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They reached the third island It was smaller than the others and had fewer trees Alison's eyesto spring out at her She couldn't see them but she knew they were there

'Sister Those reedsthey don't look right'

Weasel dug his paddle in the water and backed off

'Let the wind guide us as I told you'

The boy placed his paddle on his knees and they were bloards a muddy shore

Alison rose and drew her sword Weasel watched itout an ene For aThe coracle rocked and he struggled to stop it capsizing When he next looked, Alison was standing on a log, confronting a soldier in grey

Thewith short, jerky steps Weasel knew the technique He'd seen it practised on the parade ground and kneas difficult to counter without a shield He tried to warn her but the words stuck in hisonto a branch and spat like a wild cat

A second figure eed from the reeds

'Psss' She raced up and down the branch

Theher His blade sliced into the branch and stuck there He struggled to remove it and her sword found a chink in his armour It sank deep and he collapsed into the rabbed the branch

'Die Little She Whore'

He worked the branch up and down and let go

It sprang up and Alison rose with it

'Magdoor!'

She shouted the battle nah the air Her sword pierced theand she perched there, cat-like

Weasel approached cautiously 'Sister, wefroot blood on it' She pointed to the blade 'Why's that?' She reached for the grey military cloak of the deadit to its sheaf Weasel saw the vacant expression on her face and ran to where Adrina and Alvero were lying, both badly injured

Fury brought the coracles round They put Adrina in one and Alvero in the other Then they went back for Alison and bundled her into the second coracle beside the youngwater and pushed them off The coracles entered thetide