‘She dreamed of a Beforetime city under the ground and she thought it might be Newrome before it was flooded,’ he said, seeming suddenly abashed by my interest.

‘What did she dream, did she say?’ I asked.

He lifted his eyes reluctantly and said, ‘She had dreamed she and Straaka were in this Beforetime city, only in the dream he did not see her or hear her. He was like a dream within a dream, she said. It bothered her, that dream.’ He glared down at his food again.

Before I could ask any more questions, Cinda came to lay a soft hand on my arm and said they were leaving. Sarn also came hurrying in. ‘Guildmistress, I have worked the whole night, but I have still not completed everything. I am so sorry, but Wila and Tomash will be able to finish it.’

‘I’m sure they will. All will be well,’ I assured her. The older woman looked both exhausted and elated and I thought suddenly that there were other things than a lover that one could yearn for passionately. We walked out together with the Norselanders, and I pushed what the young coercer-knight had told me of Miryum to the back of my mind to consider later.

Outside the front entrance there were now five carriages, many horses and humans and a great deal of noisy activity. Grufyyd and Louis Larkin were hitching horses to the wagons with the help of some beastguilders, while people were loading packages and barrels supervised by Javo who was uttering his usual measure of cautions peppered with curses and cries of dismay.

‘It looks like another storm is brewing,’ I murmured, glancing up at the sky, where clouds were thickening. There was no longer even a chink of blue visible and the wind that had got up had a distinct nip to it. I noticed Rushton standing a little to the side of the nearest wagon with Brydda, Gevan and a group of coercer-knights. I saw from their attire which of the knights had been assigned to travel with the wagons and was surprised by their number, given that some of Dardelan’s armsmen would also be accompanying the travellers. Clearly Rushton was taking no chances on the supplies being stolen by robbers.

As ever, the master of Obernewtyn seemed to sense my regard, and when he looked over, his expression tightened slightly. If I had not known what I now knew, that sudden rigidity would have hurt me. As it was, I only wished that we were alone so that he would take me in his arms and kiss me. Perhaps something of my thoughts showed in my face, for his eyes narrowed.

I looked down, suppressing a wild desire to burst out laughing.