Zarak gave me a wry smile. ‘To be honest, Guildmistress, he swears about it a good deal. He did not desire it, and he was heartbroken when the old man died. But Noviny never truly recovered from the sickness he suffered after spying on Malik’s men. My father would have moved out of his house after Noviny was laid in his grave, but Wenda would not have it. She insisted that she would not know what to do without a chieftain to chieftain. She said Da told her he was no chieftain but then he was offered the position by a delegation of locals before another day had gone by. No one had forgotten that he led them in battle when the Hedra tried to invade.’

‘Does he realise that the Land has been changed forever by his appointment?’ I asked.

Zarak nodded, his expression becoming serious. ‘He knows it well and I think it troubled him a good deal to start with. He feared that if he failed, he would be used as an example of why Misfits ought not to rule. But as far as I can see, the people of Saithwold are more than content.’

‘No doubt,’ I said, tasting a spoonful of sweetened porridge.

‘I think he will feel less burdened when the master of Obernewtyn becomes chieftain of Obernewtyn Shire.’

‘Obernewtyn Shire,’ I repeated. ‘So that is how it will be styled. I like it.’

‘Powyrs suggested it,’ Zarak said with a smile. ‘He said it had a cosier ring than the word province, and being smaller it ought to have a name to fit.’

‘All those years at sea have given Powyrs a song-maker’s soul,’ I said. ‘But what is The Cutter doing in Sutrium at this time of year?’

‘He brought th’ message from Jakoby,’ Zarak said. Seeing my blank expression his eyes widened. ‘But surely ye ken it?’

‘Ken what?’ I asked, as premonition trailed a cold finger down my spine.

‘Th’ overguardian of th’ Earthtemple has commanded that th’ Sadorian ships must leave for the Red Land five days after darkmoon. The message Powyrs brought says Sadorian greatships will dock in Sutrium by darkmoon and that they will set off five days later, with or without the other ships. Apparently Jakoby was readying the two Sadorian greatships to depart even as Powyrs left Templeport.’

‘But Maryon only said that th’ ships mun leave afore th’ end of the Days of Rain!’ Ceirwan protested.

Zarak shrugged. ‘A day from now could be said to be afore th’ end of the Days of Rain. Rushton thinks the overguardian must have foreseen some harm coming to one of the Sadorian ships if they didn’t leave when she said they must. But he says even if th’ other ships are in no danger, they will have to leave at th’ same time as th’ Sadorians’ ships because Maryon saw all four leavin’ together.’