Farinka patted the shoulder of the palomino as he rolled onto his chest, shaking his head to clear the after-effects of the dozewort.

"Come on, sunshine," she said. "On your feet. You're okay."

"That's quite a good name for him," remarked Tarke. "Sunshine. He's the right colour."

"Yes, he is, isn't he?"

"More of an 'it' than a 'he', now," said Tarke, grinning.

"True. Bit like Nemeth," said Farinka.

"He wouldn't forgive you if he heard you," said Tarke.

"I heard," said Nemeth.

"It's impolite to walk so quietly," said Farinka.

"At least I will be totally male," said Nemeth. "It's only a matter of a Journey." He looked down at Farinka, his eyes full of amused challenge.

– You doubt me, Domina? He laughed. "True?"

"Yes, true." – and no, I don't doubt you for a moment, Nemeth, she added.

"Good." – Remember it.

Tarke laughed. "Okay, you two, enough. What are we going to call the others? They ought to have names."

"You could call the rabbit-coloured one Rabbit," suggested Nemeth.

"You're joking! You can't call a packbeast 'Rabbit'," said Tarke. "He's more mouse-coloured, anyway."

"Strange," said Farinka. "You definitely couldn't call him Rabbit, but for some reason Mouse doesn't sound so daft. Wonder why?"

"Because it's more often used to describe the colour, at a guess," said Nemeth, sinking into his usual cross-legged position. "How do you describe rabbit-coloured without calling it 'rabbit'?"

"The correct name for wild-type colour is agouti," said Farinka. "School Biology," she added. "Funny what you remember. But his colour is called mouse dun."

"Now that is a nice name," said Nemeth. "Agouti."

"Yes," said Tarke. "What about the creamy dun?"

Sunshine scrambled to his feet, shook himself, and walked away to join the others.

"He seems okay," said Louka, joining them. "Hardly notices it, does he?"

"Doesn't seem to," agreed Farinka. "We're just trying to think of a name for that cream dun one."

"What have you called the others?"

"Sunshine and Agouti," said Nemeth.

"He's almost barley-flour-coloured, isn't he?" said Tarke.

"Or oats. Or wheat," said Louka. "Too grey for maize. Not grey enough for stone."

"Not unlike raw flax," said Tarke. "A bit darker, perhaps."

"Flax. I like that," said Farinka. "It feels right. Where did Sherath go?"

"Hunting," said Nemeth. "I left him by the alp. There were some alp-oxen up there – he was going to try and bag a calf if he could get near enough. I brought a sheep back."

"How big a calf?" asked Farinka.

"Quite big, at this time of year. Would probably weigh what I do," said Nemeth.

"That's a bit heavy to carry home," said Farinka.

"Don't you believe it. Sherath's carried me before now. Besides, there's a good hide on a calf that size. Very warm; the alp-oxen grow their winter coats early."

Farinka felt a twinge of uneasiness run through her. She shivered.

"Cold?" asked Nemeth.

"No. I'm going to go down and meet him." She stood up; Moondust raised his head from his grazing, looking at her. He snorted, and trotted over, followed by Moonwind.

"Take both of them," said Jevann, walking over with the sheepskin backcloths in his hands.

"You think so too?" asked Farinka quietly.

"I think you should take them both," he answered. "But I don't know why. Be careful, Domina."

"I will."

She belted the sheepskins over their backs. Moondust was keen to go.

– If you stand still, you idiot, I could get on, she chided him. He stood, snorting, as she vaulted up. Come on, then.

She had to slow him back to a trot from the edge of the woodland to the main trail where the detour was, but once on that trail the unicorns opened out into an easy canter which ate the miles; the trail seemed almost to flash by, but the canter felt slow and steady. It was a matter of only half an hour before they reached the meadow where she, Shiffih and Nemeth had stopped to eat on the way to the Elf village.

I thought this was further away than this, she thought.

Moondust snorted – there was a definite feeling of amusement in his snort, and in the brief instant of Awareness which he flashed her before lengthening out to a gallop across the grass. The meadow passed in a blur.

– You must know something I don't, big fella, she said to him, patting him. Once between the trees again he slowed to a smooth trot. Farinka noticed that she was more out of breath from riding than either of the unicorns was from running. She lay on his withers, her arms clasped round his neck, to avoid low branches.

