With these words Lavarcam left the three men, and entered the cottage.
‘Come, Deirdre,’ she cried, ‘the crisp snow glistens in the sunshine. Let us wander forth.’
And Deirdre came, and dreamily she trod where Lavarcam led. Of a sudden the older woman left her side, and bent as though she would gather a woodland flower. At the same moment was heard the cry of the jay and the bark of the hill-fox. Then came Lavarcam to the maiden’s side.
‘Passing strange is it,’ said Deirdre, ‘to hear the jay cry and the hill-fox bark while yet the snow lies thick.’
‘Heed not strange sounds, fair Deirdre, but cast thine eyes toward yonder well.’
And as Deirdre gazed she saw, as in a dream, the forms of three men come slowly through the forest.
‘These, Deirdre, are men,’ said Lavarcam.
‘Yet seem they not as the men I have seen ride by across the Moor of Loneliness, for they were fair to look upon, but mine eyes have no pleasure in beholding these strange forms.’
‘Yet you look upon Nathos, for these men are none other than the three sons of Usna.’
Deirdre started. ‘Idle are your words, false Lavarcam. Yonder walks not a man with skin white as snow, with cheek crimson as blood, nor with hair black as the raven’s wing. You lie!’ And the maid made haste, and she reached the men, and stood before them.