‘Speak to Wila and the others but you had better make sure Rushton wants a guildmerge today before you contact any of the other guilds,’ I said as we left the noise and fragrant warmth of the kitchens. ‘You might ask him about the moon fair, too. I expect he will want to cancel it.’

‘Cancel it? Why?’ Ceirwan asked, startled.

I shrugged, finding it easier to talk now that I was out of sight of Rushton. ‘How can we run a moon fair and get the expedition organised at the same time? Besides all else, it would mean setting off on the expedition when the roads are clogged with fair revellers returning home. We will need to send riders out tomorrow to post notices of cancellation. Hopefully it will not put many people out since this rain would have stopped a lot who had planned to visit.’

‘But what about Obernewtyn being turned into a shire?’

‘No doubt Dardelan will still ride up to conduct the official ceremonies, unless he has decided to put that off as well for now.’

I turned my thoughts to the statue in Saithwold, thinking I would need to come up with a good reason to ride down to the lowlands a day earlier than the others. Then it struck me that I might be able to find out what I needed simply by closely questioning someone who had seen it. Zarak was a possibility but, better still, was Iriny, who would have seen the statue many times. If it was she who was camped in the White Valley, she might be persuaded to describe it well enough that I would not need to see it for myself. Indeed, had she not sworn to do whatever I asked now that Swallow had told her I was the one referred to in the Twentyfamilies’ ancient promises?

‘What is it?’ Ceirwan asked.

‘I want you to go right now to the coercer-knights and organise a rider to travel to the White Valley,’ I said. ‘They are to locate the gypsy Iriny, whom I believe is camped there, and ask if she would ride up to meet me at dawn at the watchhut above the pass to the highlands. I also need the rider to deliver a missive to Bergold’s sister; they can fetch the missive from me after firstmeal and leave straight away. Now I am going up to my chamber. I don’t want to be disturbed for a couple of hours. I need to sleep if I am to be any use later in the day. Arrange with Sarn to come and see me in the afternoon with whatever material she and the others have amassed, and of course let me know as soon as you know whether we are to have a guildmerge. You can spend the morning preparing for that, after you do these few things.’

‘Well an’ good, but ye’d best tell Rushton about Dragon,’ Ceirwan reminded me.