‘No, it’s much further away. Off the north coast,’ said Emer, surprising me. I’d never heard of the place before, and I’d assumed she hadn’t either. ‘A sea island with a deep water anchorage. It’s called Swan Island.’

‘Populated by tattooed warriors who might have walked right out of some tale of Cú Chulainn.’

‘There’s a school of warcraft there,’ Emer went on. ‘Fraoch told me about it.’ Fraoch the smith was Emer’s brother, notable for his skill on the bodhran, and for being the only man in Winterfalls who approached Grim’s height and breadth. ‘Leaders send their men-at-arms there to learn . . . I’m not sure exactly what. Skills they can’t be taught at home, I suppose.’

‘Secret skills? Such as a druid or wise woman might teach?’

Emer grinned. ‘Not quite the same. But yes, secret skills. At a guess, things like spying and getting through locked doors and killing someone with your bare hands.’

‘Morrigan save us. Who’s in charge of this establishment?’

‘I don’t know, Mistress Blackthorn. It’s been there a long time. I’ll ask Fraoch if you like.’

‘No need for that. I do wonder why Cúan and his companions are here, and what actually happened in the wood. But I don’t want to seem unduly interested. Let’s just wait and see.’ Another thought occurred to me. ‘This island. How far is it from Cahercorcan? Would the king know about it?’

‘I think it’s quite close, within a few miles.’

‘Oh.’ So all sorts of people would know of it. Including Grim, most likely. We had stayed at court for some time. He had many friends among the men-at-arms, both in that royal household and the one at Winterfalls. ‘I wonder why I haven’t heard of the place before.’

‘It’s what Emer said,’ put in Cara. ‘Secret knowledge, like the things you teach her. Say Prince Oran wanted his men taught those other skills, spying or getting into places through locked doors, he wouldn’t want everyone to know about it, would he? The same for any leader who sent his men over there to be trained.’

Cara sometimes surprised me like this. Her manner was often vague and distant, as if she were not quite in the same world as the rest of us. Yet she would come out with a statement that showed she had not only been listening, but listening attentively.

‘That still doesn’t explain what they were doing in Dreamer’s Wood. But never mind that now. Emer, we should do some writing. Cara can help you.’ I’d been surprised to find that the girl was capable at reading, writing and numbers, thanks to the tutelage of her aunt.