Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/70

 'Lead us, then, that we may fetch the head of Finn for the King of the World.'

'You can get to Finn only over my body,' said Innsa.

Thereupon the knights rushed into the ford and began to attack Innsa with their swords. Innsa was a good warrior, and he had Finn and more than half of the Fena to defend; he stood above the enemy and their sword blades lighted him to their heads and breasts; and therefore he slew each man that approached him. The lightning and clashing of swords wakened the hawks on the rocks and reached the heroes sitting in the Palace of the Mountain Ash Trees. Innsa grew weary with reaping heads, and he leaned against one of the pillars. Then the chief himself furiously attacked him, and though the battle was long, Innsa was slain. Even so, the chief was afraid to go alone among the Fena; though fast bound by spells he dreaded them. He set out then to bring more men and to carry Innsa's head to the king. On his way Ficna encountered him.

'Whence do you come?' asked Ficna.

'From the ford of the Palace of the Mountain Ash Trees, where I have slain this champion.'

Ficna took the head and kissed it.

'Are you not then one of us?' asked the other.

'No!' cried Ficna, and fell upon him and killed him. When he had buried Innsa at the ford he carried up the enemy's head and told Finn his news.

Then Ficna returned and took Innsa's place between the rocks. Soon came the dead chief's brother to look for his friends, and he saw the bodies swelling the stream and Ficna guarding the ford. One by one the King of the World's men went up against Ficna, and he slew all that came near. Only one remained alive, and he