‘Climb up, then,’ she ordered. ‘Not you, Emer, I don’t need a crowd. Just you, wise woman. Let’s have a look at you.’ As if she was the healer and I was her patient.

I climbed up; settled myself on the cushions beside her. The cart was neatly fitted out, with a bench built into one side, various bags hanging from pegs, a shelf here and there, a place for a jug and cup. ‘My name is Blackthorn,’ I said. ‘But I think they told you that already.’

She was taking a thorough look at me. ‘They did, and more besides. Young Abhan, he’s a good lad. Good through and through. He’ll look after the lass well. No need to trouble yourself. But you will, of course. Seen too much of the bad, taken its toll. Can’t trust.’

‘Your name wouldn’t be Holly, by any chance?’

She roared with laughter. The sound became a splutter, then a wheezing cough. I lifted her to sit, filled her cup and helped her take a mouthful of what must be the brew Emer had mentioned. ‘Holly? Me?’ she gasped as the spasm subsided. ‘That would give her a good laugh if she was still here. No, lass, I’m no wise woman, just an ordinary travelling wife. A mother and a grandmother.’

I gave her my own searching look. ‘More than that, I suspect, since you seem to know more about me than anyone here could have told you.’

‘When you’re as old as I am, you learn to look inside. You learn to see what can’t be seen. If you were as old as me you wouldn’t need to ask questions about Abhan. You’d know at first glance that he’s a good man, steady, brave, wise beyond his years. But something’s filled you up with doubts.’

It was uncomfortable to hear, the more so because it was true. I had seen that Abhan was a good man; that he truly cared for Ness and she for him. I had seen that his family loved her and would look after her. If he was less than he seemed, would they all have rushed to welcome us as they did? But still a faint doubt lingered.

‘Not every man is a liar,’ the old woman said. ‘Some of them, yes. Not all of them. There are good men out there, men who respect women, men with the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Men who’ll be gentle with a newborn babe. Men who’ll defend family and land and country with their dying breath. Don’t tell me you’ve never known a man like that, because I won’t believe it.’