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.

I wondered now if she had been angry with me for risking my quest to save Rushton’s life. She had contacted Maruman to tell him that I must return in all haste to Obernewtyn, but she had not told him why it had been so important. Was it possible that she would have done so, but she had been unable to reach me because of Maruman’s absence? I could try to reach her directly, but that would mean using the dreamtrails, which immediately reminded me of the malevolent force that had pursued me there. I was still unable to make up my mind if it had been a figment of nightmare, or Ariel’s unconsciously formed spirit-shape seeking to harm me. Realising I had been sitting for some minutes in dumbfounded silence, I stood up abruptly. ‘I’m sorry but I need to go and get dressed. Elkar and Cinda, when you have finished eating, Zarak will show you where you can bathe once the water is heated and then you should sleep for a few hours. In the afternoon, I will send someone to show you around. There are matters I must attend to now, but I will see you again in the evening.’

Zarak was still standing and now he said uncertainly, ‘I hope I have not spoken out of turn, Guildmistress. I thought the master of Obernewtyn would already have told you what the overguardian said.’

‘The master of Obernewtyn?’ I echoed. ‘Whatever do you mean? How could he tell me when he is not here?’

Now it was Zarak’s turn to look thunderstruck. ‘But Guildmistress, he must have got here by now. Why, he rode out of Sutrium a good half day before the rest of us. Indeed, he was leaving even as I arrived at Dardelan’s residence. It was he who first told me of the message brought by Powyrs, when he bade me carry news to my father. I sent a missive to Saithwold for I had made up my mind then and there to come up here straight away.’

I felt sick. ‘I have not seen Rushton since Sador,’ I said.