‘You made it very obvious. Have you always worked for them, or did you turn against Foeless Landwalker only recently?’

‘Let’s say, for now, that they are part of the scheme too.’

‘Too much information,’ Dash Crow said.

‘He’s already guessed a good part of it,’ Intrepid said.

‘Better wind this up,’ the third man said. ‘Your ride will be here at any moment.’

‘I’m keeping track of the time,’ Intrepid said coolly, and told Pilgrim, Fragrant and Poppy that they could choose to come with him or be escorted back to the road by his companions and sent on their way.

‘Where will you take us if we agree to come with you?’ Poppy said.

‘To Ogres Grave, I suppose,’ Fragrant said.

‘Oh, a little further than that,’ Intrepid said.

Pilgrim, prickling at his sly silkiness, said, ‘What do you want from us? How can we be of help?’

‘If everything works out, you and your friends would be useful emissaries.’

‘And if it doesn’t work out you will not see your homes or the people you love ever again,’ Dash Crow said.

Pilgrim ignored him and stepped closer to Intrepid, planting his stick and leaning on it and looking straight at him, saying, ‘If you want our help, you can start treating us like equals, and give us answers instead of riddles.’

Intrepid looked at Dash Crow, who shook his head.

‘I want to tell you everything,’ Intrepid said. ‘Really I do. But this isn’t the time or place.’

‘But you’ll tell the truth if we choose to come with you,’ Pilgrim said.

‘As much of it as I can.’

‘All of it.’

‘As much as I can. A great deal isn’t mine to tell.’

‘So you are some kind of servant. No better than us.’

‘Did I ever claim to be anything else?’

‘If we choose to come with you, it won’t be as your prisoners, or some kind of prize. It will be because we are choosing to take the last step in a long and difficult search for the truth.’

‘They’re going to have to make that choice now,’ the third man said. ‘The ride’s about here.’

‘Are you ready to take that step?’ Intrepid said.

‘I can’t speak for my friends, but I’ve been ready a long time,’ Pilgrim said.

‘I’m not going to let you go on your own,’ Poppy said.

‘I suppose I must come too,’ Fragrant said.

‘You won’t regret it,’ Intrepid told them.

Dash Crow pointed at the black sky above the black and distant mountains. ‘Let’s hope none of us do. It’s here.’