She hears movement behind her.

She turns suddenly, letting the pieces fall to the bottom of the boat to have her hands free to cast or swing.

It's a woman, this time.

She keeps a polite distance, and says something incomprehensible.

"Hallit?"

She shakes her head, and tries a much different language, equally incomprehensible.

"Yeah, no, sorry."

"Sir Boatman, would you be so kind as to communicate to this fair lady that I regrettably can not understand her?"

She picks up the fallen pieces, this doesn't look like a situation where she'll need to fight.

The Boatman nods, turns to the other woman, and says, "No, she doesn't understand either English or Hudum."

He pauses to catch another incomprehensible reply, and asks, "Oh? It's that urgent? Very well..."

"She's looking for someone to convey a message back to the living world, in exchange for some of her breath. Her urgency is such that she will consider even a messenger who doesn't share a language."

"I... can do that, sure. I do have a gift with my tongue, even if I don't speak her languages."

The Boatman patiently relays the details, occasionally turning an eye back to the river.

She wants a message delivered to the "Gracious Widow". Apparently, anyone in the area of London's docks ought to be able to point her in the appropriate direction with just that title (barring the dock officials, who are best avoided). She asks the Boatman not to translate the message itself (apparently there's some value in a messenger who doesn't understand the message). All she asks is for Valka to memorise a few short phrases, and promise to make her best effort to deliver the message as soon as possible after returning to life.