“My dear, as I said, I did not expect you here, and I do not understand why you have come such a long way tonight, in darkness. It is a taxing ride for a woman; you should rest now, and leave this to the men of the household to settle. It is a sorry affair, scarcely fitting for a lady’s ears. I’m sure you are quite exhausted. A private corner, a warm fire…In the morning, I’ll explain all this. If my men have been a little overzealous, and left the Wolfskin with a bruise or two, it is only their distaste for the treachery he has demonstrated that drove them to it. Please allow me to escort you to your own quarters, my lady, as is appropriate.” He stepped forward, smiling.

“Appropriate?” Margaret’s tone was icy calm, the very echo of Somerled’s own. “I’m not sure we agree on the definition of that word, brother-in-law. Is it appropriate to attack a priest, even one of the Christian persuasion? Do you hear the rasp of that man’s breathing? Can you see how hard it is for him to stand upright? Shame on all of you. You have indeed become blind to the ways of justice, which my husband demonstrated so ably, the ways that we all observed at home in Rogaland. What is the Wolfskin’s offense? Why is he bound and shackled, he who was ever your most loyal companion? Tell us.”

Somerled frowned. “My lady, this is not at all—”

“Appropriate, yes, you told me. I want answers, Somerled. If you will not give them, perhaps Eyvind can tell me himself, if his sojourn in your custody has not taken away his power of speech.”

Somerled responded immediately. “Everyone knows what he did. He’s a liar and a traitor. Under my laws, a traitor pays with his life. There is no more to be said.”

“I see,” said Margaret coolly. “And I suppose, in this formal hearing, Eyvind has been allotted his time to speak? What account did he give of himself?”

“He confessed,” snapped Somerled. “He confessed to everything. The case is clear-cut. Alas, our old friend’s mind has been completely warped by the winter he spent in the custody of these island folk. He’s a danger to himself and to all of us. It saddens me to have to tell you this.”

Margaret took a step forward, and now Eyvind could see that there was somebody else standing behind her, a slight, dark-cloaked figure bearing some sort of burden in her arms. His scalp prickled; his heart leaped.

“What reason did you have for these actions, Eyvind?” Margaret asked quietly. “You were ever the bravest of warriors, and the truest. My husband held you in high esteem. Why did you try to stop the attack on the Whaleback?”

“It’s not necessary that we hear all this rubbish again—” put in Harald Silvertongue angrily.