Tomos lay on his stomach. Seren sat very still. They both knew something tremendous was going to happen next.

The Crow was still a moment, as if remembering. Then he said, ‘The lake was dark and the stars were glinting on the water. Ripples started to lap against the shore. I felt as if all the magic of the garden was being somehow gathered together; my skin tingled, my scalp shivered. And then, in complete silence, I realised that seven swans were swimming towards me out of the dark. Six of them were pure white, but the seventh, the one at the back, was deepest black. Its neck was long and graceful. Its eyes were glimmers of anger. And around its neck was a collar of sparkling diamonds.

‘I simply couldn’t move.

‘Then the Swan spoke.

‘She said, “Mortal. You have trespassed in my garden.” Her voice was cold and went through me like steel. “Who are you? And how do you dare to steal from the Midnight Swan?”

‘That was my chance. I should have explained, of course. Said sorry. Grovelled even, I suppose … but I was a very foolish young man. A little vain. Boastful. I have of course changed utterly since then.’

Seren nodded, solemn.

‘So I drew myself up, rather haughtily, and said, “Madam Swan. I had no idea this was your garden. But I assure you, I am prepared to pay for the rose.”

‘It was a bad mistake.

‘The Swan’s head darted out at me. Its eyes were black with fury. “I don’t sell my friends, mortal. But yes, you’ll certainly pay for the rose. With your life.”

‘I wanted to step back, but it was impossible. I couldn’t move a muscle. The Swan heaved itself out of the water. It was enormous! It stood over me and spread its wings wide and they were so black! It was as if all the darkness in the world was in them. It stretched out its neck and hissed and all the other swans came and gathered about me in a terrible circle. I knew they would peck me to death in seconds so I shouted, “No! Wait. WAIT!”

‘I had no idea really what I was saying. But my remarkable brain must have been working because I gasped, “Don’t kill me! Let me bring you something instead! The thing you want most in all the world! Let me find it for you!”

‘The Swan drew back. It tipped its head. Those eyes! So powerful and strange. And for a moment I was sure I saw something else in them. A terrible sadness.

‘The swans waited.

‘I waited.

‘Suddenly the black Swan waved the others away. When they had rustled back to the lake I breathed a huge gasp of relief. “What I want most?” the Swan snapped. “How do you know what that is?”

‘“You can tell me, Majesty. Jewels, gold, anything, I can find them.”

‘It hissed a laugh of scorn. “A poor schoolmaster promising me such treasures.” It put its black eyes very close to mine and I shivered. “I have jewels. I have gold. But yes. There is one thing I want more than anything in the world.”