‘It is not only from them or from the shipfolks’ tales,’ Sarn said. ‘I had been working for some time on a compilation of stories about the Red Land when you assigned me this task after your return from Sador, along with Wila and Tomash. It was a small matter to combine the two projects.’

‘It is only a pity you do not have the time to extend your research to Norseland and Sador,’ I said. ‘I am sure they would have their share of tales about the Red Land.’

Sarn’s eyes flashed and she said, ‘You speak of a matter that is dear to my heart, Guildmistress. With your permission, I would go to the Norselands and to Sador to see what else I might discover. Indeed, I wanted to propose just such an expedition at the last Farseekers meeting, but I feared that I would be judged too old for it.’

‘Never would I allow anyone to forbid you to go if you feel up to it,’ I said. ‘But the guildmerge might vote against it because the knowledge you gather will be too late to be useful if we have already set off for the Red Land.’

‘Is knowledge only a thing to be made use of, like a broom?’ Sarn asked tartly. ‘Besides, if we help the Redlanders reclaim their land, will there not be a friendship between us thereafter, so that any information we have about them and their past would still have value?’

I smiled inwardly, thinking that she might be older but her brain was as sharp as ever. ‘You are right, and if you wish it, you may present your proposal to the guildmerge this afternoon, since you are coming anyway.’

‘You will give my proposal your support?’ Sarn asked eagerly.

I nodded. ‘In fact, I will suggest that you travel with the Norselanders when they return to Herder Isle in a day or so, otherwise you will have to wait until spring to go across the strait. Unless you do not desire to go so soon.’

Sarn’s eyes lit up. ‘Guildmistress, I would give half my heart to make such a trip, and the sooner the better.’

I smiled. ‘Then prepare yourself to present the matter persuasively.’

‘I will,’ the older woman said, rising with a grunt of effort. She shot me a suspicious look and added, ‘In my youth, adventuring was not possible because of Councilcourt restrictions.’

‘Adventures are seldom as desirable as one imagines,’ I said mildly, and heard the bleak note in my own voice.

Sarn had the grace to look slightly abashed. As she and the others left, I heard Tomash asking Sarn diffidently if he could go with her. I smiled as I closed the door behind them and crossed to the window for a breath of air.