I squeezed some lemon into the mug of steaming honey water on the tray and drank a sip of the sweetened liquid, only half listening to her chatter, so it took a moment for me to notice when she had changed the subject and begun talking about gypsies camped in the White Valley.

‘Twentyfamilies gypsies?’ I asked sharply, thinking of Swallow.

‘One older purebred woman and one younger halfbreed woman with different-coloured eyes,’ she answered. ‘Ceirwan says the younger might be the gypsy you rescued from the Herder flames ages back because she had eyes like that.’

Iriny, I thought, certain he was right, for I had never met another person with such eyes. It was my rescue of Iriny that had led to my first meeting with Swallow, who was her halfbrother. I had not seen the gypsy woman since our unexpected meeting atop Stonehill on the west coast, when she had told me that Swallow had revealed to her that I was the Seeker referred to in the ancient promises. She had explained gravely that he had told her about me because the time of the fulfilment of the promises was near.

Hearing this, there had been no doubt in my mind that Swallow had permitted his halfsister to cross the Suggredoon because he had known I would need her help. Either the gypsy seers had foreseen it, or Swallow had learned of it from the Agyllians, who had contacted him on other occasions when I had needed help. He would have come himself, Iriny had told me, save that his councillors had forbidden it, saying he could not risk himself until he had fathered an heir. I did not know what command Swallow had given his sister, but after telling me she knew I was the Seeker, Iriny had vowed to serve me in whatever capacity I required. True to her word, she had helped me to find the clue left by Cassy on Stonehill, and she had risked her life to help me get the plague-stricken coercer Domick out of Halfmoon Bay before his sickness became contagious.

‘I might ride down to the White Valley to see what news these gypsies have,’ I said, as much to myself as to Aras.

‘Today?’ she said, glancing askance at the window where rain still fell in a constant grey curtain. I followed her gaze, noticing that day had dawned without my realising it.

‘Maybe not today,’ I murmured, and broke off because I felt Ceirwan farseeking me.

‘Elspeth, three riders have just come galloping through the front gate. We had no warning from the watchhut because of the rain. I am headed for the front entrance now.’

I stood up at once, sending that I would meet him in the entrance hall, my spirit leaping like a mountain salmon at the thought that Rushton might be one of the riders.