‘Could you not have used words rather than blows?’

‘Not good with words. They’d have laughed.’

‘Perhaps that is true,’ Lochlan said. ‘But Domnall tells me you looked as if you would kill Seanan. I know you are taking a turn as night guard, and I recognise your ability to do a good job at that. But you are not trained as our men are, to curb your anger and to know when to stop. That can be dangerous. Especially when a man is as big and strong as you are. An insult to a lady, however disrespectful, surely does not merit death.’

‘Wouldn’t have killed him.’ But maybe that was a lie. When the red came, sometimes I didn’t know what I was doing until it was over.

Neither of them said anything for a bit. ‘You want me to leave now?’ I made myself say. Nothing worse than bad news being dragged out.

Lochlan looked at Domnall; Domnall looked back at him.

‘Leave?’ Domnall said. ‘We won’t ask you to leave, Grim. Unless you find yourself unable to comply with the penalty we’ve determined.’

My head filled up with all kinds of penalties, most of which I wouldn’t like at all. I wished they’d get on with it. I’d spent the whole night thinking I’d ruined Blackthorn’s mission, and now this. Whatever it was.

‘I want you to make amends with the men,’ Domnall said. ‘Continue with your duties, but ensure this kind of thing does not happen again.’

‘If you decide you wish to stay with us longer,’ said Lochlan, ‘we’ll provide you with the same training as all the men get. That includes learning to control your temper and not to take to your fellow guards with your fists, no matter how much they provoke you.’

This was a surprise. I didn’t tell him I had no intention of joining Prince Oran’s guards, even if the prince wanted me, which I was sure he wouldn’t. Make amends. That didn’t sit well with me, but there was no choice, not if I wanted to help Blackthorn.

‘I see,’ I said. ‘One thing, though.’

‘And that is?’

‘The fellows. The way they were talking. Not just about Blackthorn, but the other women too. Disrespectful. Making amends, that could be hard. I’ll do my best. But I won’t sit there and listen to that sort of thing. Training in keeping their tempers, that’s all very well. But why not training in holding their tongues, if all they can say is that rubbish?’

There was a proper smile on Domnall’s face now. ‘You may find making amends isn’t so difficult,’ he said. ‘As for the other, I think your presence among them may go some way to moderating their speech. Just keep your fists out of it.’