“I wasn’t thinking of him,” said Ulfin. “I was thinking of me.”

“Of you? Ah, I see, you mean you’ll have to taste it first?”

He nodded.

“You have to try everything? His meals? Even love potions?”

“Love potions? For him?” He stared, open-mouthed. Then he laughed. “Oh, you’re joking!”

I smiled. “I wanted to see if you could laugh. Here we are. Wait now, I won’t be a minute.”

Cadal was waiting for me by the fire in my chamber. This was a comfortable room in the curve of a tower wall, and Cadal had kept a bright fire burning and a big cauldron of water steaming on the iron dogs. He had got out a woollen bedgown for me and laid it ready across the bed.

Over a chest near the window lay a pile of clothes, a shimmer of gold cloth and scarlet and fur. “What’s that?” I asked, as I sat down to let him draw off my shoes.

“The King sent a robe for tomorrow, my lord.” Cadal, with an eye on the boy who was pouring the bath, was formal. I noticed the boy’s hand shaking a little, and water splashed on the floor. As soon as he had finished, obedient to a jerk of Cadal’s head, he scuttled out.

“What’s the matter with that boy?”

“It isn’t every night you prepare a bath for a wizard.”

“For God’s sake. What have you been telling him?”

“Only that you’d turn him into a bat if he didn’t serve you well.”

“Fool. No, a moment, Cadal. Bring me my box. Ulfin’s waiting outside. I promised to make up a draught.”

Cadal obeyed me. “What’s the matter? His arm still bad?”

“It’s not for him. For the King.”

“Ah.” He made no further comment, but when the thing was done and Ulfin had gone, and I was stripping for the bath, he asked: “It’s as bad as they say?”

“Worse.” I gave him a brief version of my conversation with the King.

He heard me out, frowning. “And what’s to do now?”

“Find some way to see the lady. No, not the bedgown; not yet, alas. Get me a clean robe out—something dark.”

“Surely you can’t go to her tonight? It’s well past midnight.”

“I shall not go anywhere. Whoever is coming, will come to me.”

“But Gorlois will be with her—”

“No more now, Cadal. I want to think. Leave me. Good night.”