The Wiles of King Conor
But all this while the cunning, cruel heart of Conor was planning
his revenge. For though he was an old man with grown-up sons of
middle age, he had begun to feel affection for the child who had
been sheltered by his care, and who looked to him as her protector
and her friend. And after all the years that he had waited for the
girl, to have her plucked away beneath his eyes just when she was
of age to be his wife, aroused his bitter wrath and jealousy. Deep
in his heart he plotted dark revenge, but it was hard to carry out
his plan, for well he knew that of his chiefs not one would lift
his hand against the sons of Usna. Of all the Red Branch Champions
those three were loved the best; and difficult it was to know which
of the three was bravest, or most noble to behold. When in the
autumn games they raced or leaped or drove the chariots round the
racing-course, some said that Arden had the more majestic step and
stately air; others, that Ainle was more graceful and more lithe in
swing, but most agreed that Naisi was the princeliest of the three,
so dignified his gait, so swift his step in running, and so strong
and firm his hand. But when they wrestled, ran or fought in combats
side by side, men praised them all, and called them the “Three
Lights of Valour of the Gael.”
When his plans were ripe, King Conor made a festival in Emain
Macha, and all his chiefs were gathered to the feast. The aged
Fergus sat at his right hand, and Caffa next to him; close by sat
Conall Cernach, a mighty warrior, still in his full prime, and by
his side, as in old times, Cuchulain sat. He seemed still young,
but of an awesome aspect, as one who had a tragedy before him, and
great deeds behind; and, for all that he was the pride of Ulster’s
hosts, men stood in dread before him, as though he were a god.
Around the board sat many a mighty man and good prime warrior
seasoned by long wars. But in the hall three seats were empty, and
it was known to be the king’s command that in his presence none
should dare to speak the names of Usna’s banished sons.
This night the King was merry and in pleasant humour, as it seemed.
He plied his guests with mead and ale out of his golden horns, and
led the tale and passed the jest, and laughed, and all his chiefs
laughed with him, till the hall was filled with cheerful sounds of
song and merriment. And when the cheer was bravest and the feast
was at its height, he rose and said: “Right welcome all assembled
here this night, High Chiefs of Ulster, Champions of the Branch. Of
all the kingly households in the world, tell me, O you who travel
much and see strange distant lands and courts of kings, have ye in
Alba or in Erin’s realms, or in the countries of the great wide
world, e’er seen a court more princely than our own, or an assembly
comely as the Red Branch Knights?”
“We know not,” cried they all, “of any such. Thy court, O High
King, is of all courts on earth the bravest and the best.”
“If this be so,” said wily Conor, “I suppose no sense of want lies
on you; no lack of anything is in your minds?”
“We know not any want at all,” they said aloud; but in their minds
they thought, “save the Three Lights of Valour of the Gael.”
“But I, O warriors, know one want that lies on us,” the King
replied, “the want of the three sons of Usna fills my mind. Naisi
and Ainle and Arden, good warriors were they all; but Naisi is a
match for any mighty monarch in the world. By his own strength
alone he carved for him and his a princely realm in Alba, and there
he rules as king. Alas! that for the sake of any woman in the
world, we lose his presence here.”
“Had we but dared to utter that, O Warrior King, long since we
should have called them home again. These three alone would safely
guard the province against any host. Three sons of a border-king
and used to fight are they; three heroes of warfare, three lions of
fearless might.”
“I knew not,” said King Conor craftily, “you wished them back.
Methought you all were jealous of their might, or long ere this
we should have sent for them. Let messengers now go, and heralds
of the king to bring them home, for welcome to us all will be the
sight of Usna’s sons.”
“Who is the herald who shall bear that peaceful message?” cried
they all. “I have been told,” said Conor, “that out of Ulster’s
chiefs there were but three whose word of honour and protection
they would trust, and at whose invitation Naisi would come again in
peace. With Conall Cernach he will come, or with Cuchulain, or with
great Fergus of the mighty arms. These are the friends in whom he
will confide; under the safe-guard of each one of these he knows
all will be well.”
“Bid Fergus go, or Conall or Cuchulain,” the warriors cried; “let
not a single night pass by until the message goes to bring the sons
of Usna to our board again. Most sorely do we need them, deeply do
we mourn their loss. Bring back the Lights of Valour of the Gael.”
