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The three Firbolg lowered their heads as they entered the shed. The Doctor gave each a quick bow as they came in and was answered by slight inclinations of their backs. When they were all inside he shut the door. The shed was rather overcrowded now. The Doctor's mare rose and began to sniff at the newcomers.

'So, you journey to Goibhnie. You are not the first.'

'No?' the Doctor asked.

‘No, we have another who has journeyed from the place called Earth, He has been with the herd for two days now. You will meet him.'

'Yes, we'd like that.'

‘You have no choice. You are on our land and so must go before our lord to explain yourselves.'

'But we've explained what we're doing to you,' the Doctor protested.

'Honour demands that you present yourself before our lord. It is only proper.'

'Ah, I see. Because I am on your land it is right and fair that I should meet with your leader. It would be discourteous for me not to do so.'

'For a human you grasp our customs well, Doctor. And if you do not satisfy our lord then you will die.'

Bathsheba gasped in horror.

'Do not worry, little human,' Allan said. 'Our lord is generally easily pleased.'

'Aye, unless he has something on his mind,' agreed Chrawd. 'Of course, he does have something on his mind at the moment.'

'True, true.'

'Gentles,' admonished Ferllu, 'you are frightening the girl. Be so kind as to take these sheep to our flock. They have been abandoned by their human owners and so we may claim them for the while.'

'As you command, good Ferllu.' Allan opened the door and let Chrawd usher the sheep through. With a wave to Bathsheba he went out and closed the door behind him.

‘If you will gather your packs together, I think we should rejoin the herd as well.’

The Doctor nodded.

'You may ride upon my back,’ Ferllu told Bathsheba kindly.

Bathsheba did not relish the prospect of going out again, but she saw that they had little choice. She gave the Doctor what little help she could and tied the pack across her pony's back. Ferllu lifted her up on to his back and she wrapped his mane around her fingers. In many ways, this Filbolg was not so unlike the Ceffyl that she had befriended. Wistfully, she wondered what had happened to Rush.

The Doctor led the two horses outside and then mounted. Ferllu followed close behind and then took the lead as they rode across the snow The wind was as vicious, as before but the snow was no longer falling. In the east Arawn’s Wheel was creeping over the horizon. It stained the landscape red as though a great and bloody battle had been fought there. The snowfield was as barren as a desert. It stretched away to the horizon on all sides blemished only by the tracks that the travellers left behind them.

Bathsheba yawned and began to slump forward against Ferllu's back. He put one hand behind himself to support her.

At last, in the distant twilight the Doctor picked out the signs of the Firbolg camp. Two guards trotted out to meet them. They carried pikes as tall again as themselves and wore loose-fitting tunics over their bare torsos

‘Hail, soldiers,' Ferllu greeted them. ‘I bring more strangers from the other world.'

'Hail, Ferllu. Do you plan to bring them before our lord immediately?'

‘I see no point in delaying.'

‘Well, he has his feet plunged into the snow at the moment to relieve his pain. Perhaps you would do well to wait.’

'If his discomfort is being assuaged then now would be the best time for an audience.’

‘And I would prefer an immediate audience ' the Doctor spoke up. One of the guards stared at him as though amazed at the audacity of a human speaking up for himself. The Doctor shrugged and added as an explanation, 'We would like to be on our way as soon as possible.'

The guards waved them on and Ferllu led the Doctor into the camp, talking as he went. 'This is the herd of Daffyr. The mountain Firbolg scorn us for our lifestyle. They consider themselves so superior and put on their airs and graces. It is but a sham.’

‘More internal squabbles,' the Doctor commented. 'No good ever came of them. Tell me about your people, Ferllu.'