And what of Dragon and Maruman and the statue in Saithwold I needed to see, not to mention the fact that I had to find Cassandra’s key?

Trying to quell a growing sense of panic, I glanced across the crowded kitchen to one of the large windows. To my surprise, the rain had ceased and dawn was breaking in the form of a few weak beams of pink-gold light glistening on a sodden creeper growing up a kitchen garden wall. It was still too early to wake the whole of Obernewtyn and announce the news, but I farsent to Ceirwan that as soon as the first bell for normal firstmeal rang, he must send messages to each guildmaster to explain what Zarak had just told us and to announce that there would be a guildmerge concerning the expedition before the end of the day. Everyone would need time to make their preparations. It was too late for Garth to be summoned up from the White Valley, but that could not be helped. Ceirwan farsent back that he would talk to Javo and Alad, since we might as well begin sending down the supplies we had amassed immediately. Then I thought of the research Sarn, Wila and Tomash were doing about the Red Land and reminded Ceirwan that they had better be warned about the change of plans too. I made up my mind that I would scribe a letter to Rushton immediately and have one of the coercer-knights ride down before the day ended to let him know Dragon’s identity and to prompt him to order a search for her. I might just as well scribe that I meant to travel with Dragon to the Red Land and be done with it. I would make a point of mentioning that Maryon had foreseen both of us in the Red Land.

I had no idea what to do if, despite our best efforts, we could not locate Dragon before the ships had to depart. If only Maruman had been here, I could have asked him to contact the ancient bird to ask where she was. He could also have asked about Cassandra’s key and maybe even about the exact meaning of Dell’s futuretelling that I would leave the Land and Obernewtyn forever. But I had not spoken to the ancient bird since she had helped me stop Rushton’s spirit from entering the mindstream. Our final exchange floated into my mind.

‘There will be a price,’ she had warned.

‘I will pay it,’ I vowed.

‘It is not you who will pay …’ she had answered.