The sky slowly began to darken over Silence Gorge as Sorrel settled into the cave with Leif and the others. Old Synan didn't seem too surprised at her sudden return – he greeted both her and Cloud fondly but he was more interested in the Elani newcomer who had yet to introduce herself.

The woman looked up. "Oh! My name's Saoirse, daughter of Trull the Carpenter and Kyla. Traders from Ollingash in Bramshire."

Leif handed her a bowl of Jia's soup and smiled warmly. "I remember Trull," he said. "He carved Mum's old violin, remember Sorrel?"

She nodded and continued to tuck into her meal.

"Saoirse's a beautiful name," Leif said.

Sorrel coughed and spluttered and almost choked on her soup. Leif gave her a quizzical look. "What?" he asked.

"No, nothing!" she replied, trying to hide a smile. She grinned at Little Cloud and he chuckled. She could see her brother was already smitten with the pretty newcomer.

"Do you know what the name Saoirse means?" Synan asked. "It's an old Elani word, I've not heard it as a name before."

Saoirse nodded, a grin on her face. "It's quite fitting really," she said. "It means freedom."

Sorrel smiled and one of the others pulled a face and groaned and seemed about to make a snide remark before Lachlan nudged her in the ribs.

For the first time Sorrel realised a Lamya was among them and she put her bowl down and touched her sword. "Just what exactly is she doing here?" she demanded. "Has everyone forgotten what the Lamya have done to our families?"

"Sorrel..." Cloud warned.

She ignored him and looked hard at her brother. "Leif, you don't trust her, do you?"

Leif sighed. He seemed to have forgotten just how much she hated the Lamya. As far as she was concerned, he should hate them too, especially after what happened to their father. "Sorrel, this is Mariko Kint," Leif said. "She has very little to do with the Kingdom any more. And yes, I do trust her."

Mariko seemed surprised. "Really?" she asked.

Leif nodded. "You helped us today, we would've been a lot worse off without you at our side."

Mariko said nothing and Sorrel stared at her for a moment. She shrugged and continued with her meal in silence, though she made a mental note to keep an eye on the Lamya.

"What's with the bird?" Mariko asked, changing the subject.

Little Cloud stroked the feathers of the raven. "This is Bartram," he said. "A friend of ours."

"Then you found Running Bear," said Synan. "Good! He helped you?"

"He said he'd send a message to his friends," Sorrel said. "But, sir, I don't think help is coming. Though with Gaeshi on our side I don't see how we can lose. In fact…" She placed the empty bowl by her side and declared, "We'll go tomorrow. We'll take them by surprise, rescue Mum, everyone…"

"I'm not sure—" started Leif.

"I'll go with you!" Saoirse said quickly. "I promised myself I'd go back for White Cloud and the others."

Cloud sat up at the mention of his father's name. "Dad? He's safe?"

Saoirse nodded. "He's fighting fit, Little Cloud, your mother too."

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief and he looked at Leif resolutely. "I'm going with Sorrel."

Leif groaned. "Anyone else?"

Gaeshi smiled and said, "I'm destined to follow Sorrel."

"I say we all go," said Lachlan. "We've done enough waiting. We're all ready."

Sorrel grinned and looked at her brother expectantly. "Fine," Leif said. "But we go in the evening. There are plans to make and wounds to be healed, Maemi's arm, Saoirse's ankle. I'll have no argument, not even from you Sorrel."

"Tomorrow evening then," she agreed, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. "We enter the Kingdom of Malinas."