He seemed to plead to Deirdre for comprehension and pity.
“Conachúr reared me like his own son: I sat in his lap: he buckled this sword on me with his own hand, he put his two palms on my shoulders when I won my weapons, and he kissed me three times on each cheek. I love and venerate him.”
Again silence throbbed among them.
“I shall go home to Lavarcham,” said Deirdre.
The boys looked at her and at each other and at the ground and did not know where to look any more.
“I also shall be reared by the son of Ness,” she said gently. “I too shall sit in his lap. He will not buckle a sword on me, but he will unbuckle my girdle with his own hands; he will put his two palms on my shoulders, and he will kiss me many times on each cheek.”
Naoise beat a fist against his brow.
“I am the king’s man,” he stammered.
But she turned her fleet smile and trembling lips on him.
“Am I to tell the king how well we loved each other, night after night among the trees? or would it be better to keep that as a secret among us four: they say that men can keep secrets.”