Instead we dismounted and stretched our legs and backs, then adjusted the packs for the horses, salving and padding any rubbed places and bemoaning the fact that we had not slept while we had the chance the night before. It was a reminder of the expedition rule: to drink and eat and sleep while you could. We watered the horses, the dogs and Gavyn sparingly, using a waxed canvas pocket, and the rest of us took a sip of water before stoppering the water bottles, for we had no idea when we would be able to refill them. In truth I was worried about the horses, for we had not water enough beyond a day, and they would need a good deal more than we had.

I told myself that Rheagor and the wolves needed water too, and so he must know where there were soaks and springs. But I longed to ask him outright. I also wanted to ask him about the journey his ancestor had made, and what he had seen of the city while he was the captive of the efari. I glanced over at the wolves and realised with surprise that I was beginning to resent the way Rheagor kept himself and his pack so fiercely separate from us.

Turning my attention back to the horses, I noticed that they had moved into a group, and now stood together, rumps to the wind, nuzzling and nibbling at one another. Seeing this, it struck me yet again how superior beasts were to humans in how they dealt with adversity. In the midst of this destroyed land, they stood close and took what comfort they could from one another, rather than agonising in isolation about what would happen next, as I was doing, and as it seemed from the expressions on their faces, what the other humans in our party were doing. Aside from Dragon, who slept oblivious of the tainted land and lowering sky, Gavyn was the only anomaly, being human and yet seemingly capable of the same serenity as beasts. He had sat down as soon as the column of wolves broke up, and now he was leaning contentedly against Rasial, who had stretched out with him, gazing up at the dark clouds in evident fascination.