Nathos followed her, and stooped to take his javelin from the ground. And
there, beside it, lay a wooden-hilted knife.
'It is as I thought,' he said. 'This knife is used but by the hillmen who
are in bondage to Concobar. The King seeketh my life. Go thou, then, back
to thy lonely cottage, and await that day when he shall make thee his
Queen.'
'Ask me not to turn from following thee, O Nathos, for thy way must be
mine, this day and ever.'
'Come, then,' and Nathos took her by the hand.
Through the shadowy forest they walked swiftly, until of a sudden he bade
her rest among the bracken. Then went he forward and told his waiting
huntsmen to return by a long and winding path to the castle of the sons of
Usna.
Three days would it thus take them to reach it, and Nathos with Deirdre
would be there on the morrow, if, tarrying not, they walked on through the
dark night. But Concobar's messengers would follow the hounds, thinking so
to capture Nathos.
'By dawn, Deirdre, shall we reach the castle, and there may we rest in
safety one day and one night. Then must we set out for the hills and lochs
of Alba, and with us Ailne and Ardan, for if the King cometh and findeth
me fled, then will he slay my brothers.'
On and on they sped, through the forest, across the Moor of Loneliness, up
the glens and gorges, and over the hills. Above glimmered the pale stars,
around them was the screech and the moan of wakeful bird and beast.
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