“I’ll try.” I ached to stand on tiptoes and kiss his cheek, to give him a hug, to tell him without words that I was sorry. To say that if I did one worthwhile thing in my life, it would be going to Laois and seeing Mathuin brought to justice, and that I had to take the chance Flannan had offered. And that I was leaving him behind, not because I did not want him, but because, in the long run, he would be so much better off without me. But if I touched him I would cry, and he would decide he couldn’t go to St. Olcan’s after all, and I wouldn’t be able to get away without him. “I hope the monks like your creatures. They don’t know how fortunate they are to have such fine work for their roof.”

Grim smiled. “Should be good luck for the place. For everyone who works in there. Scribes, scholars, folk that love books and learning. I’ll be getting on. Sooner I finish the work, sooner I’ll be back. You all right?”

“Fine,” I said. “Or as fine as I can be with this thing to do. See you later, then.”

He walked out the gate and was gone. Just like that. I pressed my lips tight together. You’re a warrior. Be strong. You managed just fine without him before, and you can now. I turned and walked back to the house. We would wait just a little, to be quite sure he was gone. Then we would head for the tower.

39

Grim

Shouldn’t take long. Want to do a proper job, not rush things, but all the same. Should be back at Geiléis’s by midday at the latest. Plenty of time. That’s what I’m thinking, walking up through the woods. Hear the bell ringing for Prime. Hear the thing in the tower wailing. Wonder if it knows today’s the day. If he knows. Poor fellow. Poxy life that must be. Two hundred years of it. Doesn’t bear thinking of. Not the best for her either. Lily. Geiléis, if it’s really her. Like being stuck in your worst nightmare forever, or what feels like forever. Having to listen to him and not being able to do a thing. The woman that thought up that spell was a nasty piece of work.

Been hoping I might catch sight of the wee folk, maybe have a word about what’s going to happen. But no; no sign of them today. They know, of course. That today’s Midsummer Eve. That Blackthorn’s going to give this a try. I talk to them anyway, going past the spot where I turned back once before.

“If you’re there, today’s the day. Hope it turns out well. Hope everything’s better for you, afterward. Hope you get your king back safe and sound. Kind folk, you are. Glad you showed yourselves to me. I’ll never forget that, not till the day I die.”