As Emmeline’s saturated garments trailed dark speckles of sea water onto the uneven flagstone floor, Geoffrey and Marie, faces alive with curiosity, sprang into action. Geoffrey poured two glasses of mead from the earthenware jug on the scrubbed oak table, pushing them into their hands as he apologised profusely for not having the means to warm it. Marie bustled to stir the banked-up fire into life, poking at the peat turfs to release a lick of flame from the glowing embers. Once established, Marie suspended a cauldron of water from the iron hook above the fire.Limbs trembling violently from the exertion of her swim, Emmeline stared at her friend, the numbness of her mind trying to form some words of explanation. Why had Talvas been on the ship? The brooding presence of the man behind her made her nervous and confused. She wished he would leave so that she could enjoy the kind ministrations of her friends in peace.‘Marie, I’m so sorry for all of this, for waking you so early…’ Emmeline took one stiff step forward, uncomfortable in her wet clothes.
