Didn’t bring any tools; didn’t think I’d need them. Might be some down below, but I don’t want to leave her on her own. Her gown’s all ragged and dirty, and there’s a stink from the bucket in the corner. A filthy mattress against the wall, with a blanket. Guess he undoes the shackles at night. A cup, empty. Nothing else.

‘Picked up your kerchief,’ I say, moving closer, trying not to scare her. ‘Sorry we didn’t come sooner; took a while to work out.’

‘I’m Ness,’ she sobs. ‘Daughter of Ernan the miller. My dad – where’s my dad?’

Black Crow save me. She doesn’t even know. ‘It’s just me and my friend today,’ I tell her. ‘Got to get these shackles off you; hold still for a bit.’

Fellow’s done a thorough job, curse his poxy hide. Hard to get the things off without hurting her. And I’m worried about how long it’s taking, since Blackthorn’s down there with him. If he comes out before I get Ness away this could turn even nastier than it already is. I try to prise the leg shackle open with my knife, but it’s going to be too slow. In the end I take hold of the chains and haul until the rings break off the wall. They come crashing down and a shower of rubble comes with them, and it’s loud, too loud. Ness sort of falls against me, then clutches onto me, sobbing against my chest.

‘Right, let’s get you out of here quick,’ I say, wanting to cry right along with her. I don’t even bother with the blanket I’ve brought, I just pick Ness up and carry her down the ladder, rings, chains and shackles dangling and dragging. Which is awkward, but I don’t trip myself up and I don’t drop her. Inside I’m cursing Branoc with every foul word I know, and that’s more than a few.

‘He’ll come,’ Ness whispers. ‘Branoc. He’ll hear us and come.’

Just what I’m thinking, but I want to get these chains off her before we go anywhere. Feels wrong to leave them on, and anyway they’ll slow us. I put Ness down on her feet but she can’t stand up, so I sit her on a bench. I find a crowbar and a hammer. See her flinch when I bring them over. My heart’s going fast, not a dance now, more of a charge into battle. I try to take deep breaths, to slow myself down. Need steady hands for this. Girl’s been hurt enough already, got to do it right the first time.