I shuffled away from her. ‘I think I can manage to walk on my own.’ Besides, the only person in the entire castle who I trusted at that moment was Jamie. He was the only one who couldn’t have set the damn stoor worm on me.

‘I knew your parents,’ the old woman burst out desperately, her frizzy hair trembling with the effect of her outburst. ‘Mummy and Daddy. Mother and Father. Mum and Dad. Mere and Pere. Ma and Pa.’ Her voice trailed off.

I looked at her. When I was growing up in the Bull’s demesne, I heard my father mentioned a lot. No one ever breathed a word about my mother. The woman beamed at my sudden interest. ‘I can tell you all about them,’ she said. She flapped her arms. ‘Chat chat chat!’

Something inside me hardened. Whoever my mother was, she was dead now. And I’d had it drummed into me that my father was a villainous prick who sacrificed hundreds of lives simply because it had suited him. People said the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Well, I didn’t want to be anywhere near it. Anyway, this woman was clearly nuts.

‘No, thanks,’ I said curtly, trying to ignore the way her face fell.

I shoved my hands in my pockets and strode away, glad that she didn’t try and stop me. It was already dusk, with the sky the colour of murky purple in the way you only ever see in the Highlands. I sucked in a breath, got my bearings, and marched round the castle walls. My posture and frown made it clear to anyone watching that I wanted no further part in small talk about my heritage or even the damned weather.

I found Bob’s ‘scimitar’ in a clump of dandelions by the far west corner. Glancing up, I could still see the trail of slime left by the stoor worm. I shook myself, still incredulous that I’d escaped, then reached down, grimacing in pain, and grabbed the hilt.

Checking that no-one was watching me, I rubbed the blade.

Bob squinted up. ‘This isn’t a good time,’ he declared. ‘Sisko’s in trouble and I’m not sure he’s going to make it.’

‘Oooh, The Visitor? The episode where he’s come unstuck in time and his son is trying to save him? That’s a good one.’

‘I know.’ He glared. ‘Can I get back to watching it?’

‘Perhaps you need to put away the boxed set and start paying more attention. I almost died half an hour ago.’

‘Hmm?’ Bob drummed his fingers impatiently against the ground. ‘Do you think his son will save him?’ His mouth pursed. ‘No, wait. Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know.’ He cupped his hands round his ears. ‘Tralalalalala. I’m not listening.’