«By my thinking,» said Belphebe, «he is most strangely set on having his own will and no other, so that not even the prophecy of death can drive him back.»
«I wouldn’t.» began Shea, but was interrupted as a horseman suddenly burst from a clump of trees to the right, and went galloping across the rolling ground toward Cuchulainn’s stronghold.
Miach called from the other chariot, «That will be a warden, now. I am thinking the fine man there is expecting company and is more than a little ready to receive it.»
They went down a slope into a depression where the fold of the ground and a screen of young trees on the opposite side hid the view of Muirthemne. As they climbed the slope, the charioteers reined in. Glancing ahead, Shea saw that the saplings and bushes on the crest had all been pulled down and woven into a tangle. At the same time a line of men jumped out of cover, with spears and shields ready.
One of them advanced on the travelers. «Who might you be?» he demanded truculently, «and for why are you here?»
Miach said, «I am a druid of the Sidhe, and I am travelling with my friends to Muirthemne to remove a geas that lies on one of them.»
«You will not be doing that the day,» said the man. «It is an order that no druids are to come nearer to Muirthemne than this line until himself has settled his differences with the Connachta.»
«Woe’s me!» said Miach, then turned toward Shea. «You will be seeing how your geas still rules. I am prevented from helping you at the one place where my help would be of avail.»
«Be off with you, now!» the man said and waved his spear.
Behind her hand, Belphebe said to Shea, «Is this not very unlike them?»