Keu's still bleeding like a stuck pig. I'm alarmed at how pale he is and how much red has come out of him. He's a big man but how much can he stand? I struggle to haul him down the hill to the shady place where they told me a healer has pitched her tent. Our own Baine could not do any more for him. Perhaps this one will be able to save him, for I fear he's on his way to the land of promise!

Keu leans all his weight on me and I'm grateful when another man lends a hand to help him the rest of the way to the tent. The healer meets us and she takes a hold of him as well. It takes the strength of all three of us to get him to the tent and lay him down on the cot.

It is easy to see that his life is running out of the gory gaping wound in his arm. The healer sets to work straightaway, tossing me a jug of mead while she tears off the clotted bindings.

"Get as much of this into him as he'll swallow!" she snaps. "He'll need it."

I hold the jug to Keu's blue lips, wishing I could have a taste meself. But he's much more in need of it now. He gulps most of it down and slobbers away the rest. I step back to give the healer room.

In the meantime, the man who helped us stands with his arms folded over his chest, watching and frowning. I feel a bit foolish in my fancy clothing especially now that it's smeared with Keu's blood. This man is also dressed very well, in MacRoth colors! I eye him sideways, wondering if he's heard about our raid.

He turns to me and nods. I suppose he expects some thanks. Gratitude was never something I learned very well and so I simply nod back at him.

Keu is mercifully passed out cold. The healer is stitching on his arm. It's still bleeding but not as badly as before, since she's bound it up tightly above the wound.

"He'll be resting for awhile," she says without looking at us. "You might as well go and enjoy the fair, lads. This one won't be going anywhere soon!"

With a shrug of my shoulders, I step outside. The MacRoth man follows me. I don't like this and I whirl around on him. But he speaks first and surprises me by saying my name. His tone is low and confidential and very sure of himself.

"Nion, you well know as well as I do that there are others whoss wealth outweigh's that of the MacRoth's. I come to offer a truce, and alliance. In return for aid, and immunity from further attacks by your band, the MacRoths will provide sanctuary, supplies, as well as other things that you might find useful. To seal the alliance, I offer you 7 bags of silver and 3 of my finest horses!"

I stare at him and rub my beard.