A joyous howl answered her and she rushed towards it, pushing her way through the crowds. Though her status should have got them to part at her approach, her size counted against her, most of the adults not even noticing someone was there until she had gone past.

She was almost to the outer gate when she finally slipped free of them and walked straight into a wall of white fur. Chandni let herself sink into its softness and wrapped her arms as far around the Dogkin’s body as she could. Glider’s great head came to rest on her chin.

‘I’ve missed you,’ she said, and was rewarded with a nuzzle. ‘I’ve been worrying ever since we parted ways. You were in such a state! Now, let me look at you.’

Glider sat back and Chandni scrutinized her. If anything, the Dogkin was even bigger than she remembered. A bite scar under her chin, with a matching one above Glider’s left eye. The eye itself, the human one, seemed undamaged. In fact better than before: the film had gone from it, and she noticed for the first time that it was blue.

‘The Wild changed us all,’ she whispered.

They stared at each other for a while.

‘I am so delighted to see you, Glider. You look magnificent.’ Glider raised her chin proudly. ‘Is Varg here?’

The Dogkin barked affirmatively, and then raised a paw to point.

She spun round to see Varg standing just a few feet away. His beard was trimmed shorter than she remembered, making him look less feral. A decade and a half had added lines to his face, weathered his pale skin still further, but otherwise he was unchanged. His hands flexed at his sides but he stayed where he was. Locked in place as the flush rose in his cheeks.

He wanted to come to her, that was clear, and she wanted to go to him too, but it would not do, not here in the courtyard with everyone watching. ‘Welcome to Lord Rochant’s castle,’ she said politely, as she would to any stranger. ‘When did you arrive?’

‘Just got here. I was trying to puzzle out the best way to get a message to you and then Glider started barking. I, uh …’ his hands twitched again, and she saw he was holding a small painted stone – the last piece of mosaic. ‘Pari kept me busy, more than usual, so it took longer to come see you than I’d like. But I wanted to come, and now … I still … shit …’ She winced and his blush darkened. ‘Sorry, Chand. Old habits. I stand by what I said, before, you know? About being with you.’

‘Oh Varg.’