‘I think learnin’ here could be presented as an inter-estin’ and special alternative,’ the guilden insisted. ‘An’ it will be good timin’, since if we are to become a settlement, we are bound to have unTalented people as well as Talented livin’ among us.’

The others went on talking and planning eagerly, while I kept my doubts to myself, for it had suddenly struck me that this was how it would be when I was gone. These three would lead the Farseekers and Obernewtyn would be a shire. After they had talked themselves out, I said I thought they should work on the proposal and present it to the other guildmasters for comments and suggestions before presenting it to a full guildmerge. Ceirwan looked disappointed but he agreed that it would be better to wait until Obernewtyn had become a shire, and the moon fair was over.

‘Do you want us to wait until you return?’ Aras asked me.

I shook my head, keeping my thoughts and emotions well shielded. ‘I think you should go ahead and present it at the next guildmerge.’

We went on then to discuss those whom we had decided to raise up from novice to full farseeker and about who might be sent to the west coast to work with Dell in setting up a Farseeker guild there. It had been suggested at a previous guildmerge that Ceirwan ought to become master of the new guild at Oldhaven, being the most senior farseeker aside from me, but he had asked that the matter be postponed until the following guildmerge. I had supported his request for a postponement because, aside from knowing that neither he nor Freya wished to live in the west, I was aware that he would need to fill my shoes when I left Obernewtyn. Since everyone now knew I was to travel with the expedition, the subject had not arisen at the last guildmerge and I had avoided discussing the future with Ceirwan, knowing that the matter would soon be settled.

‘I could go there to help set up a guild but I would not want to be posted to Oldhaven permanently,’ Zarak said now. I distracted him by asking if he had actually asked Lina to bond with him yet. ‘I have and she said yes,’ he replied rather smugly.

‘Of course she did and I am happy for you both,’ I said. ‘You will bond this moon fair, then?’

He nodded. ‘My father will perform the ceremony.’

‘I am to be their witness,’ Aras announced with grave pride, and I marvelled at how far they had come from the timid girl too shy to realise her own brightness, and the resentful, envious, beastspeaker boy who had begged to be allowed to change to the Farseekers. They were firm friends now and capable of arguing against one another without rancour. It warmed my heart to see the fond glance Zarak gave her.