Chel leaned back next to her. The fading sun was almost warm as the air temperature dropped. Already small lights were sparkling around the squat, domed buildings above them, the smoke from two dozen hearths blending with the darkening sky. ‘Well, now you’ve met us. You can see we’re nothing to worry about. Why not let us be on our way?’

‘You have, perhaps, somewhere you need to go?’

‘Yes. Some people we need to see, in other cities. About … a festival.’

Her look was half reproach, half maternal indulgence, her eyebrows rising high enough to crack her pristine maquillage. ‘Dear boy, please do not take me or my peers for fools. We have steered this family for a generation, against the machinations of better liars than you. I have already made it plain, you will be staying with us, at least until we can send word to your mother that you are in our care. After that, we will see.’

He was no longer listening, his heart sinking through his gut like a lead fist. He was being held prisoner, little better than the cells of Black Rock. Rennic was somewhere within the walls, no less caged. If their visit to Merenghi was a bust, they needed to move on as fast as possible. As Rennic had said, there were other stops to make before they hauled east to the river crossing. Take too long about it and they’d miss the first moon, and the rest of the company with it. He offered up a silent prayer that the others were faring better than he was.

‘At least … At least release my friend, let him continue our journey. He is of no concern to you. He’s a northerner. I think.’

She shook her head. ‘Your associate will remain with us for the time being, until we understand his motives, and he ours. The trouble with the kind of people in his profession,’ she said, her silver-fluted eyes boring into him, ‘is that they can say one thing to your face, yet do something entirely different the moment they are out of view. It’s best to keep them where you can see them, I find.’ She moved off down the path again. ‘This way.’

She led him back indoors, Urbu still dogging their every step, up a wide, wood-finished staircase to a room on the upper floor. The shutters were already drawn and bolted, a small fire kindling in the hearth, a candle on a narrow table. ‘This will be your room for the time being. I don’t think you are ready to eat with the rest of us yet; I will have your meal sent up.’