Fang had finished her unexpected meal, and now made a mighty leap onto the pallet. She circled three times, as was her habit, then settled by Ardal’s side with a contented sigh. His long fingers moved to rest on the small warmth of her curled-up body. There was a softening of his features as he watched her; a stirring of something in his eyes. The skin of his hand was scarcely darker than the dog’s white hair.

“A long day,” Gull observed.

“For all of us,” I said.

“No storytelling tonight?”

While I was giving this some thought, I saw Gull stifle a huge yawn.

“I’ll sit up with Ardal awhile,” I said. “Why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll wake you if I need you.”

“Sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“One or two things Ardal and I need to get done first. You’d best turn your back awhile.”

I took a candle and went to my chamber while Gull tended to Ardal’s personal needs. I set the candle down on the storage chest, where its flame guttered in the chill draft from under the door, illuminating the charcoal runes I had marked on the walls. Something nudged at my mind. It had been a rune-marked timber from the Norse ship that had borne Ardal to safe shore, that and Manannán’s mercy. Perhaps this was not a night for storytelling, but for a divination.

Moving the candle, I opened the chest and lifted out the bag that held my rune rods. There were twenty-four of them, crafted by my hands and consecrated with my blood. Folded around them in the bag was my ritual cloth of plain linen. Feeling the weight of them, the comforting solidity, I thought they might have some answers for me.

“Sibeal? We’re done here.”

Back in the infirmary, Gull was poring over the pan before taking it out to the privy. Ardal lay quiet, eyes open, hand curved around the little dog. His face was ash-pale.

“Any improvement?” I asked Gull in a murmur.

“Looks much the same. He needs to keep drinking water. The more the better. Washes the poisons out.” Another yawn. “I’ll just go and empty this, and then I’ll be off to bed. If you’re sure.”

“We’ll be fine.”

While he completed his errand, I took out the ritual cloth and spread it flat in front of the fire. I sat cross-legged before it, watching the shadows on the pale linen as the flames danced on the hearth. Gull came back in, barred the door, wished me good night and settled on his shelf bed. Ardal lay still; perhaps he too would sleep soon. I breathed in a slow rhythm. Inwardly, I repeated a short prayer. My mind gradually opened to a state in which it could receive the wisdom of the divination.