Suddenly I saw the Skylake ahead through the trees and the sight of it drove all other thoughts from my mind. It did not look so perfectly round from ground level, and I might have dismissed the notion that it was unnatural, save for my dream. Yet it was a pretty sight seen through the trees, with skeins of morning mist hung above it like gauzy veils, perfectly reflected in the mirror-still surface. Somewhere out of sight the sun had risen and the sky was a clear deep blue, reflected in the lake and framed by an inverted ring of sun-touched peaks, but in the shadows at the edge of the lake cast by trees overhanging it, the lake water was black.

The hoot of an owl close by startled me. I looked around but could see no sign of it. Doubtless it was the same owl I had seen the night before flying across the moon, and now it was settling to sleep before the sun sent its rays down into the valley. Seeing Maruman’s ears prick and his eye shine, I hoped the bird had built its nest in some inaccessible place.

I had not gone two more steps before I saw a paw print on the ground ahead of me.

I froze, wondering if the wolves were already here, waiting. Maybe they had some more direct route from their deep secret crevice to the Skylake. My heart lurched in fright at the thought of the wolves finding Gahltha alone in the valley, but Darga sent calmly, ‘There are no wolves here.’

I heaved a sigh of relief, deciding the paw print must be an old one. Since Rheagor had chosen this as our meeting place, it must be familiar to him. Indeed, he was a mountain wolf and doubtless knew all such green and fertile places. Thinking of Gahltha made me want to farseek him, but my head still ached slightly from drawing on the spirit-force in the depths of my mind the previous day, and I knew he would come galloping to me as soon as he scented me.

The fright I had given myself had made me feel slightly sick and I realised I was cold, too, despite my exertions. Doubtless it was hunger making me feel cold, and I decided I would have a fire after all. The wolves would have to tolerate my flame if they came. With this in mind I began to gather dried twigs and branches as I went, and mindful of my decision to forage while I could, I kept a watchful eye out for herbs, nuts and berries. The thought of cooking myself a hot meal was so enticing that I actually imagined I could smell mushrooms frying in butter and even the pungent scent of a wood fire.