‘As for the other question,’ said Master Cael, ‘if there were kinsfolk, and if they were not satisfied with the payment of the fine, they could demand that the offender serve a period as a bondsman. He would not be a prisoner, but he would be required to remain at a certain place, in the household of one of those kin, and work for the good of the family and community.’

‘Branoc’s skills as a baker would allow him to make a worthwhile contribution,’ put in Master Tassach. ‘But as Ness is without surviving kin, an arrangement of that kind could not be put in place.’

In the delicate silence that followed, it came to me that they were going to ask us to take responsibility for Branoc – hadn’t we just said we were acting in place of Ness’s kin? If they asked me to do it, my vow to Conmael meant I’d have to say yes. And things would fall apart, because I’d be obliged to keep Branoc alive while Grim would want to kill him.

‘Master Cael,’ said Donagan, ‘after what has happened – a series of events that has shocked the whole community – Branoc has become a target for folk’s wrath. His continuing presence in the Winterfalls area, even after the payment of a substantial fine, would be a thorn in the flesh, a constant disturbance.’

‘My lord,’ I said, glancing at Grim, ‘we don’t favour a long period of incarceration.’

‘But you can’t set him free,’ said Grim. ‘Doesn’t matter if you make him pay a king’s ransom. Let him go anywhere in these parts and if I don’t kill the wretch someone else will.’

‘I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,’ said the prince. ‘Master Cael, Master Tassach, I wonder if there is another solution available to us under the law. Ness is one of my people. I am responsible for this region and all the folk who live and work in it. Is it not within my authority to make Branoc a bondsman to my own family, and send him to Cahercorcan to work out his time in my father’s household? Not in incarceration,’ he added, looking at Grim and me, ‘but under the very strict supervision that is possible at my father’s court. Branoc is an expert baker; his creations are in high demand. He could most certainly be put to work there. I would, of course, provide the king with full details of his offences, and appropriate measures would be put in place to ensure he could not repeat them.’

‘And he would be far enough away to deter anyone here from taking the law into their own hands,’ put in Donagan.

A silence, while all of us looked at the lawmen. It was a good solution, a just one. A clever one. I hoped it was possible.