– As fast as you like, Moondust. I won't fall. He stretched out to a canter again, dodging and weaving between the trees, Moonwind always no more than half a length behind; sometimes they hit a deer-trail for a while, more often they were moving through areas with no clear path. – Don't you ever need to rest? she wondered. This time the amusement – from Moonwind as well – was palpable.

– Okay, okay. I've never met unicorns before. Just horses.

The canter was less easy to stay on downhill than it had been uphill, but still smooth. By the time they reached the main alp both unicorns were breathing heavily, and their flanks were damp.

– Walk now. I want to look; quietly. She cast Awareness ahead, feeling for the touch of Sherath's mind. It was there, the far side of the alp. As her mind touched his she felt his Awareness of her, tinged with relief.

– Domina. I'm glad you're here. There are men here – one of them's hurt. If I dared let them see me again I could probably help, but as it is I'm in as much danger from them as he is from his wounds. His Voice was weary.

– Are you okay? Did you get the calf?

– Yes. To both questions. The calf's hidden – so am I, now. How far away are you?

– Not far. What happened? How did they see you?

– A cougar jumped them. I was somewhat less than careful. I managed to distract her, but she's not gone far.

– Stay hidden; I'll come over. She extended her Awareness away from Sherath. The men were not far from him, at the foot of a granite outcrop. Piet, Jaimeh, Gort, three others from the village. She set Moondust into a canter again.

"Piet! It's only me. Do you need help?"

Piet stood up, running towards her.

"Seeker! Thank the Gods! Jaimeh's hurt – hurt bad."

Farinka slithered down from Moondust's back and patted him. The unicorns backed off as Piet came up; his eyes were full of fear and worry.

"How badly is Jaimeh hurt?" Farinka asked.

"His arm. A mountain lion got him; bit him badly. I think the arm's broken, as well."

"Okay. I'll see what I can do." They went over to where Jaimeh lay, and Farinka crouched by him.

He was pale, sweaty; his breathing fast and shallow, and he was shivering. The arm was a mess – the upper arm muscles badly ripped, and both elbow and shoulder at angles they weren't designed for. There was also a lot of blood.

"This is not good, Piet," said Farinka, looking up at him. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I don't think I can do this on my own. There's someone here who can probably handle this better than I can."

"Who? Seeker, do you not trust me?" Piet asked.

"Did you see someone else when the cougar attacked?"

"I thought I did, for a moment. But then I wasn't sure. You mean there was someone?"

"Yes. What you'd probably call a 'devil'. He's not; he's a Seeker of sorts as well; with a far harder quest than mine. And also a Healer. Would you trust him?"

Piet crouched by his brother. "Jaimeh?"

"Whatever she says," said Jaimeh, barely audible. "I'll trust anyone the Seeker trusts." There were murmurs of assent from the other men.

– Sherath?

– Yes, I heard.

– I think it's quite safe. I feel no threat from any of these. Use your own Awareness. What do you think?

– I think you're right. I'll come down. Sherath climbed down from the top of the granite, landing lightly two or three paces from where Jaimeh lay; his Awareness wide open. He faced Piet.

"Who are you?" said Piet, looking up at Sherath.

"Sherath. And you are the leader of these men?"

"Yes. Piet. And this is Jaimeh – my brother. Can you help?"

"I expect so," said Sherath confidently, crouching by Jaimeh and putting his hand gently on the injured arm. He shut his eyes; Farinka felt the deft probing of Sherath's Awareness, and also a constant drain of Power being used for some other purpose. Sherath opened his eyes.

"It's not broken," he said, stripping off his jacket and putting it over Jaimeh. "He needs to be kept warm, Piet. Give me your jacket as well." He held out his hand for the sheepskin which Piet handed over, and covered most of the rest of Jaimeh.

– He's in a lot of pain, Sherath, noted Farinka.

– Yes; I Hear him quite clearly. And the other one is very worried. His feelings are wide open.

– Yes. Easy to Hear.

– Domina, I'm going to have to use dozewort on him. It would be inhumane to attempt anything with this arm while he's awake.

– Okay. I don't think Piet will be too worried if we explain.

She looked up at Piet. "We're going to have to make him sleep, Piet. It's no magic, just the juice of a herb. He'll wake quite soon. Don't be worried."

"Okay." Piet was watching as Sherath used twig tweezers to pick a thorn dart out of the box. "May I see?"

