They came to a crossroads, and Salrana made to turn right.

'Not that way, he hissed.

'But that's down to the wall, she whispered back.

'They'll be expecting that. The fastfoxes will scent us if we try to climb over the ramparts.

'Where are we going then?

'Up towards the cliff.

'But… won't they search the caves?

'We're not sheltering in the caves, he assured her. He found a dozen genistars still alive nearby, mainly dogs, with a couple of chimps and even a foal; and ordered them to walk across and around the track they were leaving to lay false scents. Though he suspected not even fastfoxes would be able to track them with so much smoke and ash in the air.

It took a couple of minutes to reach the site where the new well was being dug. So far Wedard and his team had only excavated five yards down, with barely the top third lined in stone. 'In you go, Edeard told her. There was a small ladder leading down to the wooden framework at the bottom of the hole where ge-monkeys spent their days digging into the stone and clay.

'They'll look in here, Salrana said desperately.

'Only if it's open, Edeard said grimly, and gestured at the big stone cap which would seal the shaft once it was complete.

'You can move that? she asked incredulously.

'We'll find out in a minute. But I'm pretty sure no one can farsight through it.

Salrana started down the crude ladder, her mind seething with fright. Edeard followed her, stopping when his head was level with the rim. This was the biggest gamble, the one on which both their lives now depended, but he couldn't think of any way out of the village, not past the fastfoxes and alert bandits. He fired a longtalk query directly at the Eggshaper Gild compound. 'Akeem? he asked quietly. There was no reply. He still didn't dare use his farsight. With a last furious look at the raging firestorm which was his home, he reached out with his third hand and lifted the huge slab of stone. It skimmed silently through the air, keeping a couple of inches off the ground before settling on the top of the well shaft with a slow grinding sound. The orange glow of the flames, the sound of collapsing masonry and human anguish cut off abruptly.

Edeard waited for hours. He and Salrana clung to each other on the planking at the bottom of the pit, drawing what comfort they could from each other. Eventually, she fell into a troubled sleep, twitching and moaning. He wouldn't allow himself the luxury.

Is this all my fault? Were they seeking revenge for the ambush in the forest? But they started it. His worst guilt came from a single thought which nagged and nagged at his soul. Could I have done more? Now he was sober and the worst of the hangover had abated, he kept thinking about the sensation which had woken him so abruptly. It was the same as the alarm he'd felt in the forest, a foresight that something was wrong. Normally the senior priestesses of the Empyrean Lady claimed to have a modest timesense; granted of course by the Lady Herself. So such a thing was possible. If I hadn't been so stupid. If I hadn't wasted the warning…

He didn't want to open the stone cap. The scene which he knew would greet them was almost too much to contemplate. My fault. All my fault.

A few hours after they took refuge, some slices of pale light seeped in round the edge of the cap where the stone rim wasn't quite level. Still Edeard waited. The rise of the sun wasn't going to automatically make the bandits go away. There was nothing left for them to fear for tens of miles. It would be the villages now who would wait for the fall of each night with dread.

'We never suspected they were so well organized, Edeard said bitterly. 'Me of all people, I should have realized.

'Don't be silly, she said. In the dark she reached out for him again, her slim arm going round his waist. 'How could you have known? This is something beyond even the Mother to see.

'Did Mother Lorellan have a timesense?

'Not much of one, no. Yesterday evening she was concerned about something, but she couldn't define it.

'She couldn't see her own murder? What kind of timesense is that?

Salrana started sobbing again.

'Oh Lady, I'm so sorry, he said, and hugged her tight. 'I didn't think. I'm so stupid.

'No Edeard. You came to help me. Me, out of everybody in Ashwell; all your friends, your Master. Why? Why me?

'I… All those years, it was like just me and you against the world. You were the only friend I had. I don't think I would have made it without you. The number of times I thought about running off into the wild.

She shook her head in dismay. 'Then you'd have been a bandit, you would have been one of the invaders last night.

'Don't say that. Not ever. I hate them. First my parents, now… He couldn't help it, he hung his head and started weeping. 'Everything. Everything's gone. I couldn't help them. Everybody was scared of how strong I am, and when they really needed me I was useless.

'Not useless, she said. 'You helped me.

They spent a long time just pressed together. Edeard's tears dried up after a while. He wiped at his face, feeling stupid and miserable. Salrana's hands came up to cup his face. 'Would you like me? she whispered.

'Er… I. No. It was a very difficult thing to say.

'No? Her thoughts, already fragile, fountained a wave of bewildered hurt. 'I thought—

'Not now, he said, and gripped her hands. He knew what it was, the shattering grief, the loneliness and fright; all so evident in her thoughts. She needed comfort, and physical intimacy was the strongest comfort of all. Given his own shaky emotional state it would have been heartening for him, too. But he cared too much, and it would have felt too much like taking advantage. 'I really would, but you're young. Too young.

'Linem had a child last year, she wasn't quite as old as I am today.

He couldn't help but grin. 'What kind of example is that for a novice to set to her flock?

'Flock of one.

Edeard's humour faded. 'Yes: one.

Salrana looked up at the stone cap. 'Do you think any of them are left?

'Some, yes. Of course. Ashwell village is stubborn and resilient, that's what Akeem always said. That's how it's resisted change so effectively for the last few centuries.

'You really wanted to?

'I— He found it disconcerting the way she could jump between topics so lightly, especially when that was one of the subjects in question. 'Yes, he admitted cautiously. 'You must know how beautiful you're becoming.

'Liar! I have to visit Doc Seneo three times a week to get ointment for my face.

'You are growing up lovely, he insisted quietly.

'Thank you, Edeard. You're really sweet, you know. I've never thought of any other boy. It's always been you.

'Um. Right.

'It would be terrible to die a virgin, wouldn't it?

'Lady! You are the worst novice in the whole Void.

'Don't be so silly. The Lady must have enjoyed a good love life. She was Rah's wife. Half of Makkathran claim to be descended from them. That's a lot of children.

'This has to be blasphemy.

'No. It's being human. That's why the Lady was anointed by the Firstlifes, to remind us how to discover our true nature again.

'Well right now we need to think survival'

'I know. So how old do I have to be? Your age?

'Um, probably, yes. Yes, that's about right.

'Can't wait. Did you go with Zehar last night?

'Not— Hey, that is not your concern. For some stupid reason, he suddenly wished he had given in to Zehar's advances. She'll be dead now; quickly if she was lucky.

'You're going to be my husband. I'm entitled to know all about your old lovers.

'I'm not your husband.

'Not yet, she taunted. 'My timesense says you will be.

He threw up his hands in defeat.