"Well, then," says Ingcél to the guides, "what is nearest to us here?" "Easy to say: the Hostel of Hua Derga, chief-hospitaller of Erin." "Good men indeed," says Ingcél, "were likely to seek their fellows at that Hostel to-night." This, then, was the counsel of the reavers, to send one of them to see how things were there. "Who will go there to espy the house?" say everyone. "Who should go," says Ingcél, "but I, for 'tis I that am entitled to dues." Ingcél went to reconnoitre the Hostel with one of the seven pupils of the single eye which stood out of his forehead, to fit his eye into the house in order to destroy the king and the youths who were around him therein. And Ingcél saw them through the wheels of the chariots. Then Ingcél was perceived from the house. He made a start from it after being perceived. He went till he reached the reavers in the stead wherein they were. Each circle of them was set around another to hear the tidings--the chiefs of the reavers being in the very centre of the circles. There were Fer gér and Fer gel and Fer rogel and Fer rogain and Lomna the Buffoon, and Ingcél the One-eyed--six in the centre of the circles. And Fer rogain went to question Ingcél. "How is that, O Ingcél?" asks Fer rogain. "However it be," answers Ingcél, "royal is the custom, hostful is the tumult: kingly is the noise thereof. Whether a king be there or not, I will take the house for what I have a right to. Thence my turn of rapine cometh." "We have left it in thy hand, O Ingcél!" say Conaire's fosterbrothers. "But we should not wreak the Destruction till we know who may be therein." "Question, hast thou seen the house well, O Ingcél?" asks Fer rogain. "Mine eye cast a rapid glance around it, and I will accept it for my dues as it stands." "Thou mayest well accept it, O Ingcél," saith Fer rogain: "the foster father of us all is there, Erin's overking, Conaire, son of Eterscél." "Question, what sawest thou in the champion's high seat of the house, facing the King, on the opposite side?" THE ROOM OF CORMAC CONDLONGAS "I saw there," says Ingcél, "a man of noble countenance, large, with a clear and sparkling eye, an even set of teeth, a face narrow below, broad above. Fair, flaxen, golden hair upon him, and a proper fillet around it. A brooch of silver in his mantle, and in his hand a gold-hilted sword. A shield with five golden circles upon it: a five-barbed javelin in his hand. A visage just, fair, ruddy he hath: he is also beardless. Modest-minded is that man!" "And after that, whom sawest thou there?" THE ROOM OF CORMAC'S NINE COMRADES