'
Then Lavarcam hastened to the King and told him how that the sons of Usna
had come to Erin to live peaceably, but how that the beauty of Deirdre had
faded until she was no longer fairest among women.
Then was Concobar wroth, and he sent yet another messenger.
To this man he said, 'Who was it that slew thy father and thy brother?'
'Nathos, son of Usna, O King!'
'Then go thou to the House of the Red Branch, and bring me word hither if
Deirdre be still the fairest among women.'
And the man went. But when he found that bar and bolt were drawn across
door and window, he knew well that the sons of Usna were warned of the
wrath of the King. But espying one open window, he put his eye near to the
lower corner that he might glance within. And Deirdre saw the man's eye,
and told Nathos, and he, with the ivory bishop that was in his hand, took
aim as if with a javelin, and the chessman pierced the spy's eye, and it
became blind.
And the man returned to King Concobar and said, 'Of a surety Deirdre, the
wife of Nathos, is yet of all fair women the most fair.'
Then could not Concobar contain his wrath, but burst forth, 'Arise, ye
Ultonians; the fort that surroundeth the House of the Red Branch set ye in
flames.'
And the Ultonians set it in flames.
Then came out the younger of the sons of Fergus from the burning fort, and
he rushed upon the Ultonians and killed three hundred men.
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