'To your friends,' Tyson said. 'Cobweb has arranged it.'

Flick didn't ask why. He was grateful enough not to question Cobweb's motives.

Eventually, they descended some perilous twisting stairs, and emerged into a small yard at the side of the house. This was not the main stable yard, but an area where, in good weather, laundry was hung out to dry. A mandala of lines, which vibrated in the wind, crossed it overhead. There were seats and tables near the wall of the house and Flick imagined that in summertime the househara would sit out here to eat their lunch.

The yard was empty, but for the spirits that rode the wind.

Flick shivered. He hadn't got his coat. 'Thanks,' he said to Tyson.

Tyson just nodded gravely. He clearly didn't think thanks were necessary. After a moment, he said, 'You knew my hostling.'

'Yes,' Flick said. 'A long time ago.'

'I can't remember him,' said Tyson. 'The Gelaming took him from us.'

'I know,' Flick said. 'I'm sorry.' The circ.u.mstance of offering sympathy to a harling of Cal's under these conditions was absolutely surreal. He couldn't imagine Cal as a parent.

'My father is dead,' said Tyson. 'The Gelaming killed him.'

'I know.'

'I wish I could come with you,' Tyson said. 'I hate this place. I want to travel, like my hostling did. I want to be free.'

'Well,' said Flick awkwardly, 'when you're older you can do what you like.'

Tyson sneered. 'Don't be stupid. You need powerful friends. If you didn't have them, you'd still be locked up in that room.'

Flick considered for a moment. 'Your hostling, Cal, he leads a troubled life, Tyson. There are many different ways to live. His is not the best.'

'You hate him, like everyhar else does,' Tyson said with contempt. 'Hara hate him because he doesn't come to heel. Swift told me that.'

'I don't hate him,' Flick said. 'Not any more. Hara tried to use him, but they picked the wrong har. It ended up very badly.'

Tyson nodded glumly and Flick wished that circ.u.mstances were different, that he was here for other reasons, that there was no Seel, and that he could spend some time with this troubled soul to try and spread a little balm on his hurts. It was clear that, like Cal, he was full of heat and resentments. Flick's instinct was to nurture and help. He couldn't bear to think of Tyson living here every day being punished because of who had given him life. But maybe Tyson, like Cal, only punished himself, and others were helpless outside that nest of pain. The main difference between hostling and son could be that it was not too late to help Tyson, not too late to guide him onto a firm path.

These bleak considerations were curtailed by the arrival of two shadowy figures in the yard. Tyson peered into the dark. 'They're here. You have to go.'

The hara crossed the yard by keeping to the walls, away from the meagre light of a lamp that burned above the door to the house. Flick was surprised to see that they were Leef and Chelone. They appeared tense and wary, m.u.f.fled in long coats with the collars turned up.

'Come,' Leef said. 'We must hurry.'

Impulsively, Flick embraced Tyson and said, 'I will think of you,' knowing it would probably mean nothing. The harling was stiff and unyielding in his embrace and did not speak. When Flick let him go, he went directly back into the house.

Chelone led the way through a maze of outhouses, stables and barns to a small road that wound down the hill, on the opposite side of the main driveway. It was lined by tall maples, which were currently being tortured by the gale and stripped of their last bright leaves. Here, another har waited among the trees, holding the bridles of several huge black horses, which were jostling uncomfortably against each other. The wind spooked them, filled as it was with memories and moans.

In silence, the company mounted, the unnamed har leading another four animals. They were about to descend the road, when a voice cried, 'Halt!'

Leef signalled for quiet and presently a dozen or so cloaked figures emerged from the woods. They held weapons and now these were pointed directly at the group. Flick's heart fell.

'Identify yourselves!'

Flick heard Leef sigh. 'Ithiel, it's me.'

'Late to be out riding, Leef.'

Leef dismounted, but Flick and the others didn't. Perhaps if Leef could divert these hara, they could make a dash for it.

