‘What if I asked you to take me to Estwael?’ asked Clariel, suddenly struck with a guilty, but almost overwhelming desire to get to the Great Forest, to the only place she truly felt at home. If she could get there, then somehow everything that had happened could be dealt with, or the effects lessened. ‘We could fly there, couldn’t we?’

Bel didn’t answer for a moment.

‘I suppose we could fly there,’ he said. ‘Though chances are we’d get lost. As it is, I can only find my way to Hillfair by flying west by the sun till we see the Ratterlin, and then follow that south. The flying part is relatively easy. The navigating is hard.’

‘We could follow the Yanyl from the Ratterlin,’ said Clariel. ‘It rises close to Estwael.’

Bel shook his head.

‘I’m sorry, but I’m under orders from Kargrin and Gullaine. I have to take you to the Abhorsen. Besides, you probably wouldn’t be safe in Estwael. Kilp controls all the royal officials in the towns.’

‘I would be safe in the Great Forest,’ said Clariel. She hesitated for a moment, before adding, ‘I really don’t want to go to the Abhorsens.’

‘The Abhorsen is your grandfather,’ said Bel tentatively. ‘I guess … he would be your closest relative … uh … now –’

‘I have my aunt Lemmin in Estwael,’ snapped Clariel. ‘And I’m old enough to live on my own anyway.’

‘Yes, of course,’ muttered Bel. ‘It’s just that with your mother being declared Queen by Kilp and everything –’

‘My mother is dead,’ said Clariel bleakly. ‘But I understand. I am a card to be played, and Gullaine and Kargrin and probably my grandfather too wish to hold me in their hand.’

‘I would take you to Estwael if I could,’ protested Bel. He half twisted around to look at her before a sudden sharp pain reminded him why he couldn’t. ‘If the Abhorsen lets me, I’ll fly you there. I promise.’

‘If he lets me,’ said Clariel. ‘There is small chance of that.’

Bel didn’t answer. After a moment, seeing his downcast head and slumped shoulders, Clariel added, ‘But thank you. If the opportunity arises, I will take you up on your offer, and have you fly me away again. But I fear that it might need to be more of an escape than anything. If you don’t think you can fly me there now, I doubt things will be different later.’

‘You never know,’ said Bel. ‘Just like it says in The Book of the Dead, “Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?”’

‘What does that mean?’ asked Clariel. ‘And what is The Book of the Dead? You mentioned it once before.’