At that moment, Gahltha broke into a canter that seemed horribly dangerous in the confined space, but I knew he was trying to build up momentum enough to reach the opening. I only wished he had warned me so I could have climbed down before he began his ascent but it was too late now.

Feeling the horse strain under me, I began to fear that, despite his great strength, Gahltha would falter. I truly could not imagine what would happen if he began slipping backwards, since it would be impossible for him to turn around. It was with relief that I spotted a narrow shelf of stone jutting out from the wall ahead. I just had time to warn Gahltha and Maruman of what I meant to do before we came level with it and I leapt from the horse’s back to land hard and awkwardly on the shelf. The light was blotted out briefly a moment later and when daylight shone down into the rift again I knew Gahltha had got clear. I dropped to the sloping floor and looked back expecting to see Darga. When he did not appear, I realised the dog must have moved ahead of Gahltha in the rift without my noticing.