‘That … that was you?’ Lily croaked, suddenly aware that she was facing the person who had risked his own life to save hers. A total stranger. She sat on the bed, brow furrowed. She had been convinced that it really had been death pulling her away, holding her under the water. It hadn’t occurred to her for one moment that someone else had saved her from drowning.

The boy smiled humbly, crow’s feet appearing around his sea-glass eyes. ‘It was, and you were very nearly dead when I dragged you onto the beach. Before I ask you questions about why exactly you chose the middle of a storm to row a boat out here, and before I allow you to bombard me with the questions that I can see are threatening to burst out of you at any moment, there are just a few more checks I need to do. If you’ll allow…’ He stepped closer to where she sat and knelt in front of her, so that their faces were at the same level. He popped the paper bag down beside her and gestured for her to open it. Hesitantly she lifted one edge and saw that there was a thick slice of bread, some cheese, and an apple inside it. Her stomach grumbled involuntarily. ‘Help yourself, once I’ve checked you over.’

The boy reached out a hand to lift her arm and inspect the bruises. Lily felt an overwhelming awkwardness and she flinched, cringing away from him. For a reason she couldn’t quite understand, she was unable to meet his gaze. He withdrew his hand and gave her what she thought might have been his attempt at a reassuring smile.

He was competent and swift with his inspections of her eyes, her throat and the bruises that covered her arms, chest, and jaw. He sat back on his heels and nodded, apparently satisfied that she wasn’t about to keel over and die any time soon.

‘Right, well, other than a few nasty bruises and a rather angry-looking throat, I think you’re pretty much unscathed. Which is, quite frankly, miraculous. I’ll see if we can rustle up some kind of honey-drink to soothe your throat and I think I have some leftover salves for those bruises. You’ll be fighting fit in no time. Now, I believe you had a few questions?’ He sat where he was, on the floor, and gazed at her with wide, patient eyes.

‘Firstly, where am I?’ Lily croaked. She reached tentatively into the paper bag and pulled out a very soft, cloudlike slice of bread. The crust she thought might be too risky for her throat, so she started deconstructing the edges while the boy answered.

‘I thought that would’ve been obvious,’ he remarked, but then he caught sight of Lily glaring at him, without mercy, and continued. ‘We are in Kelseth lighthouse. And no, it isn’t haunted, but don’t let anyone else hear you say that. We rely on the lore around here to keep us safe.’