As far as the smaller children are concerned it’s all very exciting. None of them have ever had a ride in a horse-drawn carriage before. Well, neither have I. Asuti and Garelan have a sense that it’s not just for fun. Garelan’s sitting very quietly with his mother. Asuti’s next to me, looking out of the window, fascinated by the spectacle of the city going past outside from such a strange vantage. But I can tell from the tension in her back and shoulders that she’s worried too.

Ateis has no idea. She’s climbed up to stand on the seat on my other side so she can see out of the back, thrilled by the novelty of it all. Hajarean is on her other side, half turned in his seat so Ateis can point out what she’s seeing to him as we go. I look across at Sam with Beni on the other side of the carriage. Sam gives me a neutral look, I think, and says nothing. It’s funny; for some reason I expected her to object to this a bit more. Find something wrong with it.

The carriage is quite open and airy, with large glassless windows. What look like furled Roman blinds hang above them from the roof inside.

“It’s only for a few days,” I tell Asuti. “Just in case.”

“I know.”

I put my hand on her back. I’m not sure who I’m steadying more.

“D’you think he’ll know if my brother’s still alive?” Asuti asks.

“Master Feran? I don’t know. We can certainly ask. You mustn’t be disappointed—”

“I know.” She hasn’t turned from looking out of the window for the entire exchange.