‘What about me?’ I say, catching up to Liam at the door and taking hold of him once again by the arm. ‘If something happens to you, then what will he do to me?’

He pauses, obviously not wanting to confront the thought.

‘You promised you wouldn’t let anything happen to me,’ I whisper, tears stinging my eyes.

He looks anguished for a moment, but then he pulls his arm from my grip, kisses me on the cheek, and vanishes through the door.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I follow him, scanning the view in front of the chapel. The graveyard is empty, and I can’t see any movement. There’s no sign of the man. Liam’s walked to the corner of the chapel’s front side and is peering around it. I tiptoe up behind him. Just then another brace of birds erupts into the sky at the rear of the chapel.

‘Stay here,’ Liam says to me in a whisper, before taking off towards the movement as fast as he can manage on his bad foot.

I ignore him and keep after him, crouching low and trying not to step on any leaves or twigs. We reach a large stone cross covered in moss, its words faded by time, and we duck behind it. Liam glowers at me for tailing him but then peeks out from behind the cross.

‘I see him!’ he whispers excitedly.

I glance past him and see the man walking at a pace away from the chapel grounds, making in the direction of the barrow and the woods. I can’t see his face as he’s striding away from us, but his hood is down, revealing wisps of dark hair. He must be about six foot or so and is and of average build.

‘He doesn’t have his gun on him,’ Liam whispers to me.

I look at the man’s hands, swinging by his sides. Liam’s right; the man’s unarmed. He isn’t carrying anything in his hands, at least. We watch him stride into the woods and then disappear from sight. Liam makes to go after him, but I snatch his sleeve and yank him back. ‘Where are you going?’ I ask.

‘He doesn’t have his gun!’ Liam repeats. ‘I could take him.’

I raise my eyebrows and widen my eyes in alarm. ‘Don’t be stupid. It’s too dangerous.’

Liam scowls at me, his mouth pursing tight. He glances after the man, weighing it up.

‘We don’t know if he might have another weapon,’ I whisper, almost frantic now. ‘And besides, you can barely walk!’

Liam’s shoulders slump. ‘You’re right,’ he concedes. His eyes shift as he contemplates his next move. He glances at me, an idea forming, his expression brightening. ‘Let’s go to the castle while he’s gone and find the gun. He must have left it there.’