Then the carriage came close enough for me to recognise the healer Kella sitting on the front bench seat beside a blond giant. I could see that there were several others sitting inside the wagon behind them, and it came to me with a surge of joy that Dameon might finally have come home, and if he had come, perhaps Dragon was with him.

Chapter 12

12

As it transpired, neither Dameon nor Dragon were among the newcomers. I had probed the inhabitants of the carriage even before it had stopped, but before I could tell Rushton, he had leapt forward to greet the healer and ask if Dameon was within. Kella told him apologetically that the empath had not returned from the Westland before they left.

‘But he might well have got to Sutrium by now,’ she added earnestly, seeing and no doubt feeling our disappointment.

‘Well even if he has, I hope he will wait and come up with Dardelan,’ I said worriedly.

‘He knows the dangers of the road for Misfits these days, though in fact it might be safe enough even for a blind man, given the number of armsmen we saw patrolling the main roads,’ Kella said, smiling at the big, blond youth sitting at her side. I was fascinated to see that he had yellow-gold skin and eyes so narrow that they were almost slits. If he had not had blond hair, I would have taken him for Sadorian, and yet Sadorian skin was more brown than yellow.

I was startled to realise that he was staring at me, mouth hanging slightly open to reveal very crooked, very white teeth.

‘This is Okan,’ Kella said, bidding him climb down and open the back of the wagon so the others could get out. The blond giant gave her a wide, loose smile full of adoration and climbed down clumsily to obey.

‘Dardelan is furious about the gangs and he is absolutely determined that no one will be harassed or troubled during the moon fair,’ the healer was saying. ‘Apparently there has been another attack and a woman was killed, so the road is crawling with his armsmen and he has ordered all of the chieftains to put out their own patrols as well.’

‘Whether or not he waits to come up with Dardelan, I hope Dameon does not intend to ride all the way on that little mare,’ Gevan said dubiously, for he had witnessed the blind empath’s first riding lessons with some dismay.

‘You may be surprised to see how his riding has improved these days,’ Rushton told the Coercer guildmaster. Then he sighed. ‘We will just have to do without him for a while longer. But what brings you here, Kella? I thought you had decided not to come up for the moon fair?’