I've hardly been able to follow the conversation, being distracted between worrying about Winter Mist and watching Labraid. As the evening goes on, the sidhe-woman seems more at ease after her unexpected unveiling. She snuggles against Sean and both of them look as happy as they were at Tara again, wrapped in that warm lover's glow. I smile and raise my cup to them. Now I can devote all my attention to what is being discussed among our growing band of outcasts, and study Labraid as well.

His voice is soft as feathers where 'Daig's is a raven's rasp. Both men are spare with words. The few I've heard from Labraid's lips flowed out like honey, well-spoken, smooth and sweet. My Night Raven's speech is plain as porridge. I can't imagine him making the little speech Labraid recited to me as he knelt and returned my sword. Hadaig's hands are rough from his many years as a cowherd. Labraid caresses his cup with gentle care. Too gentle, in fact, as I observe how he pretends to sip but doesn't swallow. Then he cunningly tips it to spill a little each time. Perhaps the strong ale is too bitter for his taste. His face is the only harsh thing about him, with those stony eyes and mirthless mouth. I must hear his story, how he became an outlaw and what he was before then.

Nion's cousin has a plan, laid out in vague, secret code so that the innkeeper can't catch onto us. There is mention of a hunting party to the north - which in our jargon means south, as everything is twisted backwards - involving a certain elusive queen fox who is prize prey. At different places in the chatter, she also becomes a red doe and towards the end she is a red boar and various ways of killing and roasting her are discussed with much roaring laughter, boasting and loud clatter of weapons.

Under the cover of noise, 'Daig tells me we are to meet with another band of renegades, the leader of them a Laigin prince. The Rian of Niafer has been taken and will be used for bait in the trap we'll spring on the war band who is tracking her.

I nod drowsily. The ale is indeed strong and I don't remember when I last slept. I rest my eyes on Labraid and let daydreams fill in what I long to know about him. The next thing I know, 'Daig grabs my arm and hauls me to my feet.

Leaning heavily on my Night Raven, I float out of the Sea Hag Inn. Where is Labraid? I fumble with the horse and wait for him. Nion takes a torch from the front of the inn and tosses it over his shoulder before riding off. It lands on the edge of the thatched roof. A quiet crackling flame slowly creeps upward. 'Daig, impatient, hoists me onto horseback and gives the mare a slap on the rump. Reeling from all the ale, I hang on and twist around to look back. Hadaig is riding close behind me and I see Labraid dash out and gracefully mount up.

With a sigh and a whiff of smoke in my nostrils, I resign myself to a bone-jarring gallop. We escape in great haste southward along An Bothar.