He shrugged, his expression displeased as he watched the to-ing and fro-ing between the Clan heads. ‘A thousand years, give or take.’

I considered the chest. It was an old piece but I’d estimate it was no more than two hundred years old. The aura around the Foinse suggested that it was a living being. And, speaking for myself as another living being, I didn’t think I’d do particularly well trapped inside a box. I’d probably get sick after two centuries of darkness too.

I craned my neck upwards at the shaft of light. It was less strong now, indicating that the end of the day was approaching. I wondered whether the position of the box beneath the light had been deliberate. Unless you were a stoor worm used to the dark depths of the ocean, chances were you’d need sunlight.

I glanced at Byron. With his head in the beam of light, his bronzed locks were burnished and gleaming.

‘Do me a favour,’ I said, ‘and bring the Foinse over here. Your father’s more likely to hand it to you than me.’ And Kincaid and Darroch would be less likely to complain about Byron taking it as well.

‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.

‘I just want to try something out,’ I prevaricated.

With a shake of his head, Byron did as I asked. Aifric appeared reluctant to let it go, as I’d surmised but he was hardly going to say no to his son and heir.

‘I’d thought it was going to be bigger,’ Diana said, as Byron brought it back over. ‘It’s still pretty, though.’

‘It’s warm,’ he said, surprised. ‘And I can feel it almost … pulsating.’

‘Can you hold it up to the light?’ I asked.

His brow furrowed but he stepped over and allowed the sunlight to filter down. Not only did the Foinse seem to glow more strongly, but its aura began to change. It still didn’t look healthy but I could definitely see an improvement.

‘Can I hold it?’ Diana asked eagerly.

Byron shrugged. ‘Sure.’ He passed it over.

She hefted in her hands. ‘Just think,’ she whispered, ‘this tiny thing is responsible for all of us. For all of our gifts and all of our magic.’

‘The best things come in small packages,’ I agreed. I held up my palms. ‘May I?’

She handed it to me, taking great care not to drop it. I smiled as I might at a gurgling baby. Aware that the three Chieftains had interrupted their conversation to watch me, I made sure I didn’t appear overly possessive. ‘Have you ever read Harry Potter?’ I asked casually.

Malcolm’s lip curled but Diana nodded. ‘You know Quidditch?’ I said. ‘What’s the name of the flying ball that they try to capture to win the game?’