The warm surprise of finding a woman knocking at my door in the middle of the night cools down quickly as she turns to me and rants a dire warning. Its nothing we haven't already guessed except for one word. "Tonight." Surely the guards would have spied any trouble coming. Unless - the wind adds to my suspicions by blowing back her hood to show her up for what she really is! I can't look away from those weird eyes that flash at me and dare me to deny what she says. Everything fades away but for those eyes.

A step backwards and the bond breaks. I can breathe again. I rub one hand over my face to be sure this isn't a dream. Still she stands and waits. Ah, Enna, you're an old fool!

I dismiss her with a wave of my spear but, just in case, not without mumbling thanks. "Tonight is almost over, lady," I say to her and point my beard at the gates. "We've had no -"

Before I can finish, there's a burst of raw laughter from the guards on the wall. I hear Torann's name, then the gates swing open for him. He's limping badly and without his horses or his sword.

"There's no cause for laughter, I've been given a message!" he gasps. We rush to gather around him.

"Put another guard on that woman in the hut!" is my first order. "She's one of the Magh Croimor scum! Call for warriors, we'll start searching at dawn for Creidne."

When I run back to my hut to gather my cloak and a shield, the woman has vanished as if she was never there. I shake off the chill that went through me. This is no time for chasing phantoms, I tell meself sternly, and turn the prickle of fear into cold blooded strategy. The bitch of a beauty must rank highly among the pack of mongrel dogs. We may use her as bait!