It soon became apparent that there were several observers in the sky over Ilunon and one at least had decided to take an active interest in the travellers. Every bit as conscious of the danger as their riders, the horses needed no urging to pick up the pace. In the hot sunshine of that late spring afternoon they galloped over the soft turf of the downs until they came to a thin track cut into the chalk which they now began to follow. Asanka glanced behind and felt his heart accelerate to match the rhythm of the pounding hooves. There was no cover and the thing was so close! These wretched beasts had become much bolder and more common of late, yet he had never expected to see one so far from the mountains and he had never thought to lead Oreitta into such danger when they were without weapons. He yelled to his bride of six short weeks. "We must try for the Enclave! It's our only hope!". Orietta said nothing but her bay mare matched his black stallion stride for stride and her sharp smile across the wind of their passage told him she had heard and accepted. Asanka felt a surge of pride in his wife. All Rider's had the self same mortal dread of the Enclaves and under any other circumstances they would have come no closer than the rim of the gorge ahead of them. Others might have tried to argue. Even with the clear and present danger of the alegoyle behind them, Asanka knew many Riders who would rather face certain death than venture into an Enclave. He was pleased Orietta either did not believe the dark rumours or was strong willed enough to face them down. If he was honest, he had himself hesitated to voice the words he had shouted with such apparent confidence. Not that it seemed to matter anyway. Perhaps horses had a good deal more sense than people, for knowing nothing about any stories of the Enclaves they saw only the sole source of possible cover from aerial attack and were making their own decisions about which way to go. Asanka's orders were little more than an acknowledgement of what was already happening whether he willed it or not. Damn that alegoyle! It was just too far to the Enclave. Far too far....