'Go back to the house,' Leef said. 'You haven't seen this.'

'The Gelaming have left Galhea,' said the har Leef had called Ithiel. 'They had an interesting spectacle to observe tonight, and no doubt are reporting their findings as we speak. Don't be a fool, Leef. Don't do this, whoever has given you orders. Ultimately, we all answer to Immanion.'

Flick could tell that Leef was not prepared to concur with this undoubtedly wise suggestion, but before he could say a word, another horse galloped down the road towards them. Its rider brought it to a rearing halt and Flick realised it was Lord Swift himself. His heart, which had sunk low, now felt squashed beneath his feet. There could be no escape now, because Leef would surely not disobey Swift.

'Predictable,' Swift said, scanning the group behind Leef with a cold glance. 'You are following my hostling's orders, I presume.'

'Yes,' said Leef stiffly.

Swift rode nearer to Flick and the others. 'Come out here,' he called to Flick. 'Let me see you.'

Flick urged his horse forward.

Swift fixed him with a stare. 'You won't get far. You do know that, don't you? Our Gelaming guests witnessed what happened, and have returned to Immanion already. Also, it is tiahaar Griselming's wish for you to go to the city. He might already have contacted the Tigron's office.'

Flick didn't know what to say. He was sure there was nothing he could say that would influence events. Whatever was on Swift's mind, it was already made up.

'You cannot hide forever,' Swift said. 'You are still part of it all, Flick. None of us can escape it.'

'Maybe I'm not ready yet,' Flick said. 'I don't want to go to Immanion.'

'No,' Swift said dryly, and it occurred to Flick that Swift was going to let him go, perhaps because he didn't want Seel to be alone with the har who had once shared his home.

'Here,' Swift said and threw a dark object to Flick, who just managed to catch it. It was a heavy purse, full of coins. 'Parsic currency, but it might be of use wherever you go. I wish you luck, tiahaar. I fear you'll need it.'

Flick said nothing.

'We will have much to answer for,' Swift said to Leef. 'Go about your business and return. There may be repercussions.'

'Does Seel know you are here?' Leef asked, a rather impertinent question, Flick thought, which indicated just how good a friend Leef must be of the Parsic leader.

'No,' Swift replied. 'I suspected Cobweb would plan something like this after I heard he'd slipped off with the Kakkahaar.' He looked at Flick. 'We are not Varrs. We have worked hard to shed that reputation. We are not oppressors. There are things I will not tolerate, as long as I remain lord of this domain.' He gathered up the reins of his horse, urged it forward and it galloped off, back along the road towards the house.

'Fur will fly,' Leef muttered as he remounted his horse.

Ithiel took hold of Leef's horse's bridle. 'We should keep out of these things,' he said. 'This will be remembered, Leef. You know that.'

'We all have loyalties,' Leef replied. He made a clucking sound to his horse and jerked its head. Ithiel let go of the reins. The horse began to trot away down the road and the others followed.

Flick could feel eyes upon them until the darkness, and a curve in the road, hid them from view.

Chelone and Leef had arranged for a friend of theirs to take 'Esmeraldarine' downstream, in the hope that any pursuers from Forever Forever would a.s.sume they'd headed back west. They would ride through the night to the northeast, because Leef said there was somewhere they could hole up in that direction, somewhere of which Seel would be unaware. Despite surface appearances, it seemed the House of Parasiel was not as idyllic as the hara who paid fealty to it supposed. They were dark undercurrents beneath its smooth domestic facade, and their cause emanated from Immanion in Almagabra. would a.s.sume they'd headed back west. They would ride through the night to the northeast, because Leef said there was somewhere they could hole up in that direction, somewhere of which Seel would be unaware. Despite surface appearances, it seemed the House of Parasiel was not as idyllic as the hara who paid fealty to it supposed. They were dark undercurrents beneath its smooth domestic facade, and their cause emanated from Immanion in Almagabra.

