‘You mock me, but I tell you, there is no place in all the world which they have not seen, have not explored, have not interfered with. The Jaghut were right to oust the one they found hiding in their midst. You might think us Thel Akai immune, but there is no telling if an Azathanai hides among us – they choose the flesh they wear, you know—’

‘Well, that is nonsense, Tathenal,’ said Ravast, leaning back again and closing his eyes. ‘Were they as you say, they would not be mortal – they would be gods.’

‘Gods? Well, why not? We worship the rock-gods—’

‘No we don’t. We just blame them when things go wrong.’

‘And when we are blessed we thank them.’

‘No. When things go right, we congratulate ourselves.’

‘Oh, cynical child, does this fresh world so weary you? Are you left exhausted after uncovering all the world’s truths? Will you slouch and slide your jaded eye upon all the fools whose company you are cursed to endure?’

‘You mock my tolerance. It is only my youthful vigour that sustains me.’

‘The Azathanai built this, only to knock it down – not even a Thel Akai could so push these stones, uprooting them like this. I see about us the echoes of old rage. For all we know, our very own rock-gods were Azathanai.’

‘Then it is well that we lost faith.’

‘She hasn’t.’

Ravast frowned at that, and then sat up. ‘I would venture the opposite! It is no faith that makes anyone face death and only death. It is, if anything, surrender. Abjection. There is not a fool to be found who would worship death.’

‘Ah, but she marches not to kneel before the Lord of Rock-Piles, but to war against him.’

‘Might as well beat against a mountainside.’

‘Just so,’ Tathenal said, looking at the rubble around them.

‘There will be no Azathanai among the Jaghut’s company,’ Ravast said. ‘I suspect no more than a handful of fools. Other Jaghut, bound only by some kind of loyalty to the grieving brother. Perhaps a few Dog-Runners, eager to find a song in the deed. And we Thel Akai, of course, for whom such a summons is too outrageous to refuse.’

‘We refused it.’

‘In the name of flocks to keep, gardens to tend, nets to weave. And yet, Tathenal, look at us, here on this trail.’

‘We pursue her to bring her back. With weapons of reason, we will convince her—’

‘Hah! Idiot! She’s but extended our leashes, and knows the patience of the mistress. Look at us here, playing at freedom! But soon we will resume this trek, and she will take up the slack.’

There was a loud grunt from Garelko and they turned to see the man bolt upright, eyes wide. ‘Ah!’ he cried. ‘I dreamed a dragon!’

‘Was no dream, you fool,’ Tathenal said. ‘We met the beast this morning, and saw it off.’

Garelko squinted across at Tathenal. ‘We did? Then it was all real?’