“What else have you, Mogue?”
“A girdle. The woman who wears it would have to speak the truth.” The Town of
Flann thought he would do much to get the Rose of Sweet Smells or the Comb of Magnificence and bring them as presents to the Princess Flame-of-Wine.
He slept in Mogue’s tent, and at the peep of day, he rose up and went to the House of Hospitality where Dermott and Downal were. With them he would go to the King’s orchard, and he would see, and perhaps he would speak to, Flame-of-Wine. But Dermott and Downal were not in the Brufir’s. Flann wakened their grooms and he and they made search for the two youths. But there was no trace of Dermott and Downal. It seemed they had left before daybreak with their horses. Flann went with the grooms to the gate of the town. There they heard from the watchman that the two youths had gone through the gate and that they had told the watchman to tell the grooms that they had gone to take the world for their pillow.
The grooms were dismayed to hear this, and so indeed was Flann. Without the King’s Son and without Downal and Dermott how would he go to the King’s Garden? He went back to Mogue’s tent to consider what he should do. And first he thought he would not go to the Festival of the Gathering of the Apples, as he knew that Flame-of-Wine had only asked him with his comrades. And then he thought that whatever else happened he would go to the King’s orchard and see Flame-of-Wine.
If he had one of the wonderful things that Mogue had shown him—the Rose of Sweet Smells or the Comb of Magnificence! These would show her that he was of some consequence. If he had either of these wonderful things and offered it to her she might be pleased with him!
He sat outside the tent and waited for Mogue to return. When he came Flann said to him, “I will go with you as a servant, and I will serve you well although I am a King’s Son, if you will give me something now.”
“What do you want from me?” said Mogue.
“Give me the Rose of Sweet Smells,” said Flann.
“Sure that’s the finest thing I have. I couldn’t give you that.”