Sherath held the dart up, his eyes still on Jaimeh. Piet reached out his hand toward the dart.

– Don't touch, Piet. Sherath's Voice was soft but with just a hint of Command, his back to Piet.

Piet snatched his hand away.

– He Heard you, Sherath.

– Yes. And he didn't know he had.

"The thorn would send you to sleep as well as Jaimeh," Farinka said to Piet.

"Jaimeh," Sherath said softly, "the thorn will just scratch you. It will make you sleep. There is nothing to be frightened of. Trust me."

"Yes, I trust you," murmured Jaimeh.

"Good man." Sherath drew the tip of the thorn across Jaimeh's wrist, and then ground it into the earth with his boot. He looked up at Farinka. "I'll need your help, Domina. I'll also need some herbs – willow, camomile, comfrey. And some strips of soft hide to bind the arm with, and a larger piece of hide to hold it up once we've finished."

"My men can find herbs and hide," said Piet.

"That's good," said Sherath, his eyes meeting Piet's. "The herbs need to be dropped into boiling water – I know there's a pot ready on your fire. I need some of it left to soak in the water, hot, and some cooled down to be warm enough to wash the arm with without burning."

"I'll see to it," said Gort. Sherath looked up at him, the corners of his eyes creasing into a smile. Gort found himself smiling back.

"Take the others with you," suggested Sherath. "I'll need space and quiet."

– Domina, I need you to hold Jaimeh's upper arm as best you can without adding to his injuries; hold it tight. I'm going to have to pull as well as twist to get this elbow to come round. Okay?

– Okay. Sherath took hold of Jaimeh's wrist and hand, and looked up at Farinka.

– Sure you're okay?

– Yes. Go for it. Oh, yuck! That crunched.

– They do, sometimes. Sherath grinned. You still okay?

– Yes. What next?

– Just steady him while I do the shoulder. Sherath shifted his grip to Jaimeh's upper arm, locking his own arms together around it and bending the arm up at the elbow. Then he did a kind of twisting pull on the arm. Farinka shut her eyes, expecting another crunch, but there wasn't one. Okay, Domina; you can look now. Sherath caught her eyes as she opened them; his own eyes laughing. It wasn't that bad, was it?

– No. I'm just not used to it.

– Don't worry; I am.

– I noticed.

– He's going to be awake in a minute. I'll use another thorn on him. Sherath sat back, checking the pulse at the wrist. He looked up at Piet.

"There's a good strong pulse in this wrist. He hasn't damaged the blood supply at all – so everything should be okay when it heals. Don't look so worried, Piet. He's young, he's strong. The worst danger to him is that he's lost a lot of blood. But I think he can make that up all right."

Jaimeh stirred restlessly and opened his eyes, half woozy.

"Okay?" Sherath asked him. He nodded. "I'm going to send you back to sleep for a few more minutes." The thorn was in the tweezers and across Jaimeh's wrist almost before Sherath finished speaking.

Gort came over with a pan full of warm herb-scented water. "Is this enough?" he asked Sherath. Sherath dipped a finger into it.

"Yes. That's right. You've kept some hot?"

"Yes. Will he be all right?" Gort's voice was concerned.

"Yes. It'll take some time, but he'll be fine in the end."

"He's promised to my sister," said Gort quietly, looking at Sherath.

"I didn't know Marte was your sister," said Farinka.

"Well, half-sister. Her mother died birthing her. Sir, why are you helping us?"

"You're fond of your half-sister, aren't you?" said Sherath.

"Yes. I am."

"The little one that you let the Seeker bring back to the woods?" Sherath's eyes met Gort's, then Piet's.

"Yes?" said Gort. "What about her?"

"She's my half-sister. And I'm pretty fond of her, too."

"We'll never trouble you or yours again," promised Piet.

Sherath smiled up at him. "Yes. I know. My kindred are not devils or demonspawn; we're all Seekers and Healers."

He washed the torn upper arm muscles carefully, running the herby water through every tear and into every toothmark before replacing the muscles in their right positions and smoothing the skin down over them. Farinka could feel something in addition to Sherath's Awareness as he worked; she suddenly recognised it as the same thing that had come from herself when she was working on Karinna's sickness.

"Tell me something, Piet," Sherath asked. "Have there been any Seekers in your family?"

Piet grinned. "My father's father was one."

