I climbed the rest of the way up the slope without difficulty and emerged onto a shallow, sunlit plateau jutting out from low down on the eastern side of the mountain. It was remarkably level, as if it had been chiselled and sanded, though a thick spiky grass grew over it. I could not see far in any direction, for the way was blocked on all sides by the rising slopes of mountains, and in the gaps between them were more mountains. Where the sun fell, the steep inhospitable slopes were brown and green with stubble grass, low scrub and a few small trees that had managed to gain a foothold, but where the sun did not fall, the mountain faces were black and forbidding. I saw no obviously tainted ground but nor did I see any sign of road or path or indeed any level ground at all, save the plateau I stood upon. For a moment, I felt utterly daunted, but then it struck me that Jacob Obernewtyn had been far older than I when he came into the mountains, and in his time, the poisons that tainted them would have been far more virulent than now. I had a momentary vision of an old man, stooped and appalled, gazing at mountains that glowed green and poisonous on all sides, and shuddered, telling myself that it was unlikely he had got very far, even with his Beforetime vessel, and so perhaps I would not have to go far to find Cassandra’s key. Indeed, perhaps once I had done so, Atthis would send her fliers to carry me to the ken. The hope shamed me, for while the birds might also carry Darga and Maruman, Gahltha would have to make his own way. Unless the fliers would simply return me to my companions after my audience with Atthis.

Some impulse made me get to my feet and follow the narrowing plateau back around to the east, wondering if I would be able to catch a final glimpse of Obernewtyn. It narrowed and then ended abruptly, but I had come far enough to be able to see back down the valley. Yet all was hidden by a thick, low blanket of mist that lapped against the encircling mountains like milk in a stony bowl.

‘Better not to look back,’ I muttered aloud and was struck by the thin sound of my voice in the profound silence of the mountains.

I sensed a movement behind me and turned to see Maruman watching me accusingly.

‘Where now?’ I asked, feeling obscurely guilty.

‘It is time to eat and rest,’ the cat sent.