It took no more than an hour to gather up what they had found and make their way back to the ledge Aitonalà had shown them. The forest was peaceful, full of afternoon light and the smells of growing things. Excited chatter had greeted them as they climbed the bluff, so they were not surprised to see Aitonalà tripping across the leaf mulch soon after they arrived. She still had the belt and dagger, but now carried a sloth in the crook of one arm, while a medium-sized python was draped around her neck. She dropped cross-legged to the grass and simply sat there. Chrys came up, bag in hand, and sat beside her.

“Aitonalà Sleepy Softfur am I, Aitonalà Clearspring Crayfisher, Aitonalà Fernslither Quicktooth.”

“And I am Chrysanthemum. Who has gone into the earth and helped drive out the undermen. Who has rescued their treasure. Are you ready to see the world with us? There are great salt seas, mountains of fire, towers of iron. We have gathered up wrappings for your body and feet, for beyond your Place the earth will not be soft nor the thorns bend away from you. Still, we will protect you as far as we can, from undermen and demons, freezing cold and dry sands.”

“It might be that I will not set out quite yet. You brought out a treasure, you say?”

“Nothing you would be interested in.”

“I would see this treasure.”

“It might be that I might give it to you, if it so wills. But among our kind, a gift given demands a gift in return. Like for like. Nothing more than what I give.” Chrys pulled the skull from the bag.

“A head-bone,” laughed Aitonalà. “I have lots of those, green and moss-covered, worm-clean under earth. I will give you like for like.” Chrys handed her the skull, and she ran her hand over its smooth dome.

The skull spoke. “That feels rather good. I would like it if that happened more often. It has been a long time since a young woman fondled me. Tell me, who is the new owner? It would be proper for the new owner to issue me the word of the day.”

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“Before we come to that, how do you like this place?” Chrys asked.

“Better than the riverside. The damp was not good for old bones. The air is fresher up here, too.”

“Good. Aitonalà here seeks a sentinel, to adorn her Place. Aitonalà, he is yours.”

“Excellent. I will find you a bone just as good, or even better.”

“You must give me like for like, remember? I have freed to you a soul. You must return one.”

“But I do not have a soul!”

“No, but you can free a soul into my company, as I have done for you.”“How then will I see the world?”

“I would be glad to wait a little, but I fear that fire or sea or dark claws or cold iron will take that soul or body from you. Then where would you be? Far from your Place and in debt. I would not wish that on you.”

Aitonalà made a petulant moué and a shudder went through the body. The snake dropped to the ground and slithered away. The sloth gripped the skull in its teeth, clacked over to the nearest tree and began to climb. Aitonala looked down. “First, I want my undies back, indeed all my clothes. Then you can tell me about the undermen and I’ll tell you about life in the forest. Also, never talk to animals, no matter how cute.”

From above came a cry, “Yeh! This is much better than a stick. I can see for ever. The word of the day is ‘Horizon’.”

The party moved as soon as Aitonala had dressed. Their calls of goodbye and thanks went unanswered. They were not far from the boulder patch, and Kosohona remarked that at least they might have the anteater, happy in its old home, dropping by to share its joy. “and, she went on, maybe Aitonala can talk to other animals. Well, the talking ones, anyway. Hang on, I didn’t make sense – we can talk to animals if they can talk.”

“Actually,” Aitonala commented, “animals don’t talk. It was the wood-spirit talking through the ones we met. Or sometimes talking for them. She was translating the anteater’s memories and feelings into language. Most of them. It spent a lot of time thinking about ants. So bring me up to date on the undermen.”