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.’
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.’
‘Hmm,’ Flick murmured. ‘What interest does a Zigane have in you, how did she know about you and how did she manage to call you? There are a lot of questions here, Lee.’
‘I know, but all I can care about at the moment is lying down and going to sleep.’
The safe house was little more than a sprawling shack high in the mountains, surrounded by ancient trees. At one time, it might have been a logger’s cabin. Leef said that Varrish patrols used to scour these mountain forests for refugee humans. He didn’t relate the fate of those unfortunate captives.
The cabin had fallen into disrepair somewhat, but there were still bunks and blankets within, running water, and chopped logs stacked outside for firewood. Leef and Chelone didn’t appear at all tired and set about lighting a fire. Lileem went straight to the nearest bunk, threw herself onto it face down and was snoring in minutes. Four beds were in one room, a further six in another, more than enough for a competent Varrish patrol. Ulaume and Flick went into the other room and pushed two of the narrow bunks together so they could sleep wrapped in each other’s warmth. There was no way either of them wanted to undress: the beds looked gritty and mouldy.
‘Is it safe to sleep?’ Flick wondered aloud.
Ulaume sniffed in distaste at the damp mildewy blankets. ‘If the Parsics think so, then yes,’ he said. ‘You can tell they’re antsy about pursuit, but they obviously feel safe here.’
The Parsics allowed them to sleep for only five hours. Flick and Ulaume must have dropped off straight away, because they hadn’t heard Leef and Chelone come into the room and lie down on two of the other bunks.
Lileem had recovered considerably and went outside with Mima to hunt for breakfast. Leef went to prepare the horses and Chelone left the cabin to bring in more wood for the fire. Flick and Ulaume used this time to corner Tel-an-Kaa. They wanted to know about her connection with Lileem.
‘I can’t tell you yet,’ she replied to their low-voiced questions. ‘The Parsics are too close. Know only I have Lileem’s best interests at heart, and yours also. Mima falls under my protection as well.’
‘Mima did not hear a call like Lileem did,’ Ulaume said.
‘No,’ said Tel-an-Kaa, ‘and that is unusual, but she is still what she is.’
‘That being?’ Ulaume asked.
Tel-an-Kaa smiled. ‘Once we are free of the Parsics, I will explain everything to you all. Once we are at sea.’
And unable to get away from you, Flick couldn’t help thinking. He liked Tel-an-Kaa, and did not feel particularly uncomfortable around her, but there was something nebulous he felt unsure about and he sensed Ulaume felt the same. It was almost as if she wasn’t quite real, that at any moment the illusion might shatter and reveal something entirely different. Also, Flick didn’t like the way the Zigane seemed to think Lileem, and Mima too, were now her responsibility.