To my surprise, Dameon opposed the idea of climbing up to it, asking what need we had of seeing the city that was our destination, since the wolves meant to lead us there.

‘Rheagor has no love for us and is miserly with what he tells,’ I told him quietly. ‘He said his ancestor came across the graag to the mountains and I have no reason to doubt that is true, and that he knows what his ancestor knew. But consider this: was it mere chance or whim that made him bid us wait here instead of telling us to go on if we liked and the wolves would sniff out our trail?’

‘You think he meant you to see it?’ Dameon asked thoughtfully.

‘It is certainly a possibility. He might have seen it when he visioned. The question I would ask is why we need to see it, and the only way to find out is to go up there.’

After some talk, it was decided that Swallow, Ahmedri and I would make the climb. Analivia had pointed out that the tribesman was by far the best climber, other than Gavyn. Ahmedri had not taken part in the discussion and all he said was that we had better begin at once if we wanted to be back down before nightfall.

I was more concerned about the weather than dusk, for the clouds had closed over again and they had a bruised, ominous look.

As we made our preparations, Analivia said cheerfully that at least it would take a good deal less time to come down than to go up.

‘A climb down is sometimes harder than the climb up,’ Swallow warned, but Analivia chided him for being gloomy.

The landslide that had created the talus must have happened some time ago, for lichen grew liberally over the scree and broken stone. I had thought it would be simple to climb and it was, except from the plateau we had not seen what was beyond the mounded talus: a great deep cut between the two mountains. Swallow threw a stone into it and we listened, but did not hear it land. It ought not to have made any difference to us, since there was no need to go anywhere near the abyss, but I could not help picturing it as I climbed.

It was only when I stopped to catch my breath as I reached the top of the talus that I noticed Maruman had followed me. Since there was no stopping the cantankerous old cat from doing what he chose, I merely offered him my shoulder. He accepted with alacrity, whereupon I made the mistake of asking why he wanted to go up. His claws sank in deep enough to prick me through my vest for an answer. We had left off our coats, for they would be too bulky to climb in.