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again.”
    “No need. I ’m awake now,” Finnr flopped down beside Emer, putting an arm around her shaking shoulders and smoothing her hair.
    Gradually, all the disturbed sleepers went away to their own beds again, save only Dag and Finnr. Atli lingered within earshot, rolling himself up in his blankets and feigning sleep. When Emer stopped trembling and her sobs quietened, Dag asked,
    “Was this dream similar to the one that brought us here, Emer?”
    “ Yes.”
    “How so?”
    “I met the Guide of Souls again and she took me on another journey.”
    “Where to?” Finnr asked eagerly.
    “A place I’ve never been to before. Where dark hills come down to the sea and otters play along the shore.”
    “That sounds a bit like Skuy . I went there once many years ago,” Dag said. “Were we with you?”
    “No, I was alone , running away from someone. Footsteps followed me, men’s footsteps. I had to lead them away…”
    “From what?”
    “I don’t know.” Emer dropped her head into her hands. When she looked up again, tears ran down her cheeks again. “I never saw the place I was running from or who was there with me. I only knew I had to run as fast as I could. The coloured light came again and suddenly I saw my father in a longship, heading out into the sunset. A man spoke to him but he didn’t answer and I realised he could no longer talk.”
    “Had they cut out his tongue?” Finnr asked, appalled.
    “No, he was unharmed in that way, but he had been badly flogged.” Emer gulped. “His back looked raw.” It was several moments before she could speak again.
    “Go on, Emer. Do you know where th e ship he was on was heading?”
    “One of the men spoke of Thule.”
    “Thule!”
    “I thought Thule was a myth,” Finnr said. “Does it really exist, Fadirbrodir ?”
    “I’m not sure. The re is an island of fire and ice that lies far out in the west. Other islands, which we call Landnám , are closer. The name could refer to either of them or somewhere else entirely.”
    “Then is Olaf going to a place that is unknown or may not be real?” Finnr asked, fear in his voice.
    “No, it exists,” Emer said sharply. “ My father left the ship and walked upon the land. It was covered in snow but there was no fire there.”
    “What did the place look like?”
    “There were lots of little islands with cliffs but no mountains. The ground was a reddish brown in colour. Seabirds wheeled around, diving onto the shoals of fish.”
    “Sounds like the Landnám islands, but it could be anywhere. When we get home I’ll ask old Samr. He was the one who told me about Thule years ago. Did you see anything else?”
    “No, that was all.”
    “And you only met Olaf and this Guide of Souls?”
    “There were other people in my dream but I did not know them.”
    “Good.” Dag rose to his feet. “Try to sleep now. We leave for home at first light.”
    Obediently, Emer turne d over and closed her eyes. Dag was correct and she would need her rest, but sleep would not come. Eventually she rose to go to the privy.
    She was on her way back when a figure stepped out of the darkness right in front of her. Emer gasped.
    “Don’t be afraid,” the figure said and Emer recognised Atli’s voice.
    “What do you want?” she asked.
    “There is a place for you on my ship, if you would prefer to journey north rather than south,” he said quietly.
    “ I have no wish to be your slave!”
    “Someone with your gift will never be a slave. Knowing the future is a skill I have only ever heard of before, never witnessed.”
    “How do you know about my dream?”
    “I listened to you telling your story. Dag thought I was asleep.”
    “I didn ’t mean you to overhear.”
    “As well for you I did. If what you dreamed comes true, your father will no longer be on Skuy when your friends return to look for him there. He’ll be far out at sea; too far for them to follow in their longship. Kufri owns one of the special ships that travel