Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/58

 makes all things seem possible, the king rose up in the hall, smiting with his rod the gong of silver above his head to make a silence.

'Is it fitting,' he asked, 'that great warriors of our land should live in exile on account of a woman? The woman is Deirdre, but the men are the sons of Usna. We miss them at this board. Can we do without them, my heroes, in the ranks of battle? I will call them back before they are old.'

At this the heroes believed that Conachoor had forgiven the sons of Usna and forgotten Deirdre. They rejoiced, saying that they had themselves long thought the same though in silence. But when the king bade them set out to fetch back those three they asked:

'Who is to bring Naisi unless Naisi be willing?'

'He,' answered the king, 'he who most loves me will be able to bring back Naisi.'

While they went on with the feast, Conachoor sent for Conall the Victorious in secret, and asked him:

'If you brought back the sons of Usna under a pledge of safety, and in spite of your pledge they were killed, what would you do, Conall?'

'I,' said Conall, 'would kill the murderers, even if they murdered at your command, O King.'

'Then you, Conall, are not he that loves me best.'

So he called next Cohoolin and asked him the same question.

'I would not accept any payment but death for their death,' exclaimed Cohoolin, 'and neither bribe nor fine should save your own head if it happened by your consent, O Conachoor.'

'Neither will I send you, Cohoolin.'

Next the king asked Fergus, who replied:

'I would take vengeance for the dead upon each