‘I make birds, mostly,’ she said, not looking at me. ‘An owl. A raven. A finch. That was the hardest. So small.’

‘From wood?’ It would be unusual for a girl to be taught wood carving. This girl had long-fingered, capable hands; they were more the hands of a craftswoman than a person born to be lady of the house.

‘Mm. Only I can’t do it at Lady Flidais’s house. I couldn’t bring my tools.’ Cara drew a shuddering breath. ‘Father made me pack and leave in a rush. He wouldn’t let me go out to the barn. He wouldn’t let me say goodbye.’ Another breath; she was plucking up courage for something. ‘Does Grim have tools? Knives and chisels, small ones?’

‘He does. But I couldn’t let you use them without asking him first. And you’d need to do it here.’

‘Oh.’ Her shoulders slumped again.

‘I didn’t say no. I only said we must ask Grim’s permission. You must know how a craftsman values his tools.’

‘I – I just –’

It really did seem hard for her to shape the words; to get them out at all. But when she spoke she did so clearly enough, despite the mouse-like timidity. Was there someone at home who cut her off every time she tried to speak her mind? Someone who believed young women should be silent and biddable? If that was so, why had she been trying so hard to go back?

‘I believe Grim might let you use his wood carving tools provided you promised to look after them, and provided you were only here at the cottage when I was at home. Or Emer, my assistant – she’s a girl from the settlement, a little older than you. I know it’s hard for you to talk, Cara. You’re doing well.’

She gave me a sideways glance. ‘My words won’t come out,’ she said. ‘They’re in my head, only my mouth won’t say them. People ask questions and all I want to do is climb a tree and sit there on my own.’

‘When I saw you in the wood you weren’t in a tree. Or alone.’

‘But – Oh, you mean the birds. Yes, they come.’

‘Unusual,’ I said.

‘Is it?’

Just how unusual, clearly she had no idea. No point in pressing her on that. I tried to guess what had upset her before. Was it the thought of needing to speak to Grim? Was she afraid of men? ‘I’ll ask Grim about the tools for you,’ I said. ‘He’s working for someone just now, putting in very long days, so he’s only home at night. I should have an answer for you tomorrow, if you’d like to come here again.’