‘Tip?’ Panic flared in his eyes. ‘Is she alright? Has she been hurt?’ He leapt to his feet. Given the way he was looking at me, I suddenly understood why they were called Wild Men.

Now that I could see him properly, I could see several painful-looking bruises on his face and body. I gestured at him awkwardly. ‘She’s fine.’

He glanced from side to side, his pupils dilated and his muscles bunched up. ‘Is she here?’

‘No,’ I soothed. ‘She’s away. She’s safe. They can’t get to her.’

Candy’s attention returned to me and, as he fixed on my face, he appeared to calm down. I wasn’t fooled though; he was still panicking. He was just doing a better job of hiding it. ‘They?’

‘Aifric. Byron. Whoever. Let’s concentrate on getting you out of here.’

Candy didn’t move. ‘Does Byron know you’re alive?’

‘No. Let’s go.’

‘Does Byron know where Tip is?’

‘No. Come on, Candy. I’ll answer your questions properly once we’re out of here.’

He stepped backwards. ‘He needs her.’

I blinked. Er… ‘Byron needs her? But don’t you need her too?’ I asked stupidly.

Candy crossed his arms across his massive chest. I swear he had the girth of a bloody oak tree. ‘I have her.’

I tilted my head to the side. ‘I hate to point out the obvious but you’re stuck in a medieval dungeon while she’s wandering around in the free, fresh air of the Highlands.’

He regarded me impassively. ‘You should tell Byron you’re alive. He’ll be very happy.’

Yeah, yeah. ‘Look, Candy,’ I said, trying again, ‘I understand this is all a surprise to you but we probably don’t have very long. We need to get out of here before the alarm is raised.’

He turned round and settled back on his narrow bed. I gaped at him. ‘I have to stay here,’ he rumbled. ‘I promised Byron.’

‘Byron is planning to marry the love of your life!’ I shrieked. ‘You can’t trust him!’

‘He is very honourable.’

Good grief! ‘Candy…’

‘I am staying here.’

‘Aifric is going to drag you down to the Adair border – my border – and use you to lure Tipsania out.’

He shrugged, rolling his massive shoulders. ‘I know.’

‘What do you mean you know? Don’t you care?’

‘Is Tip safe?’

‘Yes. For now. But—’

‘Then I am staying here. You should tell her to give herself up.’

I threw my hands up in the air. ‘What is going on?’ I turned and looked again at the bars which were ostensibly holding the Wild Man here. ‘You could have escaped at any time,’ I whispered. ‘But you’re choosing to stay. Why?’

He opened his mouth to answer. Before he could, there was a shout from Bob. ‘Someone’s coming!’

Shite. ‘Candy,’ I pleaded. ‘This is our last chance. We need to get out of here.’

He turned his head away. I balled up my fists, at a complete loss. I couldn’t force him to come. Bob zipped towards me, his arms akimbo and his expression panicked. ‘There are at least six of them. We need to get out of here! I don’t want to end up as the Steward’s slave.’