There was a pause while this was translated. The Fomori leader scratched his chin. ‘He is permitted to come with four others. None of them can be Sidhe.’

Again we had to wait for the translation, which was troublesome and time-consuming. I wondered how much had been lost in nuance over the years as a result. I promised myself that once all this was over I’d learn Fomori properly. I reckoned I was going to need it.

‘Nine others,’ the Sidhe shot back. ‘And they must all be Sidhe. We need to know that he will be safe.’

‘Are you suggesting that we would hurt him during the truce?’

‘It’s not only Fomori demons who are here,’ the Ochterlony idiot responded. He still didn’t look at us but we knew who he was referring to.

They bargained back and forth, eventually settling on five – a mix of Sidhe and others. Still unsmiling, the Ochterlony Sidhe bowed and vanished. ‘You should have nicked Teleportation from him,’ Taylor grumbled. ‘We could do with being as far away from here as possible.’

At his words, I glanced at the English-speaking demon. His other Gift was Teleportation and he’d heard what Taylor had said but all he did was smile.

Byron squeezed my hand. ‘I trust you with my life, Integrity. You need to make a decision and act now. If my father gets here, he’ll do whatever’s necessary to manipulate the situation. We won’t last five seconds.’

I looked at the others. Every one of them met my eyes.

‘I don’t know what you’re planning, Tegs,’ Taylor said, ‘but if anyone can find a way out of this, you can.’

Fergus nodded. ‘We’re dead anyway.’

Speck’s hands were shaking. ‘Did I ever tell you that I’m afraid of the dark? The sooner this happens, the better.’

Brochan rumbled in agreement and Lexie bobbed her head. Then, from out of nowhere, May spoke. Her Fomorian words were slightly stilted but she’d obviously mastered the art of speaking properly in record time. ‘If your Steward demands your death, my king will grant it. He won’t even think twice. The prophecy is still a danger, no matter what you say. Integrity, you must show him he can believe in you. And you have to do it now.’

Fergus sidled over to her; he didn’t look at her but his arm brushed against hers in solidarity.

Strangely enough, I didn’t feel nervous. This would either be our moment of glory or the moment when everything went to shite. It felt like my whole life had been leading up to this. I was going to succeed; I had to succeed. The fate of Scotland depended on me.

I cleared my throat. ‘We haven’t been properly introduced,’ I said, my voice carrying across the air. ‘I’m Integrity Adair.’

The demon leader looked at me. I had no clue as to what he was thinking but there was calculation in his red eyes. ‘Names have power,’ he said.

I sucked in a breath. ‘My true name is—’