I was riveted by the strange story, for it was evident to me that the women were Hannah Seraphim and Cassy, and that Analivia had dreamed of them after the Great White and before they had begun their journey to the Land. Of course the cat could not be Maruman, even as a kitten, for no cat could live so long, but if they had brought it to the Land, it might be some distant ancestor of Maruman. It might even be that the kitten’s head was bandaged not because it had been injured but because the Beforetimers had been experimenting on it at the Govamen compound, even as they had experimented with the flamebirds. A little stab of excitement pierced me at the thought that Maruman’s strange mind might not be the result of sickness or accident, but of something he had inherited from the cat in Analivia’s dream vision.

I was so engrossed in my speculations that it took me a moment to realise that Swallow was speaking again. ‘Did you say the tribesman Ahmedri followed you?’ I asked.

The gypsy nodded cheerfully. ‘It was Dameon he followed so he ought to tell you that part of our tale.’

I nodded impatiently, eager to hear how Dameon had persuaded him to go back.

‘I had met up with Rasial and Gavyn as I told you, and we were just setting off together when Ahmedri came riding up,’ Dameon said. ‘He had tracked me, he said, because he knew I was coming to find you. I suppose he heard Rushton talking with Alad about our supplies. The tribesman said he had to find his brother’s bones and that he had been commanded to stay with you until you found the coercer Miryum and freed her, for it was she who would tell him where they were. I was at a loss, for neither Rushton nor the dream voice had mentioned him, and yet I could see no way to prevent him following us. Also, neither Rasial nor Faraf seemed troubled by the thought of him or his horse accompanying us. Later I had cause to be very glad of his company, for while Gavyn led us here, it was Ahmedri who made cookfires and found ways for us to cross places where it seemed no horse could go.’

‘What happened to him?’ I asked.

‘Why, he is here in the valley,’ Swallow said. ‘Like Rasial and the boy, he spends a good portion of his time foraging – not together, for neither he nor the lad seem to have much use for human company.’

I scowled. ‘I don’t know why Ahmedri thinks following me here is going to help him find his brother’s bones.’

‘Maybe Miryum came up into the mountains with his brother’s body,’ Swallow said. ‘But whether or not, Ahmedri is convinced that Straaka will come to you in your dreams to tell you where Miryum is. It is hard to argue against that when all of us are here because of our dreams.’