I ride off in the opposite direction from Nion, following the river. I urge my horse to the water and cross in and out several times to muddy the tracks. Then we leave the road and circle An Caiseal at a careful distance, going up into the woods and hills. From the highest knoll, I have a clear view of the keep and much of the surrounding land. I can see in all directions.

There is a good sized cairn up here. A tomb perhaps? Some faded rags flutter on the branches of a large bush. An eerie place with the wind blowing hard and ravens circling. There's a much used path that leads off into the trees. A druid place, it seems.

I take the sack of loot from his back and let the horse graze. With this lofty overview, I will know if anyone approaches. This is a safe place - for now.

Under the rag-bush I spy a smaller cairn, a disorderly pile of rocks probably made by people tying ribbons here and then adding a stone for a bit more luck. No one would think of disturbing the pile. Except a man like me.

I study the stack for awhile before taking it apart. When I lift the first stone, a bolt of pain shoots down my arm. My fingers splay out. The rock falls from my hand onto my foot. I cannot close my fist! Cursing the women who "healed" me, cursing the arm, cursing the stone, the hill, and the day I was born, I kick at the cairn and send some smaller stones flying. My horse lifts his head and his ears flick forward. He's looking over the hillside.

Following his stare, I see a band of warriors coming slowly up the slope. Their heads are down, as if they are tracking. They wear the colors of the Niafer.

I knock the rest of the little cairn apart and plant my bag of loot in the roots of the bush, then hastily rebuild the pile.

"Good work!" I smirk to myself, risking the very last hair's breadth of time to admire the newly built stack. My teeth grind hard against the flare of hot spasms that kindle my arm from shoulder to fingertips. I leap onto my horse and slip away down the other side of the hill just as the voices of the search party come within range of hearing. I don't wait to listen.

The back slope is a quick and easy way down. I pull up the hood of my brat and ride at a cautious pace across meadows and through pleasant wooded glades. The trackers are everywhere! I keep to the shadows and the shade, moving with stealthy caution, and whisper often to my horse to keep him calm. We become part of the landscape.

It takes longer than I expected but eventually I return to the vicinity of Faramir's cave. There is a thicket nearby where I leave my horse. The woods are quiet, no noise from the trackers. I duck into the cave and reach for the torch and firestone that is always on the ledge just inside. In the back of the cave waits the secret tunnel, all to myself! Now I can find out if it really does lead to the treasure room, or perhaps to more of Faramir's riches. Mine, all mine.

Then I halt. There is eyeshine where there should be only darkness. A deer? A wolf? Or something else?