The Night Raven flies ahead of us on the feather-footed black horse that must have once been the pride of some Niafer chieftain. For awhile we could see the dust rising from the dry road that blazed up in his wake. North to the river Sionna we ride, snaking our way up to Temhair, the rich green heart of Eriu, where we will again roam at large on Lughnasadh.

The bullheaded Keu rides with me, silent and strange since his arm was restored by the healers, just in time for the final battle at Inver Colpa. I'd never seen an arm so ruined. No one dared ask him how it was cured. There is not even a trace of a scar where his flesh was slashed to the bone, the inner cords of his sinews severed, his thickly muscled limb hanging limp as a broken branch. No trace of scar, and the arm is even stronger than ever, unearthly strong. What price did the man pay to become our Nuada Silverhand? He rarely speaks now and his dark eyes each bear a shining crescent at their core. Silent and strange, haunted and newly powered, I'm glad he still rides with us and not against us.

Trailing behind, watching our backs, is my halfwit son Sean. As we approach An Caidreamh Suiri, he kicks his horse's gait up a notch and comes alongside us.

"Da! It's the Inn we raided last year," he grins, crooking his thumb towards the place.

Keu pulls to a halt, awaiting my word. He turns his heavy gaze to the neatly kept tavern. I half expect the thatch to burst alight, kindled by the weird fire in his eyes.

"We'll ride past this time," I tell them. "I'm sure the innkeep has fond memories of us, even if we were disguised as Niafer - especially fond memories of you, me handsome laddie. Or would you like her to spit on you again and curse you to the skies once more?"

Sean sticks out his tongue and mutters under his breath. The smell of fresh baked bread is inviting and enticing. I don't remember the last time I tasted fresh bread.

I snort to clear the smell from my nose as we ride quickly past. "Would that our number was greater, then we might dare. Soon enough we'll see the sweetwater of Sionna. Hadaig should be waiting for us there. We'll gather our forces for a few raids to put us in good form for our arrival at Cormac's house!"