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Updated: May 1, 2025
And and you look like him, Brian Buidh " "Nonsense!" Brian forced a laugh, but as he folded his arms again the glitter of O'Neill's ring on his finger caught the sharp gray eyes. Turlough Wolf started. "Listen!" he said, coming forward insinuatingly. "Yellow Brian, no man knows who you are, nor do I ask. But Turlough Wolf knows a man when he sees one, a chieftain among men.
O'Donnell More's voice was deep and harsh, though Brian afterward found that it could be changed to suit its owner's mood. "Who are you thus disputing my passage?" "I am Brian Buidh," came Brian's curt reply. "As for dispute, that is as you will." "Yellow Brian?" The black brows shot up in surprise. "A strange name. Whence come you, and seeking what?" "I seek men, O'Donnell More."
Is your message from the Bird Daughter in his regard?" "Yes." Cathbarr fought for self-control, the breast of his mail shirt rising and falling, his bloodshot eyes beginning to circle about the place once more in a helpless and angry wonder. "O'Donnell Dubh," he went on at last, "Nuala O'Malley sends you this word. Give Brian Buidh over to her, and she will pay you what ransom you demand."
At his first words a helpless anger flashed into her face, succeeded by a still more helpless pride. "No, I will not sell what I have been unable to conquer back, Brian Buidh. If there were any way out of this difficulty with honor, I would take it; for I tell you frankly that I would make alliance with you if I could."
The men were led away, and Brian saw that her hands were tightly clenched, but whether in fury or in fear of herself he could not tell. Then she turned to him, looking straightly into his face, and on the instant Brian knew that if this girl-woman bade him go to his death, he would go, laughing. "Tell me of yourself, Brian Buidh. Of what family are you?
Brian laughed out again, standing very tall and straight, and his chains clanked a little and stilled the murmur. He saw that O'Donnell wore his own Spanish blade, and the sight angered him. "There is another thing I would know," said the Dark Master slowly. "Tell me this thing, Brian Buidh, and I will turn you out of my gates a free man."
A score broke away and galloped breakneck for the south again, and perhaps fifty had gone down; the rest gathered about the wagons stared at Brian and Cathbarr in superstitious awe as the two lowered bloody ax and sword and offered terms. "I offer service to you," said Brian. "I am Brian Buidh, and if you will ride with me you shall find war. Those who wish may return to Ennis."
Brian squinted against the snow-glare, and saw that the leader of the approaching party seemed indeed to be a little man with hunched shoulders and head that glinted steel. "A hunchback!" he exclaimed. "Well, who is he?" "The Dark Master O'Donnell More himself! It is in my mind that this is a black day, Brian Buidh.
For an instant he thought that she was about to break forth in eager assent, then she sank back in her chair, while breathless silence filled the hall. She gazed down at the floor, her face flushing deeply, and finally looked up again, sadly. "I do not desire pity or compassion, Brian Buidh," she said simply, and her eyes held tears of helpless anger.
"Slay me, for I am helpless and cannot slay myself!" As if in answer, there came a soft laugh from somewhere overhead, and the voice of the Dark Master. "There is no God in Bertragh Castle save O'Donnell, Brian Buidh!" The blasphemy shocked him into his senses, which had wandered.
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