“Earth lives in all gnomes. Water flows through every undine and Air exists in all sylphs. But Fire burns in only a few goblins and must go somewhere when its vessel is destroyed. Toad Holm realized this far too late and the last Flame Binder was swollen with purging Magic before they saw their mistake. If he were to die, what would happen? Would Fire be forever extinguished, destroying the balance of the Elements? That could mean the end of all things. Or would it return to the core of the world, free from goblin bondage and back to its rightful keepers? Not even the wisdom of the elves could answer those questions, for their hold on this world was already dwindling. So the Flame Binder was imprisoned until the riddles could be solved.”

“Which is why King Blackmud went underground,” Deglan said. “Not just to bring Ghob to justice, but to see if he still held the dragons enslaved.”

“Yes,” Curdle replied. “Other solutions were sought and--”

Deglan grabbed Curdle’s arm, cutting off his words and pointing up the trail. Blink was running forward and coming towards her at a run was the shaggy grey shape of one of Madigan’s dogs.

“Only one?” Curdle said, concern etched across his brow. It was several hours before dusk and the dogs always waited together when it was time to make camp.

Deglan just shook his head and hurried to catch up to Blink. When they came up, they found it was Panic, panting heavily. Blink tried to pet her, but every time the little girl reached out the dog bounded several paces up the trail before turning back to look at them. Blink turned to Deglan and Curdle, and raising her arm, she pointed down the trail.

“We are to follow the dog,” Curdle said.

“Thanks,” Deglan wrinkled his face at the hobgoblin. “I needed a mind reader to work that one out.”

Panic took off at a swift pace as soon as they stepped towards her, Blink hurrying behind. Deglan’s pack jostled around uncomfortably as he ran to keep up. The dog kept pulling well ahead, often vanishing around curves in the trail. Blink was never far behind, and each time the girl was lost from sight, Deglan used the worry to quicken his feet. They would find dog and child waiting, looking back down the trail, but no sooner did Deglan and Curdle come into view and they were off again.

At last, Deglan rounded a bend to find Blink and Panic waiting far up the trail, but they did not look back for him. They were turned towards the forest. Winded and sweating, Deglan plodded to a stop next to the girl and looked where she did. A path a blind man could follow was cut through the trees, snapped limbs lying next to a wide furrow ploughed through the carpet of fallen leaves.