There they saw a sturdy, middle-aged man and a broken-looking old woman. But the woman looking on the man saw one who had full wisdom to plan and full strength to build, whose wisdom and whose strength could neither grow nor diminish. And the man looking on the woman saw one whose brow had all quiet, whose heart had all benignity. “Hail, Gobaun, Builder for the Gods,” said the woman. “Hail, Grania Oi, Reconciler for the Gods,” said the man.
Then the two youths came swiftly up to them, and the King’s Son greeted the middle-aged man, and Flann kissed the hands of the old woman.
“What of your search, King’s Son?” said the Gobaun Saor.
“I have found the Unique Tale, but not what went before nor what comes after it,” said the King’s Son.
“I will clear the Sword of Light of its stain when you bring me the whole of the Unique Tale,” said the Gobaun Saor.
“I would search the whole world for it,” said the King’s Son. “But now the time is becoming short for me.” “Be quick and active,” said the Gobaun Saor. “I have set up my forge,” said he, “outside the town between two high stones. When you bring the whole of the Tale to me I shall clear your sword.”
“Will you not tell him, Gobaun Saor,” said the Spae-Woman, “where he may find the one who will tell him the rest of the story?”
“If he sees one he knows in this town,” said the Gobaun Saor, “let him mount a horse he has mounted before and pursue that one and force him to tell what went before and what comes after the Unique Tale.”
Saying this the Gobaun Saor turned away and walked along the road that went out of the town.
The Spae-Woman had brought besoms to the town to sell. She showed the two youths the little house she lived in while she was there. It was filled with the heather-stalks which she bound together for besoms.