That made me think of Jilly, having lost her art because of the accident, and I gained a whole new sympathy for her. Jilly, who was lost somewhere in the otherworld.

“Are you all mute, as well as foolish?” Walker asked.

No one had said a word, and then I realized that was because we’d all agreed earlier that I was going to do the talking. I wanted to turn to the others and tell them that I’d changed my mind, but for Jilly’s sake, I found the courage to step forward. I tried to remember all the things my brother Christy had told me about situations such as this. I knew that being respectful was right near the top of the list. Foremost was, don’t get involved in this sort of thing in the first place, but it was already too late for that.

“I . . .”

I had to clear my throat.

“I’m sorry if we’ve disturbed you, sir,” I finally managed, “but we’re here on Lizzie Mahone’s behalf.”

He gave no sign of recognition, and I didn’t think the name registered at first.

“Lizzie,” he repeated.

“You told her she could call your name if she ever needed any help.”

Walker surveyed our small company.

“And yet she’s not here,” he said.

“I know. She’s—”

“And it doesn’t explain the reek of fairy. This is not a time when aganesha or their friends should be coming uninvited into our forests. And as things stand at the moment, that invitation would be a long time in coming.”

“We understand, sir,” I said. “We offer our condolences to you on the loss of your daughter.”

“Do you now?”

I swallowed thickly and nodded. That deep dark gaze of his studied me for a long moment.

“I thank you for that,” he finally said. “My daughter will be much missed.”

His gaze lifted to take in the others before returning to me.

“So, you are friends to Lizzie and to fairy,” he said.

“To Lizzie, yes,” I replied. “And I have often played music in Mother Crone’s court, but we seem to have gotten on the wrong side of the fairies—or at least some bogans. Nothing like what you’ve had to endure, but Lizzie’s cousin—Siobhan here—was assaulted by them, and now they’ve stolen away Lizzie and our friend Jilly.”

“Bogans,” Walker said, and there was a world of menace in his use of the word.

I nodded. “Possibly the same gang that has brought so much sorrow into your life.”

Walker gave a slow shake of his head and looked off into the woods.

“What can they possibly hope to gain with all of this?” he said.

I figured the question was rhetorical and waited until he looked back at me.