Long shad ows stretched across the road winding along the valley bottom. His feet were aching in a pair of Helgis’s ill-fitting shoes but he didn’t want to admit this to Rain who had walked without complaint for hours. She’d taken back the bundle when she had noticed him struggle. ‘Don’t worry, Ret, if I’m right, they’ll find us. You mustn’t be scared. If we don’t fight them, I doubt they’ll hurt us.’ At least that was what she was hoping. ‘If you like, you could wait here and I’ll go on. You can be my lookout.’ She wished he’d take this option so that at least she wouldn’t have to be concerned about him in what was to come. ‘No, Rain, we’re in this together,’ he said deter minedly. Rain couldn’t help smiling. ‘You know, Ret, I think you would make a splendid Master given the chance.’ ‘Thank you, Rain. I’m certainly learning a lot. I just didn’t realize.’ ‘Realize what?’ ‘That all this was out here—that my people were like Helgis and his family.
