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He had been taken from the company of wo seals looked as aard and uncoroups and kept well away fro warriors in the villagesall the tihts 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 as 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 hi The ain

'That is where our five destinies coether,' she said 'Mine, yours and that of your companion and the child she bearsand that of my dear father'

It was the first time Fury had heard Miralda talk about herself The old woy 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 terht Balduur was an evil man'

'Evilwhat do you s'

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 s'

'Like your mother?'

'Aye,' Sister

'My father was like your ood of his people and he died defending them'

Fury didn't knohat to think All his life, he'd been told that Balduur was evil Now so hi 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 reether 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 et her to the island before that happened