"How about your father?" asked Farinka.

"He died young," said Piet. "Well, not so young – but we always thought of him as young. He'd have been close on fifty."

"What happened to him?" asked Sherath.

"Got into a fight with an alp-ox and came out of it second-best," said Piet. "People say I take after my father. Now how old would you think I was?" he asked Farinka.

"I wouldn't like to guess," she said. "Maybe twenty-five, thirty?"

"Forty this year," replied Piet somewhat smugly.

"I'd never have guessed," said Farinka, watching as Sherath started to bind the wet herb leaves around the arm as a poultice.

– I'd say he probably takes after his grandsire as well as his sire, Domina, said Sherath, his Voice amused. And he has no idea, does he?

– Not a clue.

"If you ever feel the urge to be a Seeker like your grandsire, Piet, you'd be sure of a welcome amongst my people," said Sherath. He smiled up at Piet, winding the last of the bandage and tying it in a flat knot.

"That's kind of you, sir," said Piet. "I might do that, one day. When I have a son old enough to take my place."

– Does he have any children, Domina?

– Soon.

– What's his woman like?

– Not like him. I've a feeling Jaimeh is, though.

– Yes. I'd say so. And what about this Marte that he's promised to?

– I don't know, said Farinka thoughtfully. Possibly. I thought when I met her that she'd make a good Healer. There's something about her, certainly. And in a group that small there's a good chance they're related somewhere along the line.

– It would pay to keep an eye on them for the next several years.

– I think so. Same line as Lekki and Linka?

– Quite likely. Sherath sat back on his heels and rubbed his hand across his eyes.

– Are you okay?

– Tired, Domina. That cougar's still close. I can't hold her off forever. Feel her?

– Yes. Hungry. With cubs somewhere.

Jaimeh groaned as he came back out of the sleep, shaking his head to clear it. Sherath helped him to sit up, and made a sling out of the last piece of hide.

"Feeling better?" asked Sherath.

"Much better. Weak, but not so much pain," responded Jaimeh.

"There are just a couple of other things I'd like to check," Sherath told him. "Have you got any deadness, or tingling, anywhere in your hand or arm?"

Jaimeh half-frowned as he concentrated. "Not that I can tell just yet," he answered.

Sherath touched each side and the tips of Jaimeh's fingers and thumb in turn. "Can you feel here? And here? Anything feel strange?"

"No, that all seems just as usual," Jaimeh said. The he yawned mightily.

"Bring the rest of the herb tea over, Gort, would you?" asked Farinka. She turned to Jaimeh. "You'll need to drink some of this three or four times a day. Don't take willow more often than that – willow's good, but too much willow is not good. You can drink as much camomile and comfrey tea as you want. Add a little salt and some honey to it. And you're going to need to eat well to help your body make more blood – you lost a lot here."

"What sort of food?" said Jaimeh, taking the mug of herb tea which Gort held out to him and sipping gingerly at it.

"Liver, kidneys, spinach, kale, watercress, nettle," said Sherath. "Plenty of fruit, plenty of nuts. You'll probably find that you hunger for the things that you need – your body will know what's needed. Talking of hunger," he added, looking up at Piet, "there's still a hungry, angry cougar close by. You need to get Jaimeh home as soon as you can – one of your packbeasts must carry him. But if you don't leave something to keep that cougar occupied she's going to come after the easiest prey – which is Jaimeh, as he's already weak. I'd suggest that you leave one of the sheep you got. Slit it open for her – her cubs will go for that and that will help keep her off your trail. Get Jaimeh home and into bed, and make him rest. His elbow and shoulder will take many weeks to recover their strength; as soon as he can move them freely without pain, he needs to do gentle exercise with the arm. Build up the exercise slowly, but don't even start it for at least two weeks." He rubbed his hand across his eyes again.

– Domina, I want to get us away soon. I'm running out of strength to keep that cougar away. And soon she's going to notice it.

Piet wrapped his own jacket around Jaimeh's shoulders and handed Sherath's jacket back to him.

"Our thanks, again," he said humbly.

"No trouble," said Sherath. "Go, Piet. Get him home. I'll put the fire out for you. Just drop a sheep; I'll split it for the cougar. Go. Luck go with you." He stood and put an arm round Piet's shoulders. "May Dominn bless you," he added quietly.

Farinka watched them make their way back down the trail.