Vaugn is lucky. He is one of the outriders and can freely circle the war band. I haven't seen much of him since we left An Caiseal. He and the two wolves scout around us, report to Fenian, and ride out again.

The slow pace of our march is making me restless. I carry my lucky twig in a little pouch hanging beside my new sword. I'm still angry with myself for letting Labraid take the river-sword from me as his due for winning the game of dice, especially now that I suspect he is in with an outlaw band, perhaps the very same ones who took the Rian. Or at least he was with them at the Sea Hag. But why would he warn Creidne that they were planning to burn the place down? It doesn't make sense. Unless Labraid has some plans of his own. Whatever it is, the sword must be more special than it looks. And I let it get away from me.

There's nothing I can do about it now. I have a new sword that will soon see battle. I also have a new long-spear and three shorter ones with fancy spearheads.

We are creeping along the road. Why are we going so slowly?

Vaugn and one of the other outriders comes back again and this time Fenian calls a halt. One of the warriors behind me swears in frustration. "If we're expecting another ambush, why don't we just ride straight into it and be done with it?" he mutters. "If Dobhar was still with us, we'd be in Laigin and back by now!"

"Look! They've found something!"

Fenian is turning a dark scrap of cloth over and over in his hands. He whistles for Igraine's hounds and throws it down to them. They seem very interested in it. I hear the Rian's name being repeated.

When we start moving again, it is at a faster pace.