Gull glanced at her and cleared his throat. “Seems as good a time as any to speak up. You’ll be needing a healer on this trip. Those fellows who were left out there are going to need attention. Not to speak of someone to deal with possible mishaps on the way.” He glanced at Muirrin, then at Evan. Biddy was white. Her lips were pressed tightly together. “Seems that healer should be me, bearded ancient as I am. And while I can’t claim to be a woman, I have been acting as Sibeal’s chaperone, more or less, since she came to Inis Eala. In place of a father, you might say. My presence on the voyage should answer those concerns about what’s proper.” After a few moments of stunned silence, he added, “Sibeal can be my hands. Between us, we’ll do a good job.”

I was shocked and elated both at once. I wanted to protest; Biddy’s words and the look on her face told me this would alter our friendship forever. Johnny was expert at masking his feelings, but right now shock was written all over his face. Gull was his father’s oldest friend, revered and loved by all on Inis Eala. He was like a father to everyone on the island. It would be simple enough for Johnny to point out that Gull, with his maimed hands, could not combine the duties of healer with those of crewman as Evan might. But I knew Johnny would not say this.

“Father—” began Evan now, getting up from his position on the steps.

“Hush,” Gull said. “You’re my son. Your wife’s expecting a child. Nothing more need be said on the matter.”

“A pox on this!” The voice was Cathal’s, wretched, furious. “With every step the ripples widen to take in another! It’s not Felix who’s the ill luck man here, it’s me.”

Clodagh got to her feet, her anger almost palpable, and walked off down the garden without a word, hugging her shawl tightly around her. Cathal muttered something under his breath and strode off after her. Muirrin got up as if to follow, then sat down again.

“Biddy,” Johnny said, “I do understand what this means, both for those who go and for those they leave behind. Every time I send men into battle it is the same. You’ve cause to understand better than most, I know. But we’ve all had losses.”