The wagon lumbered on, men relaxed and began talking amongst themselves.

With care, Birney extracted a small clay vial. He pulled the stopper and dipped the sharp protrusion from his finger into it, then replaced the stopper and put the vial safely back in his pocket. Heedful to not scratch himself, Birney was now ready. "That is a fine horse ye have," he shouted to Odo who rode ahead of him.

Odo pulled Amica to stop and waited for the stranger ...