Page:Heroes of the dawn.djvu/103

 he could frame his refusal in words least discourteous. At length he said:

"It is not customary for we of the Fianna to take women of the Tuatha de Danaan for wives, nor do I think you would be happy separated from your kinsfolk. When I wed it must be among my own people."

"Think again, Fionn, before you reject our love," said Miluchra; "and remember it is better for you to have the friendship of the Sidhe than their enmity. I can offer you, too, unbounded wealth and power."

"Power I have already, and riches enough for my needs," Fionn answered.

Then for the first time Aina spoke to him:

"I will give you strong sons to bear your name, and as long as I am with you grey old age shall never touch you," she promised, not knowing the wicked depths of her sister's mind.

Fionn's determination not to marry one of the faery race wavered as he looked in Aina's soft brown eyes, and, though he felt that by choosing Aina he would probably rouse her sister's enmity, he said: