, had been the last to depart. Oran had suggested we ride with them, but the Island men had thought that unwise.

‘The fewer who travel together, the less the likelihood of attracting notice,’ Cionnaola said.

There was no need to ask whether travelling in twos and threes meant one was more likely to be overcome by thieves or other miscreants along the way. The presence of an Island man meant any such attack would be both brief and unsuccessful.

So now we were rattling around the big house like forgotten peas left to dry up in the pod. I wanted to go home. But it was late, it was getting dark and there was no Conmael to make it happen with uncanny speed. I had not seen him again after the sentence was delivered. He had taken custody of Mathuin, and before I’d had a chance to say farewell and thank you, the two of them had gone.

‘Longish ride home,’ Grim observed, as we sat in the warmth of the kitchen while Cúan did some rudimentary cooking. ‘Sleep first would be good. Don’t you think?’

‘It would be sensible. I think we may have been awake for two days and a night. Or even more. That doesn’t stop me wanting to get on a horse and ride for home right now.’

‘The plan is to leave in the morning, before the residents of this house return,’ Cúan said. ‘Ride tired and you risk making foolish mistakes.’

‘I was joking,’ I said. ‘I think.’

‘Best not think too much,’ Grim said. ‘Eat, sleep. New day tomorrow.’

We ate. My appetite had returned, and Cúan’s dish of eggs and cheese went down well. Then Art, another of the Island men I knew from Winterfalls, showed us to a rather grand bedchamber, lit by a number of shielded candles. There was a bed so generously proportioned that a whole family could have slept there. One bed.