‘I understand that you have lost your master’s papers,’ he said. ‘As well as an unusual map that you found in an abandoned library. They were confiscated by the constable of the little town in the far south where you were exiled for injuring a person. For striking him around the head with a bag of rocks and blinding him. I’m surprised. You have always seemed like such an ordinary person.’

Pilgrim didn’t see the point of replying, and felt a fresh plunge of disappointment. It was possible that Intrepid had learned about the map from the women, but the details about his violation of the Mother’s grace could only have come from Gentle. His friend had sold him out. Given up everything he knew.

‘We have a copy of Master Able’s manuscript,’ Intrepid said. ‘But the map is something new. An interesting little mystery. Am I right in thinking that it appears to show contact with bears, before their fall? Do you think it genuine?’

‘I believe that it is a genuine copy of something older.’

Intrepid smiled. ‘That’s a tricky answer. Having lost it, do you think you can get it back?’

‘I intend to.’

‘If you can, and if you bring it to me, I promise a suitable reward. Something you have been hoping to find out, perhaps.’

‘Free Gentle first.’

‘Foeless wants to make an example of him. I can’t help him, but I can help you.’

‘Then let me talk to Foeless. I’ll tell him that the map is proof that the visitors are real, and have been coming here for a long time. That it doesn’t challenge his claims to be their messenger but reinforces them. I’ll even offer to help you write a pamphlet about it.’

‘I’m afraid that I am no longer in the pamphlet business.’

There was that playful amusement again. The implication that Intrepid knew far more than he was revealing. Very different from the times they had met before, when Intrepid had made so much of very little, and it had been difficult to stop him explaining why he was right and everyone else was wrong. This time he was dropping hints, waiting to see if Pilgrim caught them.

Pilgrim said, ‘It sounds as if you no longer believe in Foeless. If you ever did.’