Evnis said nothing.

‘Is it still there?’ Vonn asked.

‘Why?’

‘I think it is one of the Seven Treasures. Nemain’s necklace.’

‘That’s ridiculous,’ Evnis said.

I had thought exactly the same thing.

‘And if it were, what does that mean to you, anyway.’

‘Corban needs it, in Drassil.’

‘Corban – that arrogant fool.’

Corban is the Bright Star.’

‘What? Where have you heard such things? Who have you been talking to?’

For the first time Vonn looked a little unsure of himself. ‘Craf,’ he said quietly.

‘Who’s Craf?’

Vonn looked up, at the crow in the branches above him.

‘A bird,’ Evnis said.

‘Craf’s very intelligent,’ Vonn said, a little defensively.

‘Craf clever,’ the bird muttered above them.

He actually is, Evnis thought, for he seems to know more about this than I do, and I’ve been studying it all of my life.

‘Vonn, this is all very interesting – more than that, important. But this is not the place to discuss it. Please, come with me. Be my son again. I am sorry for the way things happened, the night Dun Carreg fell. I am sorry for the rift between us, for arguing, sorry that Bethan died . . .’

As he said the girl’s name he saw pain flutter across Vonn’s face.

‘I ask your forgiveness for my part in it, and I hope that you can see I did not intend harm to come to her. I was acting out of what I saw to be our best interests. I betrayed our King, I know, but he betrayed me, betrayed us. Refused aid that would have saved my Fain, your mother . . .’

Words choked in his throat for a moment.

It never fails to surprise me how close the pain is.

‘I want you to come back to me. Come back with me. Share my victory, help me rule Ardan, be my battlechief, my first-sword, my son.’

Please say yes, Vonn. Please, I beg you. If you do not . . .

Vonn was looking at Evnis with tears in his eyes.

‘I cannot, Father. I would ask the same of you. Come with me, back to Dun Crin. I have hated you for that night in Dun Carreg, but I can understand the currents of your heart. Mother . . .’ He paused, swallowed. ‘I can forgive you for that night, but not for continuing on this path. Please, come back with me.’

Evnis felt such a wave of emotion, like a great hand tugging at strings attached to his heart, that he almost said yes, just to make Vonn happy. But then the feeling subsided, enough for him to see clearly.

I have come too far, done too much. He looked at his palm, traced the decades-old scar there. I have made an oath, sworn my soul . . .

‘I cannot,’ he said, grave and solemn.

Vonn’s face fell.