Alison slipped her hand over the side of the coracle and tasted brine. She guessed the marsh was tidal. That made sense. The landscape of her new realm was similar to that of her old. In the language of her old realm, they had entered the marshes near Gloucester and were travelling downstream towards the Severn estuary. Alison remembered that the ancient name for the Severn was Sabrina, which was one of the many names of the mother goddess.
The tide had turned and was flowing out to sea. Fury left the marsh and took the coracle into open water to take advantage of the current. The small craft was thrown around in the swiftly flowing water. Alison felt exhilarated. Adrina looked frightened. Her face was ashen and the kohl around her eyes had begun to smudge. Alison no longer felt inferior to her. Adrina could put on superior airs but she couldn't cope in a situation like this.
Towards dusk, the tide slackened and waves came up the estuary. Fury said something about Brother Ocean. Earlier, when he'd talked about Brother Wind, Adrina had accused him of being an ignorant savage. Now, she was in no fit state to mock him. Her hand was over her mouth and she looked as if she was about to puke.
Alison didn't feel seasick. She had spent many hours in a small boat with her father and Tom. Both had been in the army. They said small boats were the best way to explore. Alison had been in waters like this and knew what to expect. The surface could be calm one moment and violent the next. There was nothing to worry about. Fury had everything under control.
Nothing flustered him. He kept going as waves splashed around. He said their destination was a small island and a message had been sent ahead by drum. Alison had heard the drums. The sound was part of life in her new realm. They spoke to one another like phones did in her old realm.
She squinted into the setting sun and saw a mud bank beside a clump of trees. A figure was visible in the fading light. No more than a vague shape at first, it took form and Alison saw an old woman. She trudged out and threw a rope to them. Fury grabbed the end and pulled the coracle to shore.
The old woman reached out a bony hand.
'You will be Little Cat.'
To Alison, she looked timeless rather than old.
'Little Cat is the name I use here,' she replied.
'Then it is the name I shall use.'