[Folwren]

Athwen was quite aware that she was being sized up as Brand finished telling her what their business was. More likely than not, he found her wanting, though his face didn't betray such thoughts.

'Best we stow these fish back in the pack here before they flop themselves back to the water,' he said, looking down at their catch.

'Oh,' Athwen said, somewhat surprised. 'I thought. . .aren't you going to cook them first? I mean. . .' She blundered rather miserably over her words and Brand looked up. 'My brother and I used to alwayst put them on a sharpened stick to carry them home. Stuck it through the gill and then through the mouth. You don't?' She looked rather quizically at him.

But before he could answer her, they were hailed by Leod and Dorran who were returning. Athwen looked up and took a few steps away from Brand. 'Good morning,' she said, nodding to Dorran and giving Leod a faint smile. 'Brand just caught a whole net full of fish and we were about to go back to the fire. I guess you are coming, too?' Of course they were. But there was still the question of the fish. 'Leod. . .he's about to stick these raw fish, still alive, in that pack of his. That can't be right. Can it?'