Nessa and I share a laugh as the man with the fractured shin takes the rest of the teasel tea in a gulp. Then we are startled to hear a horse neighing loudly. Down the hill comes the poor animal, staggering under the weight of two very bloody warriors. Sweet Goddess, are they more casualties from that dreadful maze? I would guess so.

I run up and grab the horse by the halter, leading it down to the tent. At least one of the men is still alive, although stuck with several arrows and bleeding from a wound in his side. The other one's arm has been hacked off and he topples to the ground despite my best efforts to support him. I fear he is already dead.

Nessa hobbles over, leaning on a stick. "I can help, just tell me what to do!"

Together we get the other man down off the horse. He is so weak that he cannot walk on his own and he's too much for the two of us to carry. We hold onto him and let him fall gently onto the grass beside his companion.

"Stoke up the fire and heat more water, quick as you can," I tell Nessa as I carefully strip off the man's tunic so that I have a look at his wounds. The arrows will have to come out and the ripped flesh on the side of him must be cleaned, stitched and wrapped. "Bring us that last flask of mead too!" I call to Nessa.

I touch the arrows lightly to see how deeply they've gone into him. The man flinches only slightly. He's probably numb with shock by now. "You were in the maze too?" I ask him, shaking my head sadly. "What prize are they offering anyway? Is it worth this price? I thought King Cormac was a peaceful and generous Ard Righ! This is slaughter!"

Nessa brings the mead and I put the flask to the man's lips. "Drink deep. I'm going to get these arrows out of you now, then wash you up. It will sting, so be ready."