‘Anyway, how I gain my knowledge doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you go upstairs, pack as lightly as you can, and go after her. She’ll only have a day’s head start on you. You may be able to catch her before too much damage is done.’

Lily begrudgingly accepted Uncle Alf’s evasion of her question, but promised herself that she’d ask him how he had acquired such extensive knowledge when she returned. Preoccupied with unease and the million questions spinning around her head, she rushed upstairs, grabbed her tattered travelling bag and threw it on her bed. She snatched a few warm dresses, a heavy woollen cloak, a few leather hair ties, and thick cotton scraps in case her courses came early; she didn’t know whether she’d be gone a couple of days or a couple of weeks and it never hurt to be prepared.

With her bag packed and slung over her broad shoulders, Lily sprinted downstairs and raided the kitchen and the apothecary stores for food and a few of her favourite tinctures and salves for minor injuries. She tucked a tiny bottle of anxiety-reducing smelling salts into the deep pocket of her dress, keeping it close at hand in case anything got too overwhelming.

The sun was yawning in the burnt autumn sky and dusk was chasing it away with his shroud of darkness. As Lily wrapped her cloak around her shoulders, her uncle reappeared, carrying an old leather-bound book. ‘This may come in handy, if it’s the same group as last time. When you’re alone and you’re sure that you’re not being watched, open it to page one hundred and thirty-seven. It may be more helpful than it initially appears, so be patient with it. Don’t allow your logical brain to stifle its true meaning.’ He passed the book carefully to her, and Lily examined the cover.

‘Fifty Folk Tales of the Shadow Lands and Beyond?’ She frowned, but didn’t question it any further when she saw the severity of her uncle’s face.

‘Just read it.’

Lily dropped it into her bag and fastened the bronze clasp, before passing the strap over her shoulder and securing it in place with a shaking hand. The bag felt double the weight with the addition of the book nestled amongst her vast collection of ‘essential’ belongings. The side of her mouth twitched in an attempt at a smile of gratitude, but her confidence and her courage were waning dangerously fast.

‘And here,’ Alf continued, ‘I’ve written some basic instructions that should get you to Kelseth – where to stop for the night, which stagecoaches to avoid, all those sorts of things. It’s the least I can do.’ Handing her a crumpled piece of paper, Alf also slipped a few coins into Lily’s hand. He closed his hands around hers and squeezed with the tender affection of a father.

‘I don’t know if I can—’

‘Alice needs you, Lily. Do it for her.’ Alf embraced her, a tear slipping from his eye and rolling silently down his bearded cheek. ‘Now go. Remember: page one hundred and thirty-seven.’