CHAPTER XV
Buinne stood up.
“Naoise,” he said sternly.
“My soul?” said Naoise.
“You interfered in my combat.”
“Your end of the line was almost too heavy for any man, dear heart.”
“You did it twice.”
“Thirty feet out is a great distance. All the press was in your path. I did but lighten it when my own front was easy.”
“I will accept no man’s assistance,” said Buinne.
“We are comrades,” Naoise replied gently. “We give and take help.”
“Did I call for help?” the other growled.
Naoise’s great chest rose, but his voice was calm.
“No man will ever hear you call for help, Buinne.”
“Let no man give what is not called for.”
“But for that help, Buinne, you would now be dead.”
“I was not fit for the end of the line?” said Buinne harshly.
“You are young yet, comrade, but in two years you will have the speed and smash that such a post calls for.”
“Your speed! your smash!” said the sardonic Buinne.
“The world knows,” Ainnle interposed, “that the four greatest champions of Ireland are Cúchulinn, Fergus, Conall, and Naoise.”
“And Ainnle,” Buinne completed with a grin.
The young man turned his dancing length of whipcord and his narrowed brow on Buinne.
“I, myself——” he said gently.
“And so could I,” said Ardan.
“Do not quarrel,” Naoise interrupted. “In two years Buinne will be the equal of any man you have named. Hush,” he said.
He bent his head sideward and hearkenedin amazement. The others listened, with their eyes turned questioningly on each other. They listened to nothing, for the ram had ceased and there was a silence of the dead without.
In a few moments there came a gentle tapping, then a louder knocking at the door.
Naoise stood before it, frowning.
“Who goes there?”
“The herald.”
“What do you want?”
“Parley.”
“Say what you have to say, herald.”
“If the woman Deirdre is put out through this door the troops will march away.”
“And what then?”
“No vengeance will be for ever exacted against the sons of Uisneac.”
“There is no answer,” said Naoise.
“I have yet a message,” said the voice.
“Deliver it.”
“It is for the ear of the sons of Fergus.”
Buinne strode forward.
“Deliver it,” he said.
“There is no quarrel,” said the herald, “between the king and Fergus mac Roy. The king’s love for Fergus is such that hewishes at any cost to save his two sons from a death that is certain.”
“Well?” said Buinne.
“The king says that if these young men retire from the combat he will bestow a lordship on them.”
“What lordship?”
“A cantred of land greater than that which Fergus himself has, and the king’s friendship.”
Buinne looked under steep red brows at Naoise.
“I shall go out,” he said.
He turned to his brother.
“You will come out with me.”
“I shall not,” said Iollann.
His brother stamped a foot.
“My father is my chief,” said Iollann. “What he orders I do. I cannot protect the sons of Uisneac as he commanded, but I can fight beside them.”
Buinne turned.
“Herald,” he roared, “tell Conachúr that I shall go out to him.”
His hand went to the door, but Naoise stepped forward.
“Do not touch a bolt,” he commanded.“You shall go out by the door I choose. That door,” he pointed, and strode to it. “Iollann, Ainnle, stand so with the spears. Ardan, Deirdre, sling from this point. Buinne, stand so, one foot beyond the swing of the door.”
“We may meet again, Naoise,” said Buinne.
“If we meet in the press, Buinne, I may perhaps spare you for the sake of my brother Iollann. Ready, Buinne! When the door is opened I shall count three. Be gone ere the last count or I shall smash you to a pulp.”
Naoise gave one mighty heave, and counted. Then Buinne was gone and the door had closed again.
“I claim this sortie,” said Iollann, as the ram recommenced on the door.
“It is my turn,” said Ainnle, “but we will go together, friend.”
“I wish to go alone, and bring honour back to the name of Fergus. I am a better fighter than you think,” he insisted.
“You are a good fighter, in truth,” said Naoise, “but a solitary venture is now dangerous. They are more accustomed tothe light and to our methods, for there is nothing to vary in them. We must emerge by a door, and they are watching every door like hawks. But before you go, Iollann, there is one work we must do for safety’s sake. Listen carefully, my dear ones.”