“Welcome, Daughter,” said Father coolly. “Cathal has given us an account of his vision concerning Glencarnagh, and has explained his reasons for sharing it with you. That episode caused us considerable difficulty; I can only be grateful that we seem to have the truth now. I thank the gods that this did not develop beyond a war of words. What we require now is some clarification from you. Can you tell us exactly what Mac Dara said to you on the issue?”

I didn’t even want to think about Mac Dara. What I had seen—or thought I had seen—by the stables had unnerved me. I cleared my throat, and explained that Mac Dara had openly admitted causing the raid and the fire, and that he must have manipulated Cathal’s vision to implicate Illann in the attack. “The only thing he wanted was to get Cathal across into the Otherworld,” I said. “He anticipated that Cathal would warn me. He stole Finbar in circumstances that would place suspicion on Cathal; he knew I’d feel obliged to go after my brother. He made sure I was the only one who recognized Becan as a real baby. Mac Dara knew Cathal would insist on coming with me. He used love as a weapon; my love of my family and Cathal’s love for me. He wouldn’t have thought twice about what this might mean for anyone else, Illann, for instance, or you and Mother. The Fair Folk don’t understand love, not the way we do. They think of everything in terms of power.”

Father made no comment. Instead, he looked at Conor.

“This is entirely consistent with my knowledge of the Tuatha De,” the druid said.

“And yet,” said Father, frowning, “the Fair Folk have long been friends of the Sevenwaters family. Why would they suddenly turn against us, wreaking such havoc without a thought?”

“I hope you do not doubt Clodagh’s word.” Cathal’s voice was quiet, precise and dangerous. “My lord.”

Father sighed. “I will not make that error again,” he said. “But this is troubling. Relieved as I am to have Illann’s innocence established, it seems to me there is a threat of far greater significance in all of this.”

“For that, I take responsibility.” The edge was gone from Cathal’s voice. “The ills that have befallen your family recently have all been caused by my father’s quest to reclaim me. If I had not come to Sevenwaters, Mac Dara would have left you in peace.”

“In that case it’s at least half my fault,” put in Johnny with a faint smile. “You argued hard enough not to come. I thought the trip would be good for you. Next time I’ll listen more carefully when you put a case to stay behind.”