The druid rose and pointed a long, bony finger at Belphebe. He chanted some sort of rhythmic affair which began in a gibberish of unknown language, but became more and more intelligible, ending with: «and by oak, ash and yew, by the beauty of Aengus and the strength of Ler and by authority as high druid of Ulstr, let this geas be lifted from you, Belphebe! Let it pass! Out with it! It is erased, cancelled and no more to be heard of!» He tossed up his arms and then sat down. «How do you feel, darling?»
«In good sooth, not much different than before,» said Belphebe. «Should I?»
Cuchulainn said, «But how can we know now that the spell has worked? Aha! I have it! Come with me.» He rose and came round the table, and in response to Shea’s exclamation of fury and Belphebe’s of dismay, added, «Only as far as the door. Have I not given you my word?»
He bent over Belphebe, put one arm around her and reached for her hand, then reeled back, clutching his stomach with both hands and gasping for breath. Cathbadh and Laeg were on their feet. So was Shea.
Cuchulainn staggered against Laeg’s arm, wiped a sleeve cross his eyes and said, «Now the American is the winner, since your removal spell has failed, and it was like to be the death of me that the touch of her was. Do you be trying it yourself, Cathbadh, dear.»
The druid reached out and laid a cautious finger on Belphebe’s arm. Nothing happened.
Laeg said, «Did not the serf say that a magician was proof against this geas?»
Cathbadh said, «You may have the right of it there, although, but I am thinking myself there is another reason. Cucuc wished to take her to his bed, while I was not thinking of that at all, at all.»
Cuchulainn sat down again and addressed Shea. «A good thing it is, indeed, that I was protected from the work of this geas. Has it not proved obstinate even to the druids of your own country?»
«Very,» said Shea. «I wish I could find someone who could deal with it. He had been more surprised than Cuchulainn by the latter’s attack of cramps, but in the interval he had figured it out. Belphebe hadn’t had any geas on her in the first place. Therefore, when Cathbadh threw at her a spell designed to lift a geas, it took the opposite effect of laying on her a very good geas indeed. That was elementary magicology, and under the conditions he was rather grateful to Cathbadh.»