Celtic Tales | Page 8

anger of Concobar that Nathos had
fled from the Green Isle.
'Go forth,' said Concobar, when he saw the gladness of the people, 'go
hence to Alba and come not again until ye bring with you the three sons
of Usna.'
Then spake one among them, 'Right gladly we go, but who can bring to
thee Nathos, if it be not his will?'
'He who loves me most,' answered the King, 'he it is that will fail not to
bring with him the exiled heroes.'
And after the feast the King drew aside a warrior prince, and spake thus:
'Were I to send thee to Alba to the sons of Usna, and if at my command

thou didst see them slain before thee, what then wouldst thou do?'
'Then, O King, would I slay those who did the monstrous deed, even
were it at thy command.'
Again the King called to him a warrior prince. To him he spake as to
the first. And this prince made answer, 'If by thy command I saw the
sons of Usna lie dead before me, then woe be upon thee, for with mine
own hand should I take thy life.'
Then spake the King likewise to Fergus, and Fergus answered, 'Let
what may befall the sons of Usna, never shall my hand be lifted against
the King.'
'To thee, good Fergus, do I intrust this thing. Go thou to Alba and bring
hither with thee Nathos, and Ailne, and Ardan. And when thou art
come again to Erin, keep thou thy bond to feast at the house of Borrach,
but the three sons of Usna send thou straightway hither.'
So it was that on the morrow Fergus set sail in a black barge for Alba,
taking with him but his two sons and a steersman.
The bloom of early summer made bright the earth, and Nathos and his
brothers had not yet left their father's home for the castle in the north.
But the days were hot, and they had pitched three tents on the seashore,
one for Nathos and Deirdre, one for Ailne and Ardan, and one in which
to eat and to drink. It was on a bright noon that Nathos and Deirdre sat
before the tents, playing chess.
The chess-board was of ivory, the chessmen were of wrought gold, and
they had belonged to Concobar, for on the day before the sons of Usna
fled from Alba, the King had been hunting by their castle, and there had
he left the board and men.
As Nathos and Deirdre played, of a sudden was a cry heard from
adown the shore.
'Yonder is the voice of a man of Erin,' said Nathos, as they paused in

their game.
Again a loud cry, and the sons of Usna were called by name.
'Yea, most truly is that the cry of a man of Erin.'
But Deirdre said, 'Nay, thou dreamest, Nathos. Let us play on.'
Then nearer and clearer came a third cry, and there was none but knew
that it was indeed the voice of a man of Erin.
'Go, Ardan,' said Nathos, 'go to the harbour, and there welcome Fergus
from the Green Isle, for he indeed it is and none other.'
But when Ardan went, Nathos saw that Deirdre's lips grew pale and a
great fear looked out from her eyes.
'What terror is it that hath hold of thee?' he asked.
'Hath it not been revealed to me in a dream, O Nathos, that this Fergus
who should come with honey-sweet words hath in his mind the
shedding of our blood?'
Even as she spake Ardan led Fergus to where the two sat on either side
of the chess-board.
Eagerly did the exiled sons of Usna beg for tidings of their friends in
the Green Isle.
'I come to you,' said Fergus, 'with greetings from Concobar the King.
Fain would he see once more in Erin the fairest and bravest heroes of
his realm. Peace he would pledge with you, and great shall be your
welcome, if ye will come back with me.'
But before the brothers could answer, Deirdre spake. 'Here in Alba is
Nathos now lord over lands wider than the realm of Concobar.
Wherefore then should he seek forgiveness of the King?'
'Yet,' replied Fergus, 'Erin is the land of his adoption. Since his

boyhood's days Nathos has been a hero in the Green Isle, and it were
well that he should yet rejoice in the land, and, if need be, defend it
still.'
'We have two lands,' said Ardan, 'and both are dear unto us. Yet, if
Nathos will go with thee to Erin, so also will Ailne and I, myself.'
'I will go,' said Nathos, but he looked not at his star-eyed wife as he
spake