There were titters from around me but I ignored them. Aifric pinned his eyes on me. ‘Why, thank you, Integrity. It’s very kind of you to say that.’ He half-turned as if to ignore me.

I giggled. ‘I wonder if I might ask you for some help,’ I said girlishly. ‘I’m so new here and I understand how important it is to act with honour. I’ve been trying to emulate the other Sidhe but obviously I’m still getting it wrong. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had those points deducted in the last challenge.’ Aifric glanced at me. Excellent. I’d hooked him. Now it was time to reel him in. ‘I have some information which might put me at a slight advantage in the next challenge. I don’t want to lose more points so maybe I could ask for your advice. Then I’ll know whether I should share that information or not.’

A muscle jerked in his cheek. He scanned my face, clearly desperate to know what information I had gleaned. He didn’t want me to have any kind of advantage, whether there were plans in place to do away with me or not. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘I am more than happy to guide you in the right direction.’

I simpered and forced a blush. ‘Oh, you’re too kind – but it would be better if we could talk in private.’ I looked pointedly at the other Sidhe.

‘Of course, of course!’ he boomed. ‘Shall we step outside?’ He slid off his stool and offered me his arm. I stared at it; I really didn’t want to touch him. When his smile began to waver, however, I hastily placed my hand above his wrist. ‘You’re such a gentleman,’ I gushed. ‘I’m not used to this kind of treatment.’

He patted my hand. It took everything I had not to recoil in disgust. ‘You’re not amongst the Clan-less any more, my dear.’

We walked out and found a quiet spot not too far away from the tent’s entrance. ‘Now, he said benignly, ‘what have you learnt?’

I dropped my pretence. ‘The Bull is going to ask that the audience be allowed to watch every thrilling moment of the Acumen challenge.’ My eyes were hard and my tone was harder.

Aifric stepped back, clearly confused by my shift in tone and canny enough to be wary. ‘My dear, that’s simply not possible. The noise they make will be off-putting and you will require your full concentration to succeed.’

I faked a smile. ‘I can work under those conditions. When the Bull puts forward his case, you will agree.’

Aifric’s expression turned to stone. ‘I will not.’

‘I have his true name.’

He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying. ‘You can’t have. Why would he give you that?’