[Illustration: The Hedge of Spears]
But when the Wise Man saw that his magic availed nought, he laid upon the
land yet another enchantment, for the plain upon which Deirdre stood with
the sons of Usna, he caused to be covered with tempestuous water.
And the magic sea rose higher and yet more high, so that Nathos raised
Deirdre on his shoulder, and there she rested, her white arms around the
hero's neck.
But now the waters grew calm, and it was seen that drowning was not their
doom.
Then, as the waters withdrew from the plain, soldiers came to bind Nathos,
Ailne, and Ardan, and to take them before the King. And Concobar commanded
that they should be slain before his eyes.
'If such be our doom, then slay me first,' said Ardan, 'for I am the
youngest of Usna's sons.'
'Nay,' said Ailne, 'but let the first blow fall upon me.'
Then Nathos spake: 'It were not meet that we three, the sons of one
mother, should be divided in death. Together have we sowed the seeds in
the springtime, side by side have we plucked the fruits of summer; autumn
is still afar, yet must we be cut down as ripe corn. But let us fall each
by each, that there may not be left the one to mourn the other. With this
sword that was given me by a hero of the land may our heads at one stroke
be severed from our bodies.'
With that they laid their heads upon the block. A flash of the steel, and
Alba was bereft of the fairest and noblest of her sons.
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