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there now. I have been travelling toward it for more than a year, but now I have seen sense. It does not exist.”
    “But it has to,” said Arren. “I mean, how can people talk about—you shouldn’t give in until you know.”
    Skade looked at the ground. “No. My heart tells me it is not there. There is no hope. A griffin’s curse cannot be healed.”
    “Not even by another griffin?” said Arren.
    Skade shook her head. “I do not know.”
    “Take me there,” said Arren. “Let me come with you to this place. I’ll help you, Skade.”
    She looked up, all fire and anger again. “No. I travel alone.”
    “But if we travel together, we can work together,” said Arren. “Protect each other. Help each other find food, keep each other company. And you can travel faster if you’re with me. I think Skandar could carry both of us.”
    “I do not need company,” Skade hissed. “I am not going to this cave.”
    “Well then, where are you going?”
    Skade said nothing.
    “You really do want to find it, don’t you?” said Arren. “Don’t give up. I’ll help you get there, I promise.”
    “Why do you want to go there?” said Skade.
    “Because I want to see it. Why do you want to go there?”
    Silence.
    “You’re cursed, aren’t you?” Arren said softly. “That’s why you’re out here, isn’t it? There’s a curse on you.”
    She snarled softly and looked away.
    “Is that why you look like that?” said Arren.
    “Yes,” Skade said at last.
    “I’ll help you, Skade,” said Arren. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
    Skade hesitated. “I will … think about it.”
    “Thank you,” said Arren.
    He ate the cold offal, not noticing the unpleasant taste. His mind was abuzz. She can take me to this place. We’ll find it together, she and I. I’ll go in there and talk to those spirits, I’ll ask them … I’ll ask them to save me .
    He glanced at her and smiled very slightly. She’s beautiful, he thought. In a strange way .
     
    S kade was watching him. The blackrobe was difficult to read, but she could sense his hopefulness, along with a kind of buried fear. She saw his glance toward her, and her eyes narrowed. You want something, she thought. And I will find out what it is .
     
    A rren finished eating, and stretched. It was dark now, and he wrapped up the smoked mutton in a scrap of dirty cloth from his pocket and hung it from a tree to protect it from animals. Skandar was already asleep, his back rising and falling gently in time with his breathing.
    “Well,” said Arren, “I’m ready to sleep now. Keep my robe. I’ll see you in the morning.”
    Skade watched as he curled up beside the griffin, sheltering under one wing. She was tempted to throw the robe aside—but the night air was cold, and though the garment was very dirty and was trimmed with ragged edges, it was still thick and warm. She wrapped it around her shoulders and watched in the dying firelight as Arren fell asleep. He looked tired, but after a few moments she saw his face crease as if in pain. His lips moved as he muttered something to himself, and one hand twitched.
    Skade lay down by the base of a tree, pulling the robe over her exposed shoulders. In spite of herself she was feeling better now. The food had filled her up, and she was warm. And perhaps, after all, the blackrobe could help her. Perhaps the spirit cave really did exist. Perhaps, when she got to the place she had been striving to reach for so long, the cave would be there after all. I will get there, she thought. I should not have given up. I will find it. And afterward, it will be time for my revenge .
    She looked at Arren again, at his scarred face. She had never seen a Northerner who was not a slave. This one was bolder and far more well-spoken than the rest of his race. And he was intelligent, as well. But clearly desperate—for something.
    You will help me, she decided. You and the black griffin. I do not care any more. I will break the curse .
    Arren