Fury looked aghast. He opened his mouth to speak. But, before he could get out a word, Weasel dug his fingers in Alison's arm.
'Adrina doesn't want to be rescued by them.' The boy spoke in a whisper. 'She wants you and Miralda ... no one else.'
Alison took the cue. 'Thank you.' She waved. 'We are on our way to give blessings at the shrine of the Good Mother for the Sky Warrior's victory.'
'Be careful. Morgon's men are everywhere.'
'I thought he was beaten.'
'Morgon might be beaten but he's not destroyed. His men are trying to regroup and we're here to stop them.' The steersman pointed to the row of heads. 'Those fellows won't be with them when they return to rape our women.'
He turned to Fury as the coracles drifted away.
'They won't be with them when they hunt for you and your lovely companion ... will they, Little Bear?'
Alison paddled in silence, humbled by the contempt the boatmen had shown towards Fury. She wondered what she was doing with him. His totem name had once seemed so beautiful. Now it made him sound like a child.
He'd called himself Little Bear. There was a time when she'd been attracted to it. In the beginning she'd thought everyone had a totem name and sang songs about love, peace and happiness. Now she knew her new world was full of problems ... just like the one she'd left.
'Please, Sister, you're in my way.'
Alison moved over and gave Weasel more room to move. She watched as he took the coracle back into the main channel. He was a good boy, the sort you would want as a little brother. But she needed someone older. She needed the companionship of a strong mature male: someone like Tom but younger. Her thoughts returned to the steersman. He was tough, handsome, charming and only a few years older than herself. She imagined being with him on the dragon ship.
Then she remembered the row of heads. Was she really contemplating a life with a head-hunter?..She felt confused. All the things that had held her life together were gone. It wasn't like she was back in Cheltenham, arguing with her mother. It was a new ball game. There was nothing to hang on to. She buried her face in her hands and shook uncontrollably.
Weasel touched her arm.
'Sister, don't be frightened.'
'I'm not frightened.'
'What's the matter?'
'Nothing ...'
She heard the boy but was consumed by her thoughts. Fury was a wimp. She'd made a terrible mistake when she'd been attracted to him. Miralda had spoken about the burden they had to carry. The old woman's words were beginning to make sense. Weasel aroused her from her thoughts.