Now for the hardest part. “He thought Illann might be behind it,” I said miserably. “And because he knew I could communicate with Deirdre, he wanted to warn me not to let slip anything important. I told him that was ridiculous, that Illann is family and an ally, and that Deirdre wouldn’t be involved in anything underhand anyway. Cathal suggested I might get myself in trouble by giving her information that Illann could use to strategic advantage. I did tell him he should bring it to you, Johnny, or to Father. He said you wouldn’t believe him if there was no evidence.”

“In the name of the gods, Clodagh, why didn’t you tell me about this at the time?” Father was holding back his fury, but it trembled in his voice.

“There was Mother, and the baby, and the trouble in the north,” I whispered. “This sounded like nonsense. I didn’t want to bother you with it, Father.”

“Tell us again about the night of the wedding feast.” Johnny spoke sharply. “What exactly was it you saw?”

“A figure down by the far end of the barn. Someone in a gray cloak.”

“And Cathal was out there as well.”

“He was, yes. But the figure—I couldn’t even be completely sure I’d seen it. I thought I did, but when I looked again it was gone. None of this was enough to justify troubling you with my fears and imaginings.”

“And in the woods, when you were riding?” Father’s eyes were on me, judging. My stomach was churning with tension.

“Eilis and Coll rode ahead; Cathal went after them. They came back, he did not. You know that’s a simple path. He turned up later at the lake and said he’d gone a short way down a couple of side tracks, but nothing more. It was a plausible explanation, Father.”

“But Cathal was gone long enough to have met up with someone in the forest. He could have exchanged information. Both times.”

“Lord Sean!” Aidan protested. “Cathal is no spy! He’s a loyal—”

“Enough,” Father said. “Men died at Glencarnagh last night. My son has been cruelly snatched. We will get to the bottom of this, and if Cathal is in any way responsible he will pay the ultimate price for his treachery.”

“Sean.” Johnny’s face was white under his raven tattoo. “There is no proof that Cathal was involved either in the attack on Glencarnagh or the abduction of Finbar. Clodagh’s first assessment could be correct; the odd accuracy of Cathal’s account may be coincidental. I find it almost impossible to believe he would be involved in this. My men are faultlessly loyal. The tests of skill and character they must pass to be admitted to my band are thorough and taxing.”