‘Blackthorn.’ I keep it quiet, low, like I’m talking to a creature that’s had a fright. ‘You can. You can wait. You can be brave. I know you can.’ I can hear her breathing, quick and raspy, like she might cry again. ‘If he says seven years, maybe that’s how long it needs to take. To put things right. To get things straight. What do you think?’

‘I think I tell a rotten bedtime story,’ she says. ‘Your turn tomorrow night, and I’ll be expecting a good one.’

‘Do my best.’ It’s over, I hear it in her voice; she won’t be talking about it anymore.

‘Grim.’

‘Mm?’

‘Never told anyone. Only you. Keep it to yourself, right?’

I’m stunned. Me. She told me. ‘Wouldn’t tell a soul.’

24 Blackthorn

24

~BLACKTHORN~

Living in the smith’s house drove me to distraction. If it hadn’t been well into autumn I would have packed up and gone back out to the wood. The outhouse was still standing; Grim had slept in there when we first came, and I could have done the same. On the other hand, Grim found it hard to sleep if I wasn’t close by, and the outhouse didn’t have room for two.

I could have gone south, of course. Abandoned my promise to Conmael and headed off in pursuit of Mathuin. If I’d thought for a moment that the rage inside me was lessening with time, the fire at the cottage had proved me wrong. Telling my story had sharpened the pain and whipped up my urge for vengeance. But I wasn’t entirely devoid of common sense. Soon it would be winter. It was a long way to Laois. Try it now and if I didn’t end up dead, I’d probably find myself locked up in that cesspit again, and this time Conmael wouldn’t come tapping on the door offering me a reprieve.

Besides, I wanted to be here when Branoc faced justice. And, like it or not, I was wise woman and healer to both Winterfalls and Silverlake. Ness would need me at least until she recovered from her physical injuries, and perhaps far longer, for the time of darkness and terror had marked her deep. Emer could help with that part of it. There was no doubting the healing power of a loyal friend. Whether that would be enough, only time would tell.