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I’m not going on Enda’s boat,” said Jack. “Ossian wants me to go with him to Talisker.”
    â€œI’ll give the bandage to Fenrig, then. It could be useful having a selkie around. They know the waters here better than any of us.”
    However, when Ossian and Enda decided at noon that they had little option but to take to the boats and head north, the selkie woman was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œShe’ll have gone back to her people,” said Enda to Rana and Lizzie, who were looking anxiously for the selkie. “Her wound was a lot better after we used Gilmore’s bandage. Come on, we need to get going.”
    What had been planned as a reasonably gentle few hours’ sail to Nebula became a fraught marathon endeavour against surging swell and bitterly cold rain. Never had Jack thought that the sight of a rocky outcrop would be so cheering, but when Ossian ordered him ready to take the mainsail down, Jack knew they were safe. As they sailed up the coast Ossian kept a keen eye on the shore. Finally, he let out a whoop of joy as he saw a flare from a secluded bay. Turning the boat into shore, he guided the craft gently in.
    Jack turned round and was surprised to see the other boats continue up the coast, their mainsails still up.
    â€œWhere are they going? I thought we were going to get Caskill.”
    â€œWe’ll meet them up at Ardmore. That’s where the flag is. But we need to get the charmstone first. This is Talisker.”
    As the boat drifted in, Jack saw two figures huddled on the shore. The wind had died down, but it was still cold.
    â€œWe thought ye werenae comin’,” grumbled one of the shore figures as Ossian steered the boat in.
    â€œThe wind was up. Have we still time?”
    â€œOh aye. They’ll be there until it gets dark. An hour, anyway.”
    â€œJack, you come wi’ me. The others’ll meet us at the head of the loch later.”
    â€œCan’t I come?” wailed Morrigan.
    Jack had hardly noticed her throughout the day. She had spent the time hunched down as far out of the wind as she could get.
    â€œI want to show Jack this. You’ll be fine wi’ the others. See you in an hour or so.”
    Ossian, Jack and Telos clambered into the tiny rowing boat, and made the short distance to shore. As they made the shoreline, Ossian and Jack jumped out, leaving Telos to return to the main boat.
    â€œJack, meet Gilravage and Stram.”
    Jack waved as the two locals shouldered their knapsacks.
    â€œWhy d’you not want Morrigan to come?” Jack knew that she and Ossian had been well nigh inseparable since midsummer.
    â€œShe’s gettin’ on my nerves. Never leaves me alone.”
    â€œYe an’ yer girls.” Gilravage punched Ossian matily on the shoulder as they set off up a woodland track.
    â€œWhere are we going?” asked Jack. He was cold and tired, and wanted a hot meal more than anything.
    â€œTo get the charmstone,” answered Gilravage. “It’s no’ far. Least, the man that’s got it isnae.”
    â€œHow did you know we needed it?”
    â€œWe’ve been weeks arrangin’ this, Jack,” said Ossian. “D’you think we were just trainin’ all that time? I’ve been up here a couple o’ times sortin’ this out.”
    â€œSo who’s got the charmstone?”
    â€œA human,” growled Stram. “He’s an eejit. He’s no idea what he’s got.”
    â€œOssian,” whispered Jack as Gilravage and Stram strode ahead. “They are Seelie, aren’t they? I mean, this whole thing is about being Seelie.”
    â€œDoesn’t mean you can’t get the humans that deserve it. This guy’s a real prize – you’ll see. And anyway, we’re stuffed if we don’t get this charmstone.”
    With that, Ossian jogged to catch up with his friends, leaving Jack to bring up the rear.
    They had walked