But Finn answered, 'One of two things must ye bring hither would ye win
peace from me. Either must ye bring me the head of a warrior or a handful
of berries from the quicken-tree.'
Then said Oisin the son of Finn, 'I counsel you, get ye hence, for the
head that the King seeketh from you is the head of Dermat, and were ye to
attempt to take it, then would Dermat take yours, were ye twenty times the
number that ye be. And as for the quicken-berries, know ye that they grow
on a fairy tree, guarded by the one-eyed giant Sharvan.'
But the two chiefs were firm and would not be moved, for it were better to
die in their quest than to return to the hilly slopes of Allen at enmity
with Finn. So they left the palace, and journeyed without rest until they
came to Dermat's hut by the clear well.
Now Dermat, when he heard footsteps without, seized his weapons, and going
to the door, asked of the strangers who they were and whence they came.
And the chiefs told their names and for what cause they were come thither.
Then Dermat said, 'I am not willing to give you my head, nor will you find
it an easy matter to take it. Neither may ye hope to fare better in your
quest of the quicken-berries, for the surly giant Sharvan guards the tree.
Fire will not burn him nor water drown, nor is there a weapon that hath
power to wound him, save only his own club. Say, therefore, which ye will
do battle for first, my head or the quicken-berries?'
And they answered, 'We will first do battle with thee.
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