My sword has come back to me! I take it from the hands of the man who kneels so gallantly before me. It is slightly warm from the heat of his body. When I touch the hilt, I expect the earth to shiver and the sky to roar. Perhaps visions of battle will flow into my head. The Morrigan herself may call my name.

The feel of it reminds me of that blood-drenched day when the Niafer rath fell in blazing horrors. The druid, immaculate on her white horse, flashes before my eyes again. I remember how she pointed at me and changed the sword from an instrument of death to a blade of mercy. Then I went among the dying, to end the suffering of the ones with wounds no healer could remedy. I became a bringer of peace! It was such a shock that I threw the sword into the Boinne and fled to Tara, away from the outlaw band, away from my beloved Hadaig, but I could not run away from the dark mystery that is called Baine.

Hadaig clears his throat and brings me back to now. The earth did not shiver. The sky did not roar. Nothing happened at all. Nothing except a sweet tug at my heart, the likes of which I have not felt since I fell in love with 'Daig. I stare down at the man who still kneels here. There must be some bond between us, this tall, soft-spoken vagabond and me.

I'm warm and dizzy. Before I know what I'm saying, I invite him to go with us to the Sea Hag. Night Raven doesn't like it but then the stranger smiles, winks and confides that he is an outlaw too, and all is well. Ah, those deep, dark eyes hide so many secrets, I must learn them all!

The bull comes with us, of course. Hadaig reveals that he is not the real owner, perhaps hoping our new companion (whose name is Labraid) will take the unlucky animal. He makes up a long story and Labraid laughs. By the sound of that laugh, he doesn't believe a word, but he doesn't really care. We decide to sell the bull to the first person who is interested and divide the price among us.

After tying the bull at the back of the hut, we go into the Sea Hag in a merry mood. I put one arm around Night Raven's waist and slyly slip my other arm around Labraid. Laughter greets us at the table. There is a man I've never seen before who bears a vague resemblance to Nion. Sean is sporting a purple bruise around his eye and Keu's face is battered almost beyond recognition. Both of them are covered in welts and scratches, obviously the source of all the mirth. In the midst of it all, Winter Mist sits silently with her hood pulled way down over her face.

The innkeep brings more ale and food. I push Nion over on the bench so I can sit by Winter Mist. Hadaig and Labraid find places across the table from us. I notice Sean's good eye is constantly roaming back and forth from his hooded wife to Keu. And I notice a pissy stench coming from Nion. I can't stop looking at Labraid. Strands of dark hair stray out from his headwrap. His fingers are long, strong and very slender as he reaches for a cup. Hadaig catches my stare and scowls at me.

To distract myself, I tap Winter Mist's arm and greet her. Her hood worries me. Has she taken a beating as well? I can't see her face. "Is there something wrong?" I ask the concealing folds of cloth.