On his return Dermot presented himself at the palace. Though the wicked old king was surprised to see him again, he endeavored not to show it.
“Well, have you the story of the Sorrowful Knight?” he asked.
“I have,” said Dermot. “Are you ready to hear it?”
Then he told the king the story, just as it had been told to him. I don’t believe that he mentioned the rescue of the twelve sons, because that was not in his sentence, and he was anxious to be through with the task and rescue Finn. At the end of the story he said:
“Now I have done what you asked. Do I get to see my chief?”
“You do not,” answered the king. “You shall not see him until you get me the story of the Lad of True Tales.”
Dermot’s anger flamed up. For the first time he saw that the king was not honest in his sentences, and that he was merely setting tasks to put him off, until he could find something that would do away with him forever.
“Oh, is that so?” he asked. “You should have spoken about it sooner. I have worn out all the leather I am going to use, tramping over the rocks of your country. I am going to let you find out how sharp some of those stones are.”
He picked up the treacherous king and tossed him out of the upper window of the palace to the rocks below. The king of the White Nation would never set another task for any man.
Then Dermot searched high and low for Finn. Everyone got out of his way, but still he could not find his chief. When he was almost in despair, he met an old woman.