I got down from my horse. The district did need a wise woman, and the lady had done nothing amiss, save possibly absent herself rather than engage in a conversation with me. ‘We’ve interrupted your labours,’ I said, giving the very big man a smile. ‘You’re doing a fine job with the thatching, that’s clear. And the rest of this – is it all your work? The place looks transformed.’

The giant spoke. ‘What you said. About the cottage. Blackthorn can’t stay here without your say-so, is that the sum of it?’

‘My lord.’ Donagan looked about to explode.

I ignored him. ‘That is the sum of it, yes; even a tumbledown ruin generally belongs to someone. All these lands are mine. But I didn’t say the wise woman couldn’t stay. Only that I would like to speak with her.’

‘You can speak to me.’

‘Not without a name, at least.’

‘Grim.’

‘And you are her servant?’ At the expression on his face, I added, ‘Brother? Husband?’

He narrowed his eyes at me. ‘Travelled here with her. Fixed the place up for her. I look after her. That enough for you?’ After what seemed to me a carefully judged pause, he added, ‘My lord?’

‘Thank you, Grim. You don’t expect Blackthorn back soon, then?’

‘She’s her own mistress. She’ll be back in her own time. My lord.’

‘You say you travelled here – where did you come from?’ If this Blackthorn was going to stay in the area and tend to my folk, I’d need to know at the very least that she could do a good job of it. If she’d left a position elsewhere, there must be a reason.

‘South.’

I held his gaze, playing him at his own game.

‘Laigin,’ Grim added eventually. ‘I’ll tell Blackthorn you came by. You want to check on her, ask the folk she’s been tending to. They seem happy enough. My lord.’

For him, this seemed a long speech. At the end of it he glanced, not too subtly, toward the ladder.

‘Thank you, Grim. You’ll be wanting to get on with your work.’

A grunt.

‘Please ask Blackthorn to come to my house one day soon, at her convenience. There’s certainly a need for her services in the district. But best if the matter’s put on a more formal footing.’

‘Formal?’ His eyes narrowed again. He balled his hands into fists. Substantial fists. ‘What does that mean?’

‘Nothing you need concern yourself with.’

‘What does it mean, my lord?’