He had been taken from the company of women and sent into the care of the Duideth. The young seals looked as awkward and uncomfortable as he had been. They huddled together in groups and kept well away from the older males. The big bulls reminded him of the strutting warriors in the villages ... all the time picking fights with one another.
He built a shelter and kindled a fire, striking his flints on the dry moss he kept in his pouch. It wasn't easy. The wood was damp and he had to cut it into strips with his knife to extract dry kindling. A pot was soon bubbling. He stirred it and glanced to where Alison was asleep. Her hood had slipped and her head was uncovered. He leant over and pulled it back into position.
A bony hand tugged at his sleeve.
'Look, young brother. I can see the island again.'
Miralda pointed to a dark shape on the horizon. She was sitting cross-legged beside him on a sheepskin rug. The mist had cleared and the island was visible again.
'That is where our five destinies come together,' she said. 'Mine, yours and that of your companion and the child she bears ... and that of my dear father.'
It was the first time Fury had heard Miralda talk about herself. The old woman's energy had always been directed towards the needs of others. Now she was showing concern for herself and her father. He was surprised to hear her refer to the old warlord in affectionate terms.
'Sister, I thought Balduur was an evil man.'
'Evil ... what do you mean by that?'
'Someone who does bad things.'
The old woman chuckled. 'Who is to say what is bad?'
'People who know.'
'Do you mean people like the priests of the Duideth?'
'Nay, Sister.'
'So, who do you mean?'
'Good people ... people who do good things.'
'Like your mother?'
'Aye,' Sister.
'My father was like your mother,' the old woman said. 'He was dedicated to the good of his people and he died defending them.'
Fury didn't know what to think. All his life, he'd been told that Balduur was evil. Now someone, whom he trusted, was likening him to his own mother.
***
On the following day the weather cleared. Waves still pummelled the shore but they were not as violent as before and the seals were venturing into the water. The coracles remained lashed together. Fury pushed them out to sea and climbed aboard. Alison sat in one and Miralda in the other. Alison's complexion was radiant. The old woman was deadly pale. She looked as if she was about to leave the mortal plane. Fury hoped he could get her to the island before that happened.