Strange influences were abroad that night, perhaps a symptom of the season. The wild wind was unnatural. Flick was sure that if he listened carefully, he would hear words he understood in its furious scream. Leef and Chelone took him directly to the meeting place that Cobweb and Tel-an-Kaa had prearranged. Here, the others were waiting, Lileem still very drunk, slumped beneath the oak tree. The chaotic elements made it difficult to take note of Mima's reaction when she saw Chelone, but Flick imagined she would, at the very least, be surprised he was there. However, much fuss could be made of getting everyone mounted on the horses, especially Lileem, who had to be hoisted aloft by Ulaume, and personal issues could be ignored. The har who had accompanied Leef and Chelone and whose name Flick never learned, gave Flick his heavy coat to wear. Without it, Flick was sure he would have died of exposure.

They rode to a covered bridge west of the town, and once across the river, galloped through the fields towards forested hills in the north east. It was impossible to talk, because even a shouting voice was s.n.a.t.c.hed away by the wind. The Parsic horses seemed to become part of the furious elements. The wind was behind them and they almost flew through the autumn meadows. Flick had never ridden such a magnificent horse in his life. It obeyed his slightest command and galloped so smoothly he could almost have fallen asleep.

Once they reached the trees, Chelone, who was leading, slowed the pace a little, to allow the horses to cool down and recover their strength. Here the thickly cl.u.s.tered ancient pines muted the voice of the wind and the sound of the horses' hooves on the compressed needles underfoot was m.u.f.fled. Flick could tell that both Leef and Chelone weren't happy about the slower pace. The horses wound single file along a narrow deer path, and Leef kept to the rear of the line. Often, Flick noticed, he trotted his horse back along the path a short way and waited for a few moments, as if listening for pursuit.

Eventually Flick had to ask, 'Will Seel really follow us? Surely, Swift and Cobweb will make sure he doesn't.' He couldn't imagine Seel riding out by himself in pursuit, and surely all other hara in Forever were loyal to Swift and his hostling. Could Seel give orders over Swift's head?

'It isn't pursuit from Forever Forever I'm worried about,' Leef said. 'Seel has a strong link with Immanion. He might do something rash. And our Gelaming guests clearly made haste to leave tonight.' I'm worried about,' Leef said. 'Seel has a strong link with Immanion. He might do something rash. And our Gelaming guests clearly made haste to leave tonight.'

'I don't understand what's going on,' Flick said. 'Why is the house divided over this? Why is it important?'

'It's like this,' Leef said. 'Fairy stories have happy endings, right?'

He waited for a response, so Flick said, 'I suppose.'

'Well, after the happy ending, life carries on. It has carried on. End of story, or rather next instalment of story.'

'That tells me nothing. Anyway, nohar from Immanion could reach us in time. Or are there Gelaming warriors nearby?'

'Flick, hara from Immanion could be here in seconds,' Leef said. 'They don't use conventional methods of travel. They have unusual horses that perhaps aren't animals at all. They can travel through s.p.a.ce and time.'

'What?'

'Don't even think of questioning it. It's true.'

Flick frowned. 'I believe you. I think... I think I've heard about it before.' Vague memories surfaced in his mind, memories of what Itzama had once told him about gates and horses that could fly through them.

'We need to immerse ourselves in the landscape,' Leef said. 'Let the Zigane use her witch powers to hide us.'

'A woman can do that? Hide us from the Gelaming?'

'I believe she can,' Leef said. Once again, he turned his horse and rode back along the path.

Mima was riding just ahead of Flick and now she urged her mount to the side of the path and gestured for Flick to squeeze his own horse in beside her own. 'I want to ask you something,' she said, in a low voice.

Flick could guess what it was. 'You want to know why I wouldn't go to Immanion, don't you?'

