Daughters of Fire. Barbara Erskine

are exhausted, Viv.’ He reached for his own coffee thoughtfully. ‘Before anything else, I think you should get some rest.’ He paused. ‘Unless – do you dream about her too?’

      She shrugged. Those flashes of firelight. The thunder of hooves. The shouts and clashes of sword-blades. Were those part of her waking dream or part of a nightmare?

      ‘Would you like me to stay?’ He was watching her anxiously. ‘I can sleep on the sofa. I don’t think you should be alone.’

      ‘No, Steve.’ She shook her head. ‘That’s sweet of you, but I’ll be fine.’

      ‘Are you sure?’ He was uncertain. ‘I don’t think you should do this any more. Not if it upsets you so much.’

      ‘I don’t have a choice. She forces herself into my consciousness. I’m not imagining this.’ She was pleading with him. ‘Besides,’ she hesitated, ‘I want to go on.’

      He leaned over and took her hand. ‘I think it could be dangerous.’ He was looking very serious. ‘Honestly. Whether it is coming from inside you, or from some sort of ghostly spirit it’s not good if it’s taken control of you like this. I wish my mother was here. She knows more about this sort of thing than I do. She would believe you.’

      Viv gave a wan smile. ‘Then I shall look forward to meeting your mother one day.’

      ‘You must.’ He paused. ‘Are you sure I can’t stay?’

      ‘No. I’ll be all right. Don’t worry about me. It was really nice of you to come, Steve.’ She hesitated. ‘This is all secret. You realise that, don’t you? I don’t want anyone to know about it.’

      ‘They won’t. Not from me.’ A thought struck him. ‘Is this where those extra facts came from in the book?’

      ‘I didn’t mean to use them. I tried not to listen. I pushed her away. I never wrote it down before!’ She swallowed, looking down at her hands. ‘I think I want you to go now, Steve.’

      He stood up unhappily. ‘You’re sure you’ll be all right?’

      She nodded. ‘Promise you won’t say anything?’