It was ages since Father had dumped her here without a proper explanation, and he hadn’t come to see her, not once. When she told Flidais, yet again, that her stomach hurt and she didn’t feel like riding, Flidais said she would send for Mistress Blackthorn, the wise woman. Cara said there was no need, she’d be fine tomorrow. Or the next day.

‘Oh, good.’ Flidais smiled. She was always nice, even when she thought she was being lied to. But Cara wasn’t lying. She did feel ill. Being away from home made her heart ache. ‘Then you will be able to go over and see Mistress Blackthorn at last,’ Flidais went on. ‘You’ll like her, Cara. She’s very – direct.’

Cara managed to stammer out a Yes, my lady. It was plain there could be no more excuses; she’d have to go and see this wise woman. If Blackthorn was direct, she’d probably ask all kinds of questions, and Cara’s words would vanish the way they did when Father got angry, or when Aunt Della lectured her about her inadequacies. She wanted to stand up for herself. She wanted to speak. But when people she loved got cross and cold and unkind she could feel herself shrinking down, like a creature going into its shell to hide. And when she shrank the words spun away, out of reach. That was why visiting a wise woman was pointless. Blackthorn wouldn’t say the only thing Cara wanted to hear, which was, You should go home.

She went to have another look at the side gate. It was done up very securely. Getting out that way would require dismounting, unfastening the gate, leading the horse through, then closing the thing properly behind her if she didn’t want to let a flock of sheep out. It did seem odd that there was the one entrance without its own guard, but she guessed anyone who came in this way with ill intent would be stopped before they could get near the house. There were always plenty of guards closer in. Prince Oran was the only son of King Ruairi and would be the next king of Dalriada. And the baby boy would be king after Oran. So it was fair enough for the place to be well protected. Just inconvenient.