'Well, as the plan has always been to find out the truth about Pell, I am a little confused as to why we're not all all going to Immanion now. Ulaume told me what happened with Seel. Please don't tell me I'm not going to be reunited with my brother because of your problems with an old flame.' going to Immanion now. Ulaume told me what happened with Seel. Please don't tell me I'm not going to be reunited with my brother because of your problems with an old flame.'

'It's more complicated than that.'

'Why are we running from the Gelaming? How are they a threat to us? They are Pell's hara. Are you afraid of him?'

Tel-an-Kaa must have been eavesdropping. Now, she turned in her saddle and said, 'Mima, it is out of the question for you and Lileem to go to the Gelaming.'

'Why?'

'It just is, and soon I'll explain why. You should be afraid of them.'

'But what about you you, Flick?' Mima said. 'There's no reason for you to fear them, is there? Don't you want to meet the Tigron?'

'I'm staying with you, Ulaume and Lee,' Flick replied. 'And I don't like anyhar trying to push me around. I've had my fill of that.'

In the grey moments before dawn, they emerged into a clearing surrounded by cliffs on three sides. To the left a treacherous narrow path led up through the rocks. The thick trees and the darkness had hidden the bones of the land from view. The path had grown steeper for some time, but now, Flick could see clearly that the landscape was more mountainous, the air more rarefied. Clouds were caught in the high branches of tall sentinel pines and carrion birds called hoa.r.s.ely. As the light grew stronger, so their charnel song became a cacophony. The trees were robed in moss, and it felt as if no one, human or har, had visited this area before. Flick felt unnerved. He didn't like being out in the open.

Chelone pa.s.sed round water and food, the latter being hunks of meat and some greasy bread he must have grabbed from the remains of the ritual feast. Lileem looked exhausted, no doubt held in the grip of a savage hangover and Mima was sullen and silent, remaining on the edge of the group. Chelone made no attempt to speak to her.

Tel-an-Kaa stood in the centre of the clearing, hands on hip, scanning the sky. 'The wind has dropped,' she said to Leef.

'Some of it remains, circling high,' said Chelone. 'We should not stay here.'

Ulaume went to sit next to Flick. 'Some party that turned out to be,' he said. He was still wrapped in the fur coat Cobweb had given to him.

'Everything has changed,' Flick said. 'Again. Will we ever find peace?'

Tel-an-Kaa again did not attempt to hide the fact she'd been listening to them. 'I will take you to a safe place,' she said. 'There, you will find the peace you crave.'

'Where?' Flick asked.

'It's a long journey,' she replied. 'We must cross the ocean. Our journey's end lies on the other side of the world.'

'How long will that take?' Ulaume asked.

'Some time,' she said.

Leef came to join them. 'Chelone and I will ride with you to the coast,' he said. 'From there, you are in Tel-an-Kaa's hands.'

'You won't get into serious trouble for this, will you?' Flick asked.

Leef smiled rather grimly. 'Swift was taken from us,' he said and then walked away to confer with Chelone at the edge of the clearing.

'Well, that makes a lot of sense,' Ulaume said scornfully.

'They are still Varrs,' Flick said softly. 'That's what it is. They resent the Gelaming.' what it is. They resent the Gelaming.'

After only half an hour or so, Chelone told them they must continue their journey. 'We must proceed to the safe house. It is not far now, only an hour or so's ride away.'

Lileem was so tired and sick, she was on the verge of tears. Flick could tell it took every ounce of strength she still possessed to haul herself back into the saddle. 'There are no voices in my head now,' she said mournfully to Flick, 'but I just can't enjoy it, because I feel so bad.'

'You're probably still too drunk to hear the voices,' Flick said.

Lileem frowned. 'No. Don't you know? Tel-an-Kaa made the call to me. She came to find me.'

'Why?' Flick asked.

'I don't know,' Lileem replied. 'There's been no time to discuss it. But I don't feel worried about it inside, so it must be OK.'