‘You’ve made a friend,’ observed Donagan, who perhaps did not quite understand the subtleties of the situation.

‘So it seems.’ I rose to my feet. ‘Go to your mistress, little one. There she is, see?’

‘She won’t walk with me.’ Flidais was looking at the ground. ‘Mhairi will take her.’

‘Which way would you like to go?’ I asked, hoping the walk would lift her spirits as well as the dog’s. ‘We should avoid the stables, which are over there. Bramble is certainly not ready for an encounter with Eochu’s lurchers, though they’re well trained.’ The mare my father had chosen as a wedding gift for Flidais had arrived and was being settled by our grooms; I would take my lady to see it some other time, without Bramble.

I had thought Flidais might ask to visit the place where Ciar had been buried, but all she said was, ‘You choose, Oran.’

‘Let’s walk to the top of that rise, up past the farm cottages,’ I suggested. ‘See, where the hazel trees are? From there we can show you the lie of the land.’ As we set off, I added, ‘The folk of Winterfalls settlement will be anxious to get to know you. I visit them regularly, and they come here for my monthly open council, where we hear various matters of concern, arbitrate on disputes and so on. And chat over cakes and ale afterwards. There’s been much interest in my future bride, as you may imagine.’ Gods, I seemed capable of only the most stilted of utterances this morning. Where was the fluent poet of the letters? Perhaps I should have defied convention and left both Donagan and Mhairi behind. It was not as if my lady and I were likely to engage in any form of intimacy out here, with so many folk going along the paths or working in the fields.

‘My lady,’ put in Donagan, ‘Prince Oran may have told you in his letters that his territory covers an area far wider than Winterfalls and its surrounding farmlands. There’s another village, Silverlake, to the east, as well as various smaller settlements in the hills around. Folk come in from everywhere for the council. You’ll have an opportunity to attend two such gatherings before your handfasting.’

Flidais said nothing. Her eyes were on Bramble, who was doing her best to prove her mistress’s misgivings well founded. The dog pulled in one direction then another, skittered underfoot, wound the lead around Mhairi’s legs, whining.

‘You see, my lord?’ said Mhairi.

‘Let me take her.’ I crouched down again and spoke to the dog in an undertone, words designed to soothe. I did not try to pat her; she was trembling in a way that was all too familiar.

‘Mhairi should take her back to the house. I cannot imagine what has got into the creature. Like this, she is not fit company for anyone,’ said Flidais.