The canyon widened into a gorge carpeted in a thick, soft, white lichen of a sort I had never seen before. At first sight, I thought snow had fallen, even though the gorge was too well protected by the surrounding peaks for it to be snow. Once again I thought we might turn west, for there were many canyons running away from the gorge in that direction, but Rheagor merely led us to where a narrow cascade spilled down the grey stone wall of the gorge into a stream that flowed away down a narrow ravine. Darga went to drink from the stream and the others did the same, but Rheagor made his uncomfortable contact and bade me and my pack rest and sleep for the day. He and the wolf pack would return at dusk. He added that if we wished to continue, we should go along the water-filled ravine beside the fall and then head north. He would be able to find us by tracking our scent.

Before he could sever the connection between us, I asked quickly how many days he thought it would be before we went down from the mountains to cross the glowing Blacklands.

‘Many days,’ he sent, and then he broke contact and loped purposefully back the way we had come, the other wolves streaming after him.

‘Wonderful,’ I said drily.

Swallow came to stand by me, yawning widely. ‘I gather we are to stop. I cannot say I am sorry. This walking all night will take some getting used to. Should we take the packs off the horses?’

I nodded absently. Once unburdened, the horses refused the oats Swallow offered, Gahltha explaining that the white lichen was very good to eat. When the horses wandered off to graze in a little herd, Ahmedri built a modest fire with swift skill and a small tinder box, and made a drink with herbs that gave off a strong, strange scent. Filling a mug, he offered it to Analivia, saying the brew would help us relax so that we could sleep, even though the sun was rising. She drank, wrinkled her nose and then shrugged and finished it.

‘I had better have one as well because I need to sleep,’ Dameon said, stifling a yawn. ‘If it was not for Faraf flicking me with her tail, I would have fallen off sound asleep a half dozen times already.’

I regarded him sympathetically, seeing how it might be a good deal harder to stay awake when one could not look about. In the end, we all drank, and it was only as I finished the bitter dregs of the draught that I realised with dismay that Gavyn and Rasial were missing.

‘Do not fear,’ Gahltha sent, responding to my consternation before I could even voice it. ‘They are only back in the canyon. The funaga pup found something that interests him, but Rasial is with him and she will watch over him.’