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      The question finally settled the man’s doubts and he answered then without hesitation. “My name is Sir Thomas Starkey, but it was a true queen who knighted me, Madeleine herself. Now that a usurper sits on her throne I refuse to use the title she gave me. People call me Starkey, and nothing more. I prefer it that way, until the false king is overthrown. I have dedicated my life to that end.”

      His compelling eyes bored into Marcel as he paused. “Are you sure you haven’t heard of this king? His name is…” Again he halted, watching Marcel’s face while he pronounced the word. “His name is Pelham.”

      “No, I have never heard the name before,” Marcel assured him immediately.

      “What of Princess Eleanor, then? Does that name mean nothing to you? Or Prince Damon?”

      He was supposed to know them, or why else would the man ask? Marcel’s misery narrowed his throat, so that he could answer only with a shake of his head.

      “This is an amazing thing,” said Starkey, stroking his chin.

      A movement behind Marcel made him spin around, afraid that one of the orphans had strayed into the orchard after all.

      “Hector,” Starkey whispered urgently, “join me here and don’t say a word.”

      To Marcel’s surprise, a man appeared from among the apple trees behind him. This was the second dark figure he had seen scamper from the forest, a much shorter man but strongly built like a fighting dog and, it must be said, with a face to match. Heavy brows hooded his eyes, which were little more than slits, and half of his left ear was missing. A longbow protruded from behind his shoulder, and hanging from his waistband, beside his sword, was a quiver full of arrows, each fletched in the same colours as the one that had so nearly pierced the sack of apples. The man lingered and Marcel heard him take a sharp breath, as though he intended to speak in defiance of his master. But he changed his mind and climbed silently over the wall to stand behind Starkey, scanning all directions at once.

      Starkey’s hand continued to work at his stubbled chin.

      “This is a terrible crime Lord Alwyn has committed against you. I can barely believe it, even of him. Such an evil spell could only have been ordered by Pelham himself, I’m sure of it.”