‘Greetings Guildmistress,’ Brydda called, striding over to join me. I schooled my expression and my mind as he beamed at me, saying, ‘I hear you have been down to the watchhut already this morning. You might have waited and ridden with us.’

‘I had arranged a meeting at dawn because I knew when everyone was leaving,’ I said. I gestured at his travelling attire. ‘But I thought you meant to stay until the moon fair.’

‘I am. Louis and I are only going as far as Enoch’s farm. Rushton is sending Louis down to lure Enoch up to Obernewtyn for the moon fair. You know that he and the old man are thick as thieves?’

I nodded.

‘I am going with him because Dardelan wanted me to question the old man about local robber bands, but it was too wet and late to stop in on the way up. I will send a missive down to Dardelan if there is anything to report.’

‘You might also send word to Dardelan from me to say that Radost’s daughter may well be headed to the lowlands to try to track down her father and brother. She fears they will come after her and Bergold if they are left to run loose. She has some notion of dealing with them herself. I have no idea what she has in mind. She may have gone to Kinraide first, to see how they escaped the Councilfarm, since she was convinced they must have had help, or she might go straight to –’

‘Sawlney,’ Brydda finished the sentence for me. ‘Don’t worry, Elspeth. Garth gave me an earful about Analivia last night and I have already scribed a note for Dardelan with a description of her, which I have given Elkar to deliver. I daresay Dardelan will recall her. She is not exactly easy to forget. You need not fear for her.’

‘The thought of her falling into Jude’s hands makes my blood run cold,’ I said.

‘Fair enough, but keep in mind that Analivia is no meek Ylane. And Dardelan has people watching Jude right now to see if there is anything he does that can be used to accuse him. They do so openly as a deterrent and I doubt he would dare hurt Analivia if she comes to him in public.’

‘And if she doesn’t approach him openly?’

‘Once Dardelan gets my message, he will most likely instruct his spy to watch out for her and divert her if he can.’

I nodded, though I had to bite my tongue not to protest against anyone being used as a spy, after what had happened to Domick. Then something else he had said struck me. ‘What will happen to Stephen Seraphim if Louis convinces Enoch to come up for the moon fair?’

‘I think Rushton hopes they will both come up,’ Brydda said.