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well.”
    “There might be food,” coaxed Rhyll.
    “I’m not hungry,” Taine said. “In fact, I’m feeling rather ill. I’ll stay here to get some fresh air by the window. Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
    “Lady Belgrave wanted to see all three of you,” Renshaw said.
    Taine turned paler. He patted his stomach. “I’d hate to be sick in front of my lady,” he said.
    “Fine,” Renshaw growled at Taine. “But don’t go anywhere and don’t touch anything.”
    The squire led Ash and Rhyll into Lady Belgrave’s private chamber. When the doors clicked shut behind them with an eerie finality, Ash couldn’t help glancing over his shoulder and wishing he’d stayed with Taine.
    “Come in, children,” Lady Belgrave greeted them from her chair by the fire. She was dressed in a long, white robe with a woollen coat pulled lightly around her shoulders. Her dark curly hair was pulled back from her face and piled high on her head. Although Lady Belgrave smiled warmly at her visitors, Ash felt uneasy.
    He had never been so close to such a beautiful, powerful woman before. Nor had he felt more out of place than in these lavish surroundings. Despite his clean shirt, Ash felt dirty. He stared down at his muddy boots, wishing he’d taken the time to clean them.
    An elbow in the ribs from Rhyll made him look up. Ash cleared his throat and stepped forwards. He bowed stiffly, hoping he’d gotten it right. Beside him, Rhyll curtsied neatly, as if she’d been doing it all her life.
    Ash tried not to feel envious of Rhyll’s confidence.
    “Come closer.” Lady Belgrave waved to them. “Now show me this bird of yours.”
    Ash held the basket out so Lady Belgrave could peer inside. Gwaam hunched his shoulders and crouched down low, not enjoying the inspection.
    “Are you certain this is a phoenix?” Lady Belgrave asked in a stern voice. “It’s nothing like I expected.”
    “As certain as I, ah, can be.” Ash’s voice squeaked like a wheel that needed oiling. Renshaw made him nervous enough. Lady Belgrave made his throat seize up. “I know little about them myself, ah, as such things are forbidden ever since Lord Belgrave’s, ah, proclamation, my lady.”
    Lady Belgrave arched an eyebrow. She straightened up. “Indeed, you are correct, young Master Rover.”
    Rhyll cleared her throat. “The bird talks, Lady Belgrave,” she said. “It might talk to you directly if you speak to it.”
    Looking uncertain, Lady Belgrave leaned forwards in her chair to address Gwaam. “Tell me, bird, are you truly a phoenix?”
    Gwaam glanced up at Ash.
    “It’s fine,” Ash said. “You can speak.”
    Gwaam ruffled his feathers and turned his head towards Lady Belgrave. “It is true, my lady. I may not look much in my current state, but I am a phoenix that lives and dies then lives again.”
    “And do you possess magical powers, dear phoenix?”
    “Please, call me Gwaam. Aside from reincarnation, any powers I possess, I am forbidden to speak of.”
    Lady Belgrave frowned. “Since we are discussing forbidden subjects, I will tell you something. Once, when I was a girl, so that was a very long time ago,” she paused to smile momentarily, “I saw a phoenix, though it was much larger, much more colourful than you.”
    Ash and Rhyll both gasped.
    Did Lady Belgrave just admit to having knowledge of magical things? Ash wondered. What would her husband think?
    “I tell you this because I find it difficult to compare your sparrow-like features with the bird I saw,” Lady Belgrave finished.
    “It will not take me long to develop into a bird you would recognise as a phoenix, my lady. With proper care, of course.”
    “Of course,” Lady Belgrave replied, as if she knew precisely what Gwaam meant. She fixed Ash with a serious gaze. “Where did you find Gwaam?”
    Ash glanced at Renshaw. “Near my home, my lady. I found the egg, which Gwaam hatched out of.”
    “Very rare indeed.” Lady Belgrave nodded. “You must be a special