Vonn stared at him angrily, Camlin almost hearing a host of different answers lining up and being tried out in the young warrior’s head. In the end Vonn’s shoulders slumped and he dropped his eyes.

‘I don’t know,’ he whispered.

Honest? Maybe.

‘I don’t believe you,’ Camlin said, making sure his voice was cold, hard.

Vonn’s head snapped up at that. A tear streaked his cheek.

‘Believe what you wish,’ Vonn hissed. ‘As I looked at him I wanted to leap out of the boat and put my sword through his heart . . .’ His face twisted between anger and pain, another tear rolling down his cheek. ‘He betrayed everything I loved and valued. He’s the reason my Bethan’s dead. I hate him.’

Camlin stared at him a long time, willow branches stirring about them. You don’t sound as convincing as you did in Domhain. In fact, you sound as if you’re trying to convince yourself.

‘That so?’

‘Aye.’

‘Then I’ll ask you again. Why’d you stop me?’

‘I don’t know,’ Vonn whispered. ‘Maybe I want to be the one that does it. Maybe I had a weak moment – he is my da. Maybe . . .’ He shook his head. ‘I just don’t know.’

Another silence stretched between them.

I’m inclined t’believe him. Either way, I’d not want him at my shoulder in a fight against Evnis. He doesn’t know his own heart. How can I trust him when he doesn’t trust himself?

Meg pushed her way through the trailing branches of the willow and offered a wrapped leaf to Camlin. He took it and sniffed. Then smiled. Grilled trout. He took a bite and realized how hungry he was.

A voice hailed them from the lakeshore – Baird, helping Edana into a boat.

Time for another meeting.

Camlin gave Vonn one last look.

‘Are you going to tell Edana?’ Vonn asked.

Don’t know yet.

Camlin said nothing and walked away.

Camlin assumed his customary place in what he’d come to think of as their council chambers, though it was decorated with creeping vines and birds’ nests in the broken rafters. Halion now stood behind Edana, back in his position as her first-sword. Baird and Vonn stood beside him and Camlin eyed Vonn suspiciously.

Drust and Pendathran were there, as well as Roisin and Lorcan, whose eyes kept drifting to Edana. Roisin sat beside Pendathran and, as Camlin watched them, Roisin leaned close to the battlechief and whispered in his ear. He laughed.

‘Congratulations on a successful mission,’ Edana said. ‘And I am overjoyed to have my first-sword back at my side.’