“But she could have told you,” Grim said. “You’re a wise woman. Strange things don’t scare you.”

“She might have reasoned that the more of the truth she told, the less likely I was to agree to do this for her. If it is the truth. It’s a bit hard to swallow. If she’s Lily, she’s known how to break the curse all along. And what would it say about her retainers, Senach and the others? Are they all more than two hundred years old as well? Bound to secrecy? What happens to them when the curse is broken?”

“Nothing in the manuscript about after,” said Grim. “Not the way Flannan told it.”

“Mm.” For me, what happened afterward wouldn’t matter. Flannan and I would be gone as soon as I’d completed the task. If Geiléis remembered to give me the bag of silver first, I’d leave it with Grim’s belongings. The weakest element of this plan was Grim’s dogged capacity for tracking me. In my heart, I knew he wasn’t simply going to let me vanish. I could fool myself all I wanted with the notion that he would go home and settle down and meet some nice woman; I could reassure myself with the established fact that he could find work wherever he wanted, and friends, and a home. But he wouldn’t. That was just the way it was.

“What?”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You sighed, like you were fed up with it all. Had enough. Wanting to go home.”

“Not yet. I came here to do a job and I’ll see it through. Can’t put all that training to waste, can I? But yes, I’ll be happy to be gone.” After a bit I added, “You?”

“You want an honest answer?”

“What sort of stupid question is that?” I blinked back sudden tears, furious with myself for losing control. Just as well it was dark. “When have I ever wanted you to tell a lie?”

“All right, then. I’d like us to be back home right now, and all this to be a bad dream. Same time, there’s been a good part about coming here. Two good parts. First, those little folk. Seeing them, real as the thumb on your hand. Talking to them. That was magic. Second, St. Olcan’s. The garden. The roof. The work, the brothers, teaching the young fellow. Hard for me to make myself do it. Tell you why another time. Thing is, it felt like I walked out into the light for a bit. Went somewhere I never thought I’d be again. Can’t say I’m sorry about that. Only thing is, the roof’s not finished. Still got the ridge to do, and the creatures. And Midsummer Eve’s the day after tomorrow.”

I wished I had not asked him the question. I wished Midsummer Eve was right now and I could just get this over with.

“You all right?” His deep voice in the shadows.

“Fine. Well, not exactly fine, but I’ll do. You never said. About St. Olcan’s.”