not the Wise Man foretold the sorrow that the daughter of Felim should
bring upon the land?

'I ask none to share the sorrow that may come,' said Nathos. 'To-morrow
Deirdre and I set forth for the bay where our galley is harboured, and if
so be that we gain the shores of Alba, before Concobar overtake us, there,
if he come thither, shall he be met by a host of our own land. Yet, lest
the King should follow me hither, and, finding me not, seek to slay you,
were it not well that ye leave this place?'

Ardan spake: 'Not for fear of that which might come upon us, but for the
love we bear you and our fair sister Deirdre will we never leave thee. If
sorrow come upon thee, let it be upon us also. Are we not the children of
one mother, and if death come, let us face it together like men. Are we
not under a bond that we will stand each by each, even unto death?'

Then said Ailne, 'As Ardan hath spoken, so let it be, for although the
words of the Wise Man come to pass, and sorrow be upon us, yet will we not
henceforth leave thee.'

But when Deirdre heard how the sons of Usna would thus face death for her
sake, she sighed aloud. 'Alas! it is not for me to bring sorrow upon the
land. Let me even now return to the cottage in the forest, and there with
Lavarcam will I live and die, unless it be that Concobar take me thence.'

But Ardan answered: 'For fear of what may befall us, the sons of Usna,
shalt thou never leave us, nor shalt thou go forth from us, but of thine
own free will.'

Early next morning one hundred and fifty men rode with the three sons of