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“Aye.”

He shook his head. “It’s too late. I’m fixin’ me evenin’ meal. If ya come back in th’ mornin’, I’ll take ya then.”

Aisley’s trembling hands tightened around the reins. “I cannot wait that long.”

“Hm.” The fisherman went back to his filleting. “Seems t’ me ya ’ave to.”

“Ya do not understand.” Tears pricked Aisley’s eyes. She blinked them back. “My errand’s no trivial matter.”

The fisherman gazed at her with narrowed eyes. “Who are ya?”

“A friend.” She swallowed. “A friend t’ you, an’ a friend t’ the gentlemen at Athelney.”

“Yer name?”

“It’s best that ya not know it.”

“Is that so?” Rising, he dropped the fish into the bucket and set his bloodied hands upon his hips. “Why?”

“Fer yer own safety as well as mine.” Her voice shook. “I . . . I can pay ya fer yer service.”

For two long breaths, he said nothing, then he reached for a rag and wiped his fingers dry. “I’m not afraid o’ what might come,” he said, “but if ya truly feel that yer life’s in danger, then I daresay I can wait another hour t’ make me dinner.” He stepped off the small porch and started down a narrow path toward the water. “Be warned though. Them men who’s on the island right now, they don’t take kindly t’ me takin’ people over there. If they won’t let you get out o’ th’ boat, I’ll bring ya back ’ere, but nothin’ more. Yer on yer own after that.”

Aisley slid from the saddle and set her travel-weary limbs upon the ground. Clinging to the saddle for stability, she willed her legs to work as they should. She had come so far, and now she had only to follow this old fellow down to his boat, yet she was not sure she could manage it.

“I thought ya said this was urgent?” His voice was punctuated with a splash, and Aisley looked up to see him dragging a small boat off the grassy bank and into the reeds.

She took one shaky step forward. And then another. Holding fast to the horse’s straps, Aisley continued moving until she reached the edge of the grass.

“Hand me them straps and get in,” Edris said, reaching for the reins. “I’ll give ’em back t’ ya once yer inside the boat.”

Aisley eyed the small craft. It was floating, but it was impossible to gauge the depth of the water beneath. Channeling every drop of energy she yet possessed, she leaped off the bank. Her feet hit the bottom of the boat with a thud, and the vessel rocked wildly from side to side. With a small cry, she grabbed the sides.

“Steady,” Edris warned. “Take a seat.” Aisley eased herself onto one of the planks that traversed the width of the hull. The boat swayed again. She clung to her seat as Edris climbed in. He handed her the reins. “Yer goin’ t’ ’ave t’ coax th’ ’orse into th’ water,” he said. “I’ll row you an’ me across, but I can’t pull anythin’ that big. She’s goin’ t’ ’ave to do ’er own work.”

Turning slightly so that she was almost facing her horse, Aisley tugged on the reins. “Come on, girl,” she called. “It’s time fer a swim.”

Her horse bent its head and sniffed the water before backing up two steps.

“Ya’d best be quick about this,” Edris said. “We’re losing light.”

Aisley did not need to consult the sky to know how low the sun had sunk. “Come on, girl.” She clicked her tongue, and the horse pricked up its ears. Edris set his oars in the water and pulled. The boat moved away from the grassy bank. Aisley clung to the straps. Edris pulled another stroke, and the straps became taut. “Now, girl!” Aisley cried.

Tossing its head nervously, the horse took a tentative step toward the water. And then, with a splash that rocked the boat, it plunged in.

“That’s it!” Edris said, rowing faster now. “’Old on to ’er, an’ she’ll manage jus’ fine.”

Edris was right. After the first few floundering steps, the movement of the horse’s legs fell into a steady rhythm, and as the boat cut through the swampy water, the animal followed with remarkable calm. Reassured that her mount would make it across, Aisley set her sights on the raised piece of land directly ahead. The woodland was turning black with the coming of evening, but at the water’s edge, a single light shone.

“Someone’s spotted us,” Edris muttered. “Ya’d best be thinkin’ up somethin’ convincin’ to say, lad, or ya’ll not be settin’ one foot off this boat till we get back t’ th’ other side.”

“Who goes there?” A man’s voice carried across the water.

“Edris, with a visitor to Athelney,” Edris shouted back before giving Aisley a resigned look. “A name would’ve been ’elpful.”

“Forgive me,” she said.

Releasing a troubled sigh, he steered the boat toward the man on shore. “Not sure this fellow’s goin’ t’ be so accommodatin’ as me.”