The Rian has finished her haggling and paid the Bo Aire for his bull. Much gold and silver has changed hands, and the former owner practically vanished as soon as the bargain was sealed. Normally, buyer and seller would meet for a cup of ale and congratulate each other on their bargaining prowess. Howsoever, this fellow was in a great rush to be gone!

As we leave the Festival Grounds, there is a great hue and cry about someone being murdered. In a clearing near the side of the road, Faramir MacRoth lies in a pool of his own blood. His throat has been slashed from ear to ear. One of the guards jumps down to check. "Indeed, he is dead!" he announces to Fenian.

Our war chief confers with the Rian. "Should we bury him here or send him back to his own people?" he asks.

"I think there is something here that does not look right," she replies. "Perhaps we should let King Cormac and his people deal with it." With that, she singles out one of the lads who have come to gape. She gives him a silver coin and sends him running to Cormac’s guards.

Now, we wend our way homeward at a slow walk. The bull refuses to be hurried. In fact, he seems to be taking his own sweet time, pausing over-frequently to take care of nature’s businness. If he continues making water at this rate, he will be nothing but skin and bones by the time we reach Inver Colpa. On a hunch, I ride close to the creature and watch him at several stops. The urine it thin and watery, and the grass fairly shrivels at its touch. Something is mighty suspicious, here. I ride up to Fenian and Flidais to share my concern.

"This animal is acting like he’s been fed a lot of salt and then allowed to drink his fill," I tell them. "Either they were trying to fatten him up for a better trade, or they were wanting to slow us down. According to his tale, that lad came a long way, just to sell a bull. I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this bargain." Our two leaders talk quietly for a moment.

"If you are right," Fenian announces, "someone may have something planned for Inver Colpa. I don’t think we want another surprise party like we had last year!" He quickly details three of the guards to care for the bull, and the rest of us ride at top speed along the Road to Inver Colpa.