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He wasn't confident It didn'tconditions but Miralda said they must leave without delay As a precaution he had tied inflated sheepskins to the sides of the two vessels The dead aniift fro to their journey The skins smelt worse than the marsh men but would keep the coracles afloat if they were swamped by a wave

Miralda clutched Balduur's head to her breast It was sewn into a sealskin bag, coated with tallow, and hung on a leather strap Her lipsa prayer: always the saain It see away

'Not much further now, Sister'

He touched the old woman's hand then returned his attention to the island Miralda called it the Sanctuary of the Faithful and said it was at the Meeting of the Ways Fury didn't fully understand what thatto the sanctuary to dispose of Balduur's head But that was only part of it The words of Miralda's prayer continued to ring in his ears

The Way is to the End as the End is to the Way She had explained that Balduur's head was the burden they had to bear because of the sin they committed when they violated the sacred pathways But they couldn't rid the soe and become different people

Fury knew he had become a different person There was a tio into the woods and sing about a world of make-believe and that hadn't helped hi at his feet He picked it up and duet another and teach his sons and daughters to sing But, before that could happen, he'd have to colanced down at her

She looked back and smiled

'Can I help?'

'Nayrest' He touched her hand

Hours passed and the tide turned The mountains on the northern shore were visible as a faint line above the horizon Fury stopped paddling and let the current carry thes, splaying his fingers, placing one landainst another He decided they were on course and pulled his leather cloak tight