The first thing Rushton did was to announce Dragon’s true identity, though I doubted there was anyone at Obernewtyn who had not heard by then that she was the long-lost daughter of the Red Queen, fallen or thrown from a slave ship and washed ashore on the west coast, where I had found her. I was slightly uneasy at having her identity so openly talked about, despite the fact that Ariel had left the Land. By the time he would be able to use his Talents to penetrate the minds of those travelling with the four ships, the battle for the Red Land would be joined. There was no point in fretting over it – Ceirwan had told me in the afternoon that the meal tables and halls had been abuzz with the news by midmeal but no one knew about her connection to my quest as the Seeker.

Rushton went on now to say that since the Redlanders had sworn not to rise until their queen returned, it might be that the main task of the four ships would be to bring her safely to her people, who would then rebel against their oppressors, thereby preventing the foreseen invasion. I had been surprised to find that this was not acceptable to everyone.

‘The return of the queen is a legend among the Redlanders, and people don’t expect their legends to come to life,’ Garth said repressively. ‘Maybe they will refuse to accept Dragon or say the legend referred to her mother.’

‘The futureteller foresaw that they would rise,’ said the Coercer guildmaster Gevan, flicking a look at Maryon who sat across the dark-polished table from him, eyes half lidded.

‘The futureteller foresaw only that if four ships leave this Land to travel to the Red Land, the slave takers will not come here,’ said Christa, as if her mistress were not sitting beside her.

‘But obviously the best way to avoid an invasion is for the Redlanders to overthrow the slavemasters,’ Gevan said irritably. ‘How else could four ships prevail against the slavemaster horde? Indeed, until we knew Dragon’s true identity, I did not see the sense of the venture.’

‘It would be just as well if th’ lass were not th’ heart of th’ futuretelling, since no one kens where she is,’ said one of the two Teknoguild wards who had accompanied Garth, a young highlander named Fell, with fierce eyes and thin lips. The Teknoguildmaster had told me before the merge began that he meant to raise the lad up to guilden at the next choosing, to replace Jak. I was less convinced he was a good choice but maybe it was only his dour manner that put me off. At least in the Teknoguild there were several guildens rather than just one as in the other guilds.