‘Many times,’ I said. ‘The last time, I think she was talking to another girl about a secret key that would allow a person to reach Sentinel even after it was supposed to be impossible. I have no doubt it was the key I need.’ I frowned, remembering that Analivia had described both women in her vision as having long hair, though in my last dream of Cassy, her hair had been cut short. But perhaps Analivia’s vision had shown them some years after the Great White, for we had no way of knowing how long it was before they had begun their journey to the Red Land.

I hesitated, and then asked, ‘You know one of the messages your D’rekta left me was about Dragon.’

Swallow looked startled. ‘What did it say?’

‘That she carries something I need in her memory of the Red Land,’ I said. ‘I have told you that the futuretellers saw me there with her.’

‘Yet it seems they were mistaken.’

‘I am no longer so sure of that,’ I answered. ‘They never spoke of us travelling there with the expedition. It just seemed so obvious that we would go there in that way. But I have been thinking on it, and the futuretellers never actually said that Dragon would be the reason the four ships would be instrumental in overthrowing the slavemasters. Again I assumed that because of who Dragon is.’

‘But how can either of you get there without the ships to carry you, and especially if you are not to go back to the Land? And how can Rushton and four ships prevail against the might of the slavemasters’ hordes that are said to occupy the Red Land, especially if, as it is said, the enslaved will not rise against them until their queen returns?’ Swallow asked, absently setting aside the toast and forking another slice.

‘All I know is that Dragon has something I need for my quest, and against all the odds, she is coming to me, though she is the beaten and battered captive of an unknown man,’ I said. ‘It is hard for me, knowing this, to doubt that somehow, I will come to the Red Land with her.’

Swallow glanced back towards the pass. ‘Maybe you should check on Analivia.’

I nodded, and mustered my strength to send out a probe shaped to the lowland woman’s mind, deciding that I would also farseek Rasial, for it had occurred to me that she could warn the wolves of what was happening. Rheagor would listen whether or not he regarded her as unnatural. My probe located and Analivia welcomed me with such frantic relief that she nearly dislodged me.

‘What is the matter? Do you see them on the ridgeline?’ I asked, my heart beginning to gallop.