“I will not linger at Muredach’s court,” I say. “I regret greatly that I cannot take the ill news to my parents. Duke Remont is not a just ruler. He is greatly influenced by the local bishops, whom I angered by speaking too freely. My presence would, at the very least, lose my father the position he has held for twenty years. It could cost him even more dearly. I cannot take that risk. I suppose I must dispatch a letter.” Such a letter is long overdue for writing. I have not been able to bring myself to do it.

Sigurd clears his throat.

“We have a proposal to put to you, Felix,” Johnny says.

I find I do not care very much what his proposal is. After my interview with Ciarán I feel shattered and weary, caring little for the future. “Yes?” I say.

“Sigurd will explain it to you.”

“You remember we spoke of my Armorican comrade, Corentin,” Sigurd says. “A close member of the Inis Eala team; a valiant, fine man and a great friend to me. Since we had that talk, I’ve been thinking how good it would be to know how he’s getting on and whether he managed to win back his family holdings. I’ve explained to Johnny what you told me, that the region where your folk live is close enough to the place where Corentin was headed when he went back there. Johnny’s given me leave to come with you, Felix. It’ll lighten the job of getting Donn and Colm safely back to Munster if there are two of us. I was thinking, if you’re not set on staying at the court there, that we might find a ship for Armorica.”

I am about to interrupt with my reasons why this cannot happen, but Sigurd holds up a hand to silence me.

“I know why you’re reluctant to go, and I respect that, Felix. But the thing is, Corentin’s most likely a wealthy landholder now, an influential man in the region. Even if you can’t get back to your home, if we find him he’ll be well-placed to get a personal messenger to your parents, someone who can break the news kindly. If your father can travel, we can probably arrange a safe meeting. We’re Inis Eala men, Corentin and I. We’re expert at organizing this kind of thing.” After a moment he adds, “I’d like to see him again.”

His big, blunt features are softened by a look that disarms me completely. And, after all, I have nowhere else to go. Not now. Ten years of nothing loom ahead.

One thing troubles me. “My brother came with me to Erin,” I say, “and on to the north, to watch over me. For his care of me, Paul paid with his life. I would not have the same fate befall another good man.”