“Oh, I see,” said Festus. “That’s why you’re asking these questions. Has someone made you think you’re a galloglass, or going that way?”

Effie nodded sadly.

“How am I supposed to go back to the Otherworld if all they’re going to do is expel me?” she said.

Festus shook his head. “What are the worlds coming to?” he said. “Why would they expel you of all people?”

“I’m an islander and a galloglass,” said Effie. “Basically the kind of person they most hate.”

“For goodness’ sake,” said Festus angrily.

Effie shrugged. “I don’t know what to do,” she said.

“It’s politics,” said Festus. “Stupid, ego-driven politics. And the bloody Diberi. Because of the threat they pose—especially now there are suddenly so many new prophecies and stories of impending doom—the Mainland Liberation Collective has gone into overdrive. Can you believe they’re even taking seriously this prophecy of Madame Valentin’s? All that guff about the worlds ending at Midwinter, and the Otherworld being destroyed by hundreds of rampaging cats. But the best way to solve this problem is to keep doing what we’re doing and defeat the Diberi. Then the MLC might quiet down. This latest threat has something to do with Midwinter, but we don’t yet know what. And—I’m not supposed to tell you this, but here goes. It has something to do with you.”

“Me?”

“That’s what all the soothsayers are predicting. Not silly Madame Valentin—I’m pretty sure you don’t feature in her prophecy—but in the reports of many of the more serious ones. We didn’t know whether to include you in this operation—which meant bringing you closer to danger, but also closer to people who could protect you—or not. But if your role is in helping us, as it was last time, then we need you close to the action.”

“Even if I’m a galloglass?”

“What a lot of people don’t accept is that the world might actually need galloglasses,” said Festus. “Although don’t tell anyone I said that. Probably have my mark removed if they knew that’s what I thought.”

“But I thought galloglasses were selfish and awful and—”

“Why don’t you read the poem?” said Festus. “ ‘Galloglass.’ It’s an underrated classic, and very misunderstood. The introduction to the new edition I’m not so sure about—it was written by a leading Diberi after all. But Hieronymus Moon wasn’t a bad man. Maybe there’s something in there that might help you understand.”

“Okay. We’ve got a copy at home. I’ll read it.”

“Things are never black and white, you know,” said Festus.

“I know,” said Effie.