‘You are probably right,’ said Conn. ‘Yet the Sea Wolves also raid for women, and there are a great many young women in Seven Willows.’
‘Indeed there are. And five earth maidens who would fetch fabulous prices on the slave stalls of Stone. Then there is the question of ransom . . .’ Phaeton suddenly grinned. ‘However, young Connavar, I think your problems are rather closer to home. It is said you have made an enemy of Fiallach.’
Conn shrugged. ‘He is a brute and I do not like him.’
‘Yes, he is a brute, and a powerful one. I would not want him for an enemy. Perhaps marriage to Tae will soothe his savage nature.’
‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ said Conn. ‘I intend to marry her myself.’
‘I think the days ahead will be lively,’ observed Phaeton. ‘I am sorry I won’t be here to see them.’
For three more days Conn scouted the surrounding land. He saw little of Tae. He glimpsed her once, walking with Fiallach, and on another occasion riding far off to the west. But she did not come near him. He could not understand it. They had seemed on the verge of something that first morning in the woods. Or at least he thought they were. Now he was unsure.
Phaeton had left that morning, leading a string of more than twenty ponies carrying his merchandise. Conn had wished him good luck on his journey, and walked to the Long Hall to make his final report to the Lady Llysona. Three chairs had been set in a line and the Lady, dressed in a long, dark blue gown, was sitting in the centre. Fiallach and Tae, both dressed for riding, sat with her. Fiallach looked calm, and even smiled as Conn approached. Tae kept her head down and did not look at him. Conn bowed to the Lady Llysona and offered his report and recommendations.
They listened without interruption, and when he had finished the Lady Llysona thanked him for his diligence, and promised to consider carefully all he had said. Fiallach said nothing, and still Tae did not meet his eyes.
It seemed a curious end to his mission, flat and unfulfilling.
‘So, you will be leaving us today?’ said the Lady Llysona.
‘As soon as Parax returns, my lady.’
‘May the gods grant you a safe journey home.’
Conn bowed once more and returned to the sunlight. Tae had not once looked into his face, and he was struggling to contain his anger. His mood was not lifted by the non-arrival of Parax, who had ridden out early, as he had done every morning, to scout for sign of the pony with the chipped hoof. Parax had tried to track it from the shoreline back into Seven Willows, but cattle had been driven over the trail and the earth was badly churned. Conn understood how vexing the failure was to an expert tracker, but it no longer mattered and he was anxious to be away from the settlement.
By midday his frustration gave way, and he left a message with the fat housekeeper, Dara, to tell Parax he had headed east and to follow at his leisure. Tae had not bothered to come and say goodbye, and, as far as Conn was concerned, this was the final discourtesy. He tried unsuccessfully to push her from his mind, and felt that leaving Seven Willows would aid him. But an hour later, camped high in the woodland overlooking the distant settlement, he still kept running their last meeting over and over in his mind. Had he said something to offend her? He could not recall any such comment.
The wind was fresh and cold and, bored now, Conn lit a fire. Where, in the name of Taranis, was Parax?
Storm clouds drifted across the afternoon sky, bringing with them darkness and cold. The firelight cast dancing shadows on the wide trunk of an old oak. Conn blinked. A trick of the light made the bark seem to quiver and flow.
Then features began to form in the wood, becoming the face of an old man with long flowing beard and bristling brows. ‘You are not at peace, Connavar,’ said a voice, deep and sepulchral.