The old man smiled. His face was small and narrow; his hair grey as ash, clipped short. He wore black gloves. Opening the bag, he took out the relics, laying them carefully on the table. ‘A device for far-seeing! I’ve heard of such a thing.’

He laid the Maker-gifts in a row, and Carys stared at them. She had no idea what most of them were: a green tube, a box with buttons on, a flimsy see-through cube. The old man’s hand paused in the bag. Raffi felt a sharp tingle of emotion from him, a shock of surprise. Then the black glove came out; it held the glass ball they had found long ago on the island.

‘What’s this?’ The old man looked up intently. ‘Where did you get this?’

Galen’s voice was grim. ‘I’ve never seen it before.’

The old man stared at him for a moment; then he sat on a wooden bench. ‘Shean,’ he said after a little while. ‘My name is Pieter Shean. I’m a Relicmaster of the Order of Keepers, as you are, Galen Harn.’

Galen’s face didn’t change. ‘Prove it.’

Shean shook his head. ‘What harm have they done us, my friend! But hear this.’ He said nothing, but Galen’s eyes widened briefly; he sat upright and Raffi felt the sudden surge of joy in him.

‘I have not heard a voice in my mind these three months,’ Galen muttered hoarsely.

‘I know it. I feel all the pain of it.’ The old man nodded to the swordsmen. ‘All is well. Go back out.’

The men went. One of them grinned at Carys and handed back her crossbow with a flourish. Annoyed, she snatched it. He wouldn’t smile if he knew who she was. Then she squashed the thought instantly. This Shean hadn’t lost his power. She’d have to be careful. And take a good look round.

The old man waved them to seats. ‘I’m sorry for your treatment. My men needed to be sure you weren’t Watchspies. Of you, keeper, I’m sure, and your boy, and the Sekoi have rarely harmed us. But who is this girl?’

‘Carys Arrin.’ Galen kept her quiet with a look. ‘We met her far from here, on the downs in our own country. The Watch took her father.’

Shean studied her carefully. ‘Did they? When?’

‘Months ago,’ she muttered. ‘I thought they might be bringing him here.’

‘I know of no prisoners brought from so far. It would be more likely they would take him to Arnk, or the Pits at Maar.’ He turned to Galen. ‘Are you sure of her? The Watch have so many spies.’

Galen was silent. Then he said, ‘I know her by now.’

‘We trust her,’ Raffi put in, unexpectedly. ‘She wouldn’t betray us.’

Shean nodded slowly. ‘Is that so, girl?’