Part 34 (1/2)

Finn knew the voice, and called out impatiently, ”Do not try to enter here, Dermat, for this place is full of foul spells. But tell us first, I pray thee, who fought that long and bitter fight; for we heard the clash of arms and the shouts of warriors, but we know nothing more.”

”Thy n.o.ble son, Ficna,” returned Dermat, ”fought single-handed against the foreigners.”

”And how fares it with my son after that battle?”

”He is dead,” answered Dermat; ”first sore wounded by many foes whom he slaughtered, and afterwards slain by Midac, the son of Colga. But thy son is avenged; for though I came to the ford indeed too late to save him, I have slain Midac, and here I have brought thee his head as an eric.”

And for a long time Dermat heard no more.

At last Finn spoke again and said--

”Victory and blessings be with you, Dermat, for often before did you relieve the Fena from sore straits. But never have we been in such plight as this. For here we sit spell-bound, and only one thing can release us, the blood of the three fierce kings of the Island of the Torrent sprinkled on this clay. Meantime, unless the ford be well defended, the foreigners will come and slay us. In you, Dermat, we trust, and unless you aid us well and faithfully now, we shall of a certainty perish. Guard the ford till the rising of the sun, for then I know the Fena will come to aid you.”

”I and Fatha will of a certainty keep the enemy at bay,” replied Dermat; and he bade them farewell for a time, and was about to return to the ford: but Conan Mail, with a groan, said--

”Miserable was the hour when I came to this palace, and cold and comfortless is the clay on which I sit--the clay of the Island of the Torrent. But worst of all to be without food and drink so long. And while I sit here, tormented with hunger and thirst, there is great plenty of ale and wine and of rich, savoury food yonder in the Palace of the Island. I am not able to bear this any longer; and now, Dermat, I beseech you to bring me from the palace as much food as I can eat and a drinking-horn of wine.”

”Cursed be the tongue that spoke these selfish words!” said Dermat. ”A host of foreigners are now seeking to compa.s.s your death, with only Fatha and myself to defend you. Surely this is work enough for two good men! And now it seems I must abandon my post, and undertake a task of much danger, to get food for the gluttonous Conan Mail!”

”Alas, Dermat-na-man!”[23] replied Conan, ”if it were a lovely maiden, with bright eyes and golden hair, who made this little request, quickly and eagerly you would fly to please her, little recking of danger or trouble. But now you refuse me, and the reason is not hard to see. For you formerly crossed me four times in my courts.h.i.+ps; and now it likes you well to see me die of hunger in this dungeon!”

”Well, then,” said Dermat, ”cease your upbraiding, and I will try to bring you food; for it is better to face danger than to suffer the revilings of your foul tongue.”

So saying, he went back to the ford to Fatha, where he stood watching; and after he had told him how matters stood, he said to him--

”I must needs go to the Palace of the Island, to get food for Conan Mail; and you shall guard the ford till I return.”

But Fatha told him that there was food and drink enough at the other side of the ford, which Midac had brought from the palace, and urged him to bring a good meal of this to Conan.

”Not so,” said Dermat. ”He would taunt me with bringing him food taken from the hands of dead men; and though one may recover from his blow, it is not so easy to recover from the venom of his tongue.”[XCII.]

So he left Fatha at the ford, and repaired to the Palace of the Island.

As he drew nigh, he heard the noise of feasting and revelry, and the loud talk and laughter of men deep in drink. Walking tiptoe, he peered warily through the open door, and saw the chiefs and the knights sitting at the tables; with Sinsar of the Battles and his son Borba high seated over all. He saw also many attendants serving them with food and drink, each holding in his hand a large ornamented drinking-horn, filled with wine.

Dermat entered the outer door softly, and stood in a dark part of the pa.s.sage near the door, silent and stern, with sword drawn, watching his opportunity. And after a time one of the attendants, unsuspecting, pa.s.sed close to him; when Dermat, with a swift, sure blow, struck off his head. And he s.n.a.t.c.hed the drinking-horn from the man's hand before he fell, so that not a drop of the wine was spilled.

Then, laying the drinking-horn aside for a moment, he walked straight into the hall, and taking up one of the dishes near where the king sat, he went out through the open door, bringing with him both dish and drinking-horn. And amidst the great crowd, and the drinking, and the noise, no one took the least notice of him, so that he got off without hindrance or harm of any kind.

When he reached the ford, he found Fatha lying fast asleep on the bank.

He wondered very much that he could sleep in the midst of such a slaughter; but knowing that the young warrior was worn out with watching and toil, he left him lying asleep, and went to the Palace of the Quicken Trees with the food for Conan.

When he had come to the door, he called aloud to Conan and said--

”I have here a goodly meal of choice food: how am I to give it to thee?”

Conan said, ”Throw it towards me through yonder little opening.”