‘Garalt will relieve you in due course,’ I told Fergal. ‘There’ll be time for you to partake of some ale before we ride on.’ Iobhar’s brewing was almost as legendary as Branoc’s cakes. Not that I expected to be eating any of those today, even if we did go all the way to Silverlake. Everyone knew Branoc was averse to company, and I would not subject him to a surprise visit, especially not with Flidais present. What in the name of the gods had possessed her to say what she had about body servants? Could it be true that my reliance on my old friend had blighted his whole future? Was I not so much a friend as a millstone around his neck?

The ale was good, the company good also, though with Donagan absent the men of the village were more reticent than usual. If I had not already known what an asset my friend was in smoothing the way for me, I would have realised it today. As my companion and personal servant, Donagan fell somewhere between me and these villagers, and in his presence they generally spoke out with confidence. Today they seemed anxious not to offend me. When they asked where my friend was, I told them he was indisposed.

I talked to some of the farmers about a troublesome patch of boggy ground and the need to dig a drainage ditch. They could not agree on its position. I suggested they consider a compromise that would not encroach too severely on either man’s farm, and told them to bring it to the council if they had not reached agreement by then. Scannal had a complaint about Branoc, the baker from Silverlake. For now, the miller said, he could supply the special types of flour Branoc required. But the Gaul was very particular, soon finding fault if what he received was not up to his exacting standards. And transporting the stuff over to Silverlake was becoming a nuisance; it meant a whole day’s use of the cart, more or less, and the services of a man to do the driving and the lifting.

‘He won’t send a carter from his end,’ Scannal said. ‘There are fellows in the village there who wouldn’t mind the work, but Branoc won’t give it to them. Very particular about who comes in and out. Mind you, he pays well, I’ll admit that.’