‘Very astute of you, my lord,’ said Master Tassach. ‘In cases of debt-bondage such an arrangement is common, and it is within the accepted interpretation of the law for a wrong-doer to work out the time required in the service of a king or chieftain in lieu of the victim’s kin, most certainly. But that would not apply in this case. Branoc has the resources to pay even a heavy fine – not only the hundred silver pieces he had on his person when captured, but the value of the bakery buildings and equipment. Those assets, along with the mill, would be sufficient to provide quite handsomely for Ness’s future; they would more than meet the law’s requirement for sick-maintenance even if her recovery is slow.’

We sat in silence, looking at one another.

‘Thing is,’ put in Grim, ‘the hundred silver pieces aren’t his. They’re the miller’s life savings, that Ness was supposed to have stolen.’

‘And the mill doesn’t come into it,’ I said. ‘That was Ernan’s too. And now Ness’s.’

Master Cael gave a slow smile. He would, I thought, make a formidable enemy. ‘Indeed. Branoc might argue that the silver was his, of course. But I doubt he could make a convincing case, under the circumstances.’

‘So, if I understand you correctly, Master Tassach,’ said Prince Oran, ‘should I wish to place this man in debt-bondage, I would need to impose a fine that was higher than the value of his current assets. Significantly higher, if we wish him to serve a lengthy period.’ He lifted his brows at me as if to seek my approval. My approval. That of a . . . what was it Branoc had called me? A witch, a meddler, a bringer of trouble. Other things too, insults that had stung more than they should have.

‘It’s not up to me to determine the penalty, my lord,’ I said. ‘But Branoc has shown himself to have no regard for women, and scant respect for the community that sustains him. Such a man would take a long time to mend his ways. Years, I would think.’ Could this be true? Was the prince of Dalriada really taking heed of our arguments, mine and Grim’s, in dispensing justice on such a serious matter?

It seemed he was. ‘Very well. With your agreement, Master Tassach, Master Cael, I will set the fine at five hundred silver pieces. The sale of the bakery might realise perhaps a quarter of that amount. In addition, I will set a condition on Branoc’s release when he has worked off the remainder of the debt. An expert assessment will be conducted to determine whether he has learned his lesson; I will not allow his release into the community unless I am sure he will not reoffend.’