Labraid comes to stand beside me, so close that I can feel his warmth in the chill of the night. 'Daig casts an ugly glance his way, then Datho demands his attention. The Laigin prince insists on hearing every detail of how the famous Night Raven slew the Niafer war chief. From out of the darkness, a black-clad druid appears at Datho's elbow. His appearance is both menacing and arrogant. I hate him on sight. I hate him even more when Labraid utters a strange, strangled cry and leaves me. I hear his footsteps fade away at a stumbling run.

Careless of the company of these highborn renegades, I turn to follow, curious as to what has made the hard-lipped swordsman flee like a frightened hare.

A metallic clutch fastens onto my arm. Keu's unmistakable grip painfully tightens and holds me fast. "Where do you think you're going, Baine?"

"Something is wrong with Labraid." I try to pull away. Our nasty encounter in the cave still troubles me.

Keu's hand is like a well-knotted snare. The more I struggle, the tighter it gets. In dread, I stare down at his massive arm and the clenched fingers locked onto my wrist. I warn him with a hiss. "You're hurting me. I have a dagger in my other sleeve. Release me or you'll be sorry!"

"I must talk with you, its important," he growls and drags me away from the firelight into the shadows. I shake my free arm and let the dagger slip down into my hand. Keu's grasp stiffens and loosens in rough spasms, as if he is fighting with himself to let go or not. Finally his arm relaxes and I'm free. "I need to talk with you!" he repeats urgently and much to my amazement adds, "Please."

With a heavy sigh, he sinks down on a fallen log and pulls me down to sit beside him. His arm rests between us, momentarily at peace. I reach to touch it. He draws back with a sharp "Don't!"

I reach out again, more gently this time, saying, "If you want me to try to help you, I must know what the healers did, what words they said, what herbs they used - everything!"

Keu tells me as much as he can recall. Some of it I recognize, the rest I can guess.

"One more day," he mutters. Aware of his thoughts, the arm wakens and makes a fist. "We'll go to battle tomorrow with the Niafer. I will need this accursed strength to survive it! After that -"

"You have my promise. If I survive as well, I will do my best to dispell this enchantment."

Keu's smile is as grim as my own.