The Emperor’s Island was a non-stop party. I was so full of food, all I wanted was to go for a very long walk and then have a very long sleep. I’d seen enough dancers, heard enough music and watched enough other sorts of entertainment to last me a very long time and longed for the peace of the open sea as we sailed north on our raft with the current.

Perhaps I was somewhat fanatic, but Ahren was the same, ‘If we’re going to Sasrar, let’s leave as soon as we can,’ he said, but the others rather liked taking life easy. Raynor was moody at times and appeared to be looking for something, or someone as it turned out, while Tandi had completely disappeared into the luxurious life that attracted her so much. Conwenna had a way of blotting out reality by getting very involved in whatever was going on at that particular moment and Derwin got totally involved as well, without even thinking about whether he was blotting out reality or not. Lee found the whole place fascinating and strange and was intrigued by one thing or another from morning until night.