When he came to the king and told his tale, and how Nathos was like a king indeed, and Darthool more beautiful by far than she had been of old, Concobar sprang to his feet. A red light came into his eyes, and he threw back his head and laughed; and at that laughing every man there knew that his madness was come upon him, and that the blood-thirst was already sweating upon many swords. “Ultonians,” he cried, “will ye do the will of your king?” “That will we!” they answered with a great shout. “Then come ye, and all your followers and vassals, and surround the house of the Red Branch, and set it in a forest of red flames, and if any run from out thereof put them to the sword.” As all ran swiftly from the king’s fort, a high terrible voice was heard. It was that of the dying Cathba the ancient Druid, and what he cried thrice was: “The Red Branch perisheth! Uladh passeth! Uladh passeth!” But none heard him or paid heed, save only Lavarcam, who in that bitter crying knew well that the end was come. In a brief while thrice three hundred men surrounded the fort of the Red Branch, and set red flames about it; and thrice three hundred more made haste to join them. There was a mighty onset at the first led by Buine the Fiery, who slew many, and quenched the fires, and threw the Ultonians into confusion. “Who is the hero who has done this?” cried Concobar. “It is I, Buine Borbruay, the son of Fergus MacRossa.” “I will give thee great bribes, Buine, if thou wilt forsake these robbers of my wife that was to be.” “What are thy bribes?” “I will give thee a cantred of land at thine own choice, and I will make thee my chosen comrade, and thou shalt be as next to the king.” Then Buine the Faithless laughed and said: “Better the honours of a king than the thanks of dead men,” and with that, for all the pledged guaranty of Fergus and the troth of his own word, he went over unto Concobar. But when Illann the Fair heard of this he was wroth. He saw the bitter smile on the lips of Darthool, and he swore that he would not desert those upon whom lay the protection of his father’s guaranty. Meanwhile Ardan lay, dreaming with a proud smile against the fire; and, upon the deerskins near the couch of Darthool, Ailne and Nathos played at chess, for little did they care to heed the treacherous valour of the Ultonians. They knew, too, that their hour was come; and being kingly, gave no thought to that little thing. But Illann called the troops together and fared forth, and made so deadly an onslaught that he slew three hundred of Concobar’s men. Then he quenched the fires, and went back to the fort and to where Ailne and Ardan were playing together. “Is that rain that is making a noise without?” said Ailne to Nathos. “No; it is a humming of gnats,” answered Nathos. “Let us play on.” “My fate is heavy upon me, Nathos and Ailne,” said Illann the Fair. “I have done well by thee, but I feel the heavy hand of fate is against me, and who can withstand fate?”