“It’s not blowing in the same direction, Gull,” says Cathal soberly. “Some time in the night we veered off closer to due north. Just now, the clouds lifted long enough for Gareth to check it with the sun stone, and his reading bears that out.”

Felix was silent, his jaw clenched tight.

“That need not mean we’re off course,” I said. “We started from Inis Eala, not Ulfricsfjord. The wind may have picked us up at a point further west than it did Freyja. If we accept that the storm is an uncanny thing, whether sent by the gods or by some other power, then perhaps it blows in whichever direction will bear us to the serpent isle.”

“So if you were Gareth you wouldn’t even attempt to steer a course?” Cathal’s brows went up.

“I’m offering a theory only. And no, I wouldn’t suggest any such thing to Gareth. Didn’t you imply that the captain’s word is law?” Anger rose in me again, and I might have spoken rashly, but there was a different kind of sound from Svala, and I saw her looking toward a particular corner. “Gull,” I said, “how can Svala use the privy if she’s tied up?”

Without a word, Gull went over to unhook the long rope that anchored Svala to the timbers. He made no move to untie her wrists, or her ankles, which I realized were linked by a rope perhaps two handspans long.

Beyond words, I made my way to the corner where the privy bucket was wedged between various other objects. In the storm it had not always been possible to keep the contents where they belonged. Fortunately, it seemed Gull had been up to empty it over the side this morning.

I was sure none of the men had considered quite how difficult performing this function might be for a woman with her wrists and ankles tied, however loosely. I helped her as best I could. As I smoothed down her skirt, she held up her bound hands, moving them to and fro. Her eyes pleaded with me. I had never felt so strong an urge to disobey a direct order. I would not let Gull fasten her to the timbers again. I could not let it happen. I opened my mouth to say so, and Felix spoke instead.

“Cathal, you said the wind changed during the night. When? What was happening at the time?”

Standing beside Svala, with my hand on her arm to reassure her, I felt a sudden calm possess me. I understood what Felix was thinking of, and it made perfect sense to me.

“I believe it was about the time Gareth gave the order for Svala to be taken below. I can’t be certain, Felix. All of us were somewhat preoccupied.”

“So she was manhandled down here and tied up, and then the wind changed?” I said.