“Now will I test,” thought Conor to himself, “which of these three
prime warriors loves me best.” So supper being ended, the King
took Conall to his ante-room apart and set himself to question
cunningly: “Suppose, O royal soldier of the world, thou wert to
go and fetch the sons of Usna back from Alba to their own land
under thy safeguard and thy word of honour that they should not be
harmed; but if, in spite of this, some ill should fall on them--not
by my hand, of course--and they were slain, what then would happen?
what wouldst thou do?”
“I swear, O King,” said Conall, “by my hand, that if the sons of
Usna were brought here under my protection to their death, not he
alone whose hand was stained by that foul deed, but every man of
Ulster who had wrought them harm should feel my righteous vengeance
and my wrath.”
“I thought as much,” said Conor, “not great the love and service
thou dost give thy lord. Dearer to thee than I are Usna’s sons.”
Then sent he for Cuchulain and to him he made the same demand. But
bolder yet Cuchulain made reply: “I pledge my word, O King, if
evil were to fall upon the sons of Usna, brought back to Erin and
their homes in confidence in my protection and my plighted word,
not all the riches of the eastern world would bribe or hinder me
from severing thine own head from thee in lieu of the dear heads
of Usna’s sons, most foully slain when tempted home by their sure
trust in me.”
“I see it now, Cuchulain,” said the king, “thou dost profess a love
for me thou feelest not.”
Then Fergus came, and to him also he proposed the same request.
Now Fergus was perplexed what answer he should give. Sore did it
trouble him to think that evil might befall brave Usna’s sons when
under his protection. Yet it was but a little while since he and
Conor had made friends, and he come back to Ulster, and set high in
place and power by the King, and well he knew that Conor doubted
him; and such a deed as this, to bring the sons of Usna home again,
would prove fidelity and win the King’s affection. Moreover, Conor
spoke so guardedly that Fergus was not sure whether the King had
ill intent or no towards the sons of Usna. For all he said was:
“Supposing any harm or ill befall the sons of Usna by the hand of
any here, what wouldst thou do?”
So after long debate within himself, Fergus replied: “If any
Ulsterman should harm the noble youths, undoubtedly I should avenge
the deed; but thee, O King, and thine own flesh and blood, I would
not harm; for well I know, that if they came under protection
of thy sovereign word, they would be safe with thee. Therefore,
against thee and thy house, I would not raise my hand, whatever the
conditions, but faithfully and with my life will serve thee.”
“’Tis well,” the wily king replied, “I see, O royal warrior, that
thou lovest me well, and I will prove thy faithfulness and truth.
The sons of Usna without doubt will come with thee. To-morrow set
thou forward; bear the King’s message to brave Usna’s sons, say
that he eagerly awaits their coming, that Ulster longs to welcome
them. Urge them to hasten; bid them not to linger on the way, but
with the utmost speed to press straight forward here to Emain
Macha.”
Then Fergus went out from the King and told the nobles he had
pledged his word to Conor to bring back the sons of Usna to their
native land. And on the morrow’s morn Fergus set forth in his own
boat, and with him his two sons, Illan the Fair and Buinne the
Ruthless Red, and together they sailed to Loch Etive in Alba.
But hardly had they started than King Conor set to work with
cunning craft to lure the sons of Usna to their doom. He sent
for Borrach, son of Annte, who had built a mighty fortress by
the sea, and said to him, “Did I not hear, O Borrach, that thou
hadst prepared a feast for me?” “It is even so, O King, and I
await thy coming to partake of the banquet I have prepared.” And
Conor said, “I may not come at this time to thy feast; the duties
of the kingdom keep me here at Emain. But I would not decline
thy hospitality. Fergus, the son of Roy, stands close to me in
place and power; a feast bestowed on him I hold as though it were
bestowed on me. In less than a week’s time comes Fergus back from
Alba, bringing the sons of Usna to their home. Bid Fergus to thy
feast, and I will hold the honour paid to him as paid to me.”
For wily Conor knew that if his royal command was laid on Fergus
to accept the banquet in his stead, Fergus dare not refuse; and
by this means he sought to separate the sons of Usna from their
friend, and get them fast into his own power at Emain, while
Fergus waited yet at Borrach’s house, partaking of his hospitality.
“Thus,” thought the King, “I have the sons of Usna in my grasp,
and dire the vengeance I will wreak on them, the men who stole my
wife.”