Once again, I watched the battle that raged in him, but this time from the inside of his mind. I saw my own fear and determination writ clear in my expression and his dawning and incredulous realisation that I was offering myself to his murderous desire to kill me. I felt his love for me rising up in an unstoppable wave that swamped the simple potency of that intent.

And then I saw myself smeared with his blood, staring down at him; saw the naked anguish and love in my face.

‘I do,’ I whispered, drawing back at last from his mind to look at him, lying beside me in the ruddy fire glow. ‘I do so love you.’

His eyes opened and I was so much awash with his memories that it seemed to me I was him looking at me. I saw in his face the same confused wonder, for even as I had entered his mind, knowing him, so he had entered mine, knowing me.

‘You were forbidden to tell anyone about your quest,’ he said.

‘I did not tell you anything,’ I answered calmly.

He reached up to the chair and dragged a rug down, spreading it over us, asking, ‘Jik’s dog will come for you?’

I nodded, paused. ‘I don’t know. I always supposed he was to be a sign but why would I need one when I am intending to go to the Red Land without anyone summoning me?’ How wonderfully, strangely natural it was to speak of such things to him. ‘Maybe Darga is in Sutrium already or even in the Red Land, though I don’t know how that can be, unless he went on one of Salamander’s ships. I suppose he might have followed the Druid’s people who survived and were sold as slaves by Ariel after Jik was killed.’

‘He might be somewhere else,’ Rushton said. ‘After all, you do not know for certain that Sentinel is in the Red Land.’

‘I don’t,’ I agreed. ‘I think I will find out when I come to the Red Land. Maybe it is Darga’s task to help me learn the exact location of Sentinel.’

‘It is incredible to think there is knowledge you need in Dragon’s mind, planted there by a woman born long before either you or Dragon lived, and that she was working with my ancestor, Hannah. Working with her and planning for your coming.’

‘You think she really was your ancestor?’ I asked.