Keu Strong-Arm sets a punishing pace down the road from Tara to Inver Colpa. Traveling by road is not our regular habit. It makes me feel naked to ride in the open for such a long stretch. The pain of my hacked-off ear and the crusting blotches of blood add to the strain. I curse the bastard ranger with every slimy clot while fretting that there's a crimson trail in our wake, easy for any fool to follow.

"Be ware! Horses coming up fast behind!" I bellow to Keu. The bellow goes up high at the end, quavering like a birthing cow. I grit my teeth at the sound. I can't turn my head and look back. My grinding jaws unleash a new spate of warm ooze down the side of my neck.

"Ah, its 'Daig and Baine, riding double on one. Looks like yer silly son and his bride in their train, two horses!"

If there weren't so much pain, I'd be grinning from ear to ear, or maybe ear to - earhole?

"They see us now. Pull up and go to the trees!" I sing out to Strong-Arm. "When we're all together, we'll go to the riverside and find the ranger's cave again. Perhaps he left some silver there. We can rest for the night."

So relieved am I to be in the cool shadows, standing still, that I nearly tumble off me horse. I sag over his neck, panting and leaking more blood. First the Night Raven and his dark lover find us. Baine cries out at the wretched sight of me. She throws herself off the horse before he's fully reined in.

"Your ear!" she gasps, ripping her brat and sweeping the grass with the strippings to gather the dew. Gently, ever so gently, she dabs at the wound.

I am dazed with weariness and loss of life's juices. When I see my mud-headed son trotting in, I gape past him for a look at whatever simpleton lass would take him for a husband. Are my eyes playing tricks on me?

My mouth opens. I cannot speak. There is only the rasping drone of a toad! I'm bewitched.

Baine holds out her arms and I fall senseless.


Next to Along the River