Inside, he was conveyed none too gently to the quarters where he had once slept with his fellow Wolfskins, but nobody seemed to be prepared to unfasten the tight bonds that tied his hands behind his back, nor to tend to the cuts and bruises on his face, nor to offer a clean tunic or a bowl of fresh water. He waited, standing very still in the center of the room while his captors conferred in low voices. A hearing, he thought, that would be the next thing. They’d lock him up for a while, and then he’d have to walk out in front of everyone and say what he had to say with neither evidence nor witnesses. This wasn’t how it was meant to be; he’d just have to do his best. At least he was buying time for Nessa. He wondered where she was now. He wished she would slip onboard a fishing boat and go off to the outer islands, where Somerled’s hand had not yet tightened its grip on her people. This new king would be busy enough establishing his realm of Hrossey without turning his attention to the far-flung remnants of the Folk on Sandy Island or West Island or the smaller, remoter places. But Nessa wouldn’t go; he knew her. She was a leader. She would not rest until she had completed the task she had spoken of. He hoped it would not bring her here to the settlement. He did not want her to be here, so close to Somerled.

“Right,” said a voice from the entry. “The king wants to see him straightaway. In his own quarters. Alone.”

“Alone?” Gudbrand scowled. “That’s hardly wise. A guard or two inside the chamber, surely?”

“Alone, and now,” said Thorvald, who had brought the message. “That’s what he said.”

At the entry to Somerled’s private quarters, which had once been his brother’s, stood Holgar and Erlend, one on either side of the doorway. Erlend stepped forward, seizing Eyvind by the arm, and jerked his head at Gudbrand in dismissal.

“That’ll be all,” he snarled.

Gudbrand hesitated; perhaps his mind was on the reward.

“What’s the matter? Lost your hearing suddenly?” Holgar loomed up behind Erlend, frowning ominously, and all at once there was nobody left but the three Wolfskins.

“Says he’ll see you on your own,” Erlend muttered, avoiding Eyvind’s eye. “Not very sensible, if you ask me.”

“Just don’t try anything.” Holgar’s voice had an edge to it; he seemed ill at ease, jumpy. “We’ll be right outside the door. No tricks. We know them all.”

The length of thick woollen cloth that hung across the entry was drawn aside.