“Gareth’s sending a search party along the shore, in case they’ve come in further up.”

“And then he’ll ask me to conduct a burial rite, I suppose.” My voice was someone else’s, someone bitter and furious.

“Sibeal, we haven’t a lot of time. I want you to answer a question for me.” When I made no reply, Cathal went ahead and asked it. “Why did we undertake this mission?”

Felix. My whole body ached with sorrow.

“Answer, Sibeal. Or do you lack the courage?”

I turned on him. “Courage? Don’t talk to me about courage! There was only one man among all of you who had the courage to jump in after Gull, and that was a man who had more cause than anyone to be afraid of the water! Every night, when he closed his eyes, all he could see was the wave coming over and taking his brother! How dare you? How dare you talk to me about—”

The flow of words stopped. Now that I had lifted my head and opened my eyes, I saw orderly activity all around us: men bringing gear ashore in the little boat, others passing items hand to hand up the rocks to higher ground, Gareth and Sigurd scanning the hillsides and talking in low voices, a small group putting on packs and collecting spears from a stack of weaponry. And Svala, not prancing and singing and celebrating her return, but crouched up on the rocks as if waiting for something. She was looking directly at me. The waters of the bay were like fine glass under a clearing sky. The storm had passed. “All right,” I said. “We’re here because Felix believed in his cause.” I could hardly bring myself to speak his name. “Because he is—was—a good man, a brave man who knew he must do the right thing.”

“Mm-hm.”

“I can’t believe he’s gone, Cathal. And Gull . . . So quickly, like flames blown out in a draft. So quickly, as if they didn’t even matter.”

“I know.” He bowed his head. I realized that he, too, was grieving, mourning the loss of a beloved old friend and a fine new one. Through the fog of my own sadness I recognized what he was trying to tell me. “We must find those men,” I said. “Find them and bring them home. We owe it to Felix, and to Gull, to complete the mission.”

Cathal nodded. “If we don’t do it,” he said, “then Felix’s sacrifice was all for nothing.” He rose to his feet and offered me his hand. I stood. My legs were shaking. We were soaked; our clothing hung around us, dripping. “We’ll move up this slope to the shelter of those overhanging rocks, if shelter it can be called,” he said. “Gareth’s insisting on time for food and rest; the men are on their last legs. The only exception is the search party he’s sending along the shore. When they get back, a group of us will head out to look for these survivors. Some must stay here to watch over the boat, and . . . ” He glanced up toward the rocks where Svala was perched. “And her, I suppose. She’s shown no sign of wanting to bolt off to wherever she was living before. Knut’s still disturbed; he can’t be sent out foraging. If he’s to be left here with you and Svala, we need several men on guard.”