‘Only one problem there, apart from the fact that I’ve good cause not to trust princes and the like, especially where women in trouble are concerned. Emer said everyone refused to believe her when she told them Ness wouldn’t have run away, and that was despite her being Ness’s closest friend and a sensible girl. Our tale sounds far-fetched; it sounds like we’ve put together bits and pieces that might mean nothing at all. I can’t see Prince Oran being in a hurry to send folk storming over to Silverlake on the evidence we’ve got. If there was time, I’d walk over to Winterfalls and ask Emer if Ness’s sweetheart has a name beginning with A; I’d ask if the lad ever gave Ness a red kerchief. I’d ask if Branoc the baker wanted Ness for himself, and if she turned him down. But that would take time. It would mean leaving this until tomorrow, and I’m not going to do that; I can’t. Anyway, what if I’m wrong? What if we gather a whole army of folk and descend on Branoc’s barn, and it turns out what’s up there is rats after all?’

‘Mm. And if he heard folk coming and guessed why, he might panic and hurt the girl. He might do anything. It’s an odd story, miller crushing himself with his own grindstone. Sounds too freakish to be true. Maybe it never was true. Maybe the miller was murdered.’

‘Not so much of a bonehead after all, are you? So, if you can get the horses and get them quickly, here’s what we’ll do.’

21 Grim

21

~GRIM~

Turns out she can ride, even with a blanket saddle and not much of a halter. Just as well. The two horses, I borrow from a fellow who owes me a favour. Fixed his roof a while ago, knew he was struggling, told him to forget paying. While I fetch the horses Blackthorn puts together what we need: her healer’s things, a bag of oats, a couple of blankets, a coil of rope. I’ve got a knife on me, and so has Blackthorn. That part of the plan bothers me. Knife or no knife, while I’m getting the girl out Blackthorn’s going to be on her own with Branoc. If he sees what’s up, she’ll be in trouble.