'No.' Alison flicked the sword back and forth, bringing the razor-sharp blade to within a fraction of his nose. 'I am a companion of the Sky Warrior. He taught me how to use a weapon like this.'
'You ... friend ... Sky Warrior?'
'Aye. He trained me as a warrior.'
The plumed man tried to rise.
'Please, Lady. Take me to noble Sky Warrior.'
Alison turned to Weasel.
'Unfasten his sword harness.'
The boy's fingers darted to the buckle.
'Now pick up the coins.'
'No, Sister. We're not after booty.'
'Pick them up,' she ordered. 'We may need them. Never lose an advantage. That's what the Sky Warrior taught me.'
'Aye, Sister.'
Weasel snatched up the coins and thrust them into his pouch.
'You.' She pointed her sword at the plumed man. 'Don't move until we're gone. If you do, I'll come back and take off your head.'
Adrenalin coursed through her veins. All doubts and uncertainties had gone. Only one thing mattered. Adrina had to be saved. She sat in the coracle with the sword across her knees and let Weasel paddle.
It was important to conserve strength and it was important to think ahead. Tom had told her that. He'd been her martial arts instructor. She heard him now, talking to her, telling her what to do. Or was it Tom?..The voice sounded oddly feminine.
'How much further?'
'About two thousand paces,' the boy replied.
Alison sat back. She felt a presence within her. Miralda had said that, in times of crisis, the goddess would enter into women and work her purpose through them. In her former realm people talked about being possessed. Alison had a feeling for what that might mean.
An island came into view.
Weasel said it was one of three and Adrina was on the last.
Crows circled overhead.
'Do you see the ferrymen?' the boy asked. 'They release the soul lights and carry them away on their backs up into the void.'
The coracle drifted past the first island. The birds were pecking at corpses, fighting over scraps, making a tremendous noise. Alison ignored the carnage. The presence was stronger now ... benign and immensely powerful.
She heard the boy's voice.
'There's a strange light about you, sister.'
'Keep paddling.'
'Sister. It's like in the stories.'
'Keep paddling.' The words flowed from Alison's mouth. 'Take the coracle past the third island and let it drift back in the wind.'
'The tide has not yet turned.'
'Do as I say, young brother.'