He deliberately took several moments to react, focusing on the conversation beside him. It was a childish manoeuvre to make me understand that if I was going to keep him waiting, he’d do the same to me. I wondered idly if that meant he was dropping the ‘friend’ act but when he finally turned to me with a beatific smile, it was clear that wasn’t going to happen.

‘Integrity,’ he boomed. ‘I’m so pleased that you’ve made it through and that you’ll compete.’

Yeah, yeah. ‘Me too.’

He took my hand, drawing me to the side. I felt a shiver of revulsion at the touch of his skin on mine but I could dissemble when I needed to. If I could walk into a gambling den filled with trolls and Bauchans and stroll out with all their hard-earned cash, I could handle Aifric Moncrieffe.

‘I must apologise for not speaking up to endorse your bid to compete in the Games,’ he said quietly. ‘I thought it would look better to the rest of the Chieftains if you had support from others rather than me. After all,’ he added, squeezing my fingers, ‘everyone knows how highly I regard you.’

The man had no shame. ‘Oh,’ I said, the very picture of innocence, ‘so you knew that Polwarth, Scrymgeour and MacQuarrie would give me their votes?’

‘Of course! I’m the Steward, I know everything that goes on.’ He lowered his head. ‘Between you and me, I did encourage the Bull to add his voice to the others. It was the least I could do.’

Oh, you stupid, stupid man. ‘Thank you,’ I murmured. ‘It’s much appreciated.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He smiled at me magnanimously.

‘There is one thing I need to talk to you about,’ I said, treading carefully.

‘Oh yes?’

I bit my lip. ‘I recently had cause to pass through the Veil.’

Whatever Aifric had been expecting me to say, it obviously wasn’t that. He blinked several times and stepped back. ‘You…’ He shook his head. ‘Why would you do that?’

I thought about what Taylor had said. There was no reason not to live up to expectations. I shrugged. ‘Oh, looking for riches that I could sell on the black market.’

His mouth tightened. ‘That was … unwise, my dear. It’s a very dangerous place.’

‘Oh, so you’ve been there too?’

‘Goodness gracious, of course not. I don’t think anyone has visited the Lowlands in generations.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Did you find anything of value?’

‘Nothing to speak of,’ I demurred.

‘And did you see any Fomori?’

There was something in his eyes which made me pause. It wasn’t eagerness exactly, but whatever it was put me on edge. ‘No,’ I lied. ‘I didn’t stay long and there was very little to see.’ Which was sort of true; it had been very dark.