‘I am glad to hear he is coming up for it. Does Lina know?’ I asked, for the girl had been at Obernewtyn the whole time he had been in the lowlands.

Zarak’s flush deepened. ‘I mean, I will ask her as soon as I can. I saw her on the farms, but she was too busy with the horses. I suppose I should have done it before speaking of it.’

I took pity on him and said I did not doubt that she would give him the answer he wished. Then I bade him go and fetch us food before he gave me an account of his father being made chieftain. Elkar went to help carry bowls and I felt a pang of regret at the knowledge that I would not be at Obernewtyn to see my ward bond. Cinda’s hand stirred in mine, reminding me that she was still privy to my emotions and thoughts, but she said nothing and soon the others returned bearing trays laden with fresh bread, jugs of steaming porridge and milk, bowls, knives and spoons and crocks of butter and honey. Ceirwan arrived soon after to say he had been unable to separate the teknoguilders from their precious books, so he had arranged to have food sent to them.

He was as surprised as I to see Zarak, and as he and Elkar set out the bowls and served the food, Ceirwan said to the farseeker, ‘I dinna see ye come in with the others.’

‘I went straight to th’ farms. Brydda wanted me to let his parents know that he was here and that he would come to see them later in the day. He said Katlyn would beat him if he gave her no warning to prepare a feast. And I had an urgent message for Alad from my father.’

And you were hoping to get a moment alone with Lina, I guessed. ‘How does your father like his new status?’ I asked, releasing Cinda’s hand with a smile, so that we could eat. I did not need to be touching her to keep a probe in her mind, or to manipulate the image of myself that I had conjured, of course.