He shook his head. ‘I realised at once that having Dragon with us must be the key to four ships being able to bring about the downfall of the slavemasters of the Red Land, since all true dreams of Matthew have made it clear that the enslaved people of the Red Land will not rise until their queen returns. But I had not thought of you accompanying her until Dell mentioned it in her missive asking Dameon to come to Oldhaven; she scribed about a futuretelling in which she had seen you with Dragon in the Red Land. I asked Dameon to get a fuller accounting of the futuretelling, and to ask Dell to scry for Dragon. I also sent out armsmen and knights to look for the girl but so far no one has found any sign of her. I am taking this to mean that she went west of the Suggredoon. Gwynedd has his people looking out for her as well, but it is my hope that when Dameon returns he will have her with him.’

‘I should have had people out looking for her but I was hoping she would come back of her own accord, with her memory restored,’ I admitted.

Rushton touched my face gently. ‘I am sure Dragon will remember all that she has forgotten, but it may be that she will not do so until we are travelling to the Red Land.’

‘Maryon also foresaw us together in the Red Land,’ I said.

‘I ought to be troubled at your going along on a journey that is likely to be a long and perilous one, and yet I can only think how sweet those long months aboard ship will be with you by my side.’

‘I would never have guessed it from your very cool missive,’ I said, unable to keep reproach from my tone.

He grimaced ruefully. ‘To scribe as I desired would have been a torment to me! It was hard enough to keep you out of my thoughts long enough to do the things I had to do!’

I laughed incredulously. ‘I had to forbid myself to think of you at all, save in the little while before I slept!’

‘And did you think of me, then?’ he asked in a voice gone suddenly low and thick. His eyes had dropped to my mouth and he lifted one hand and brushed a finger along my lips. ‘How these tormented my dreams,’ he muttered.