leave their own domains lest those lands be attacked in their absence or lest they are attacked while in other lands. An election of a High King takes many months. All the people must be consulted. All must hear the candidates, speak with them if they wish. Can we break such a law? If we do break our ancient laws, are our customs worth fighting for?"
Medhbh said: "Make Corum your War Leader. Unify the kingdoms under him."
' 'That suggestion has been made,'' said King Fiachadh.' 'I made it. None would hear of it. Most of us have no reason to trust gods. Gods have betrayed us in the past. We prefer to have no part of them."
"I am not a god," said Corum reasonably.
"You are modest," said King Fiachadh firmly, "but you are a god. A demigod at very least.'' He stroked his red beard. ' 'That is what I think. And I have met you. Imagine, then, what those kings who do not know you think. They have heard the tales by now and those tales must have been greatly magnified by the time of reaching their ears. For instance, I thought to meet a being at least twelve feet high!" King Fiachadh smiled, for he was taller than Corum. "No, the only thing which would unite our folk would be the release of Amergin and the restoration of his full senses."
"What has become of Amergin?" Corum asked. He had never heard the details of the High King's fate, for the Tuha-na-Cremm Croich were reluctant to discuss them.
"He is under a glamour," said King Fiachadh soberly.
"An enchantment? What is its nature?"
' 'We are not sure," said King Mannach. He continued reluctantly: ' 'Amergin is said to think of himself now as an animal. Some say he believes he is a goat, others a sheep, others a pig . . ."
"You see how clever are those who serve the Fhoi Myore?" Medhbh said. "They keep our Archdruid alive but destroy his dignity."
"And a gloom settles over all those who remain free," King Fiachadh put in. "That has much to do with why our fellow kings will not fight, Mannach. They have no soul for it with Amergin crawling on all fours and eating grass."
"Do not continue," said King Mannach raising his hand. His old, strong face showed much grief. "Our own High King symbolizes all our pride ..."
"Do not confuse the symbol with the reality, however," said Corum. "Much pride remains amongst the Mabden race."
"Aye," said Medhbh. "It is true."
' 'Nonetheless,'' said King Fiachadh,' 'our people will only unite under an Amergin free from enchantment. Amergin was so wise. Such a great man was Amergin.'' And a tear came into his blue eye. He turned his head away from them.
‘ 'Then Amergin must be rescued," said Corum flatly. "Should I find your king for you and bring him to the West?'' He did not speak impetuously. From the beginning he had considered this. ‘ 'Disguised, I might reach Caer Llud."
And when Fiachadh looked back he was not crying. He was grinning. “ And I have the disguise," he said.
Corum laughed aloud. He had been considering a decision, plainly, which King Fiachadh had also been considering—perhaps for much longer.
‘ ‘ You are a Sidhi ..." began the king of the Tuha~na-Manannan.
"Related to them," said Corum, "as I discovered upon my last quest. We have looks in Corumon and, I suppose, certain powers. I fail to understand, though, why I should possess such powers—"
"Because all believe," said Medhbh simply, and she leaned towards him and touched his arm. The touch was like a kiss. He smiled tenderly at her.
"Very well," he said. ‘ 'Because all believe. However, you may call me 'Sidhi' if it suits you, King Fiachadh."
"Then, Sir Sidhi, know this. In the land of the Distant West, the land of my folk, the Tuha-na-Manannan, came a year since a visitor. His name was Onragh—"
"Onragh of Caer Llud!" gasped King Mannach. "In whose keeping ..."
"... Were the Treasures of Llud, the Sidhi Gifts? Aye. And Onragh lost them all from his chariot as he fled the Fhoi Myore and their vassals. Because the Hounds of Kerenos followed, he
Medhbh said: "Make Corum your War Leader. Unify the kingdoms under him."
' 'That suggestion has been made,'' said King Fiachadh.' 'I made it. None would hear of it. Most of us have no reason to trust gods. Gods have betrayed us in the past. We prefer to have no part of them."
"I am not a god," said Corum reasonably.
"You are modest," said King Fiachadh firmly, "but you are a god. A demigod at very least.'' He stroked his red beard. ' 'That is what I think. And I have met you. Imagine, then, what those kings who do not know you think. They have heard the tales by now and those tales must have been greatly magnified by the time of reaching their ears. For instance, I thought to meet a being at least twelve feet high!" King Fiachadh smiled, for he was taller than Corum. "No, the only thing which would unite our folk would be the release of Amergin and the restoration of his full senses."
"What has become of Amergin?" Corum asked. He had never heard the details of the High King's fate, for the Tuha-na-Cremm Croich were reluctant to discuss them.
"He is under a glamour," said King Fiachadh soberly.
"An enchantment? What is its nature?"
' 'We are not sure," said King Mannach. He continued reluctantly: ' 'Amergin is said to think of himself now as an animal. Some say he believes he is a goat, others a sheep, others a pig . . ."
"You see how clever are those who serve the Fhoi Myore?" Medhbh said. "They keep our Archdruid alive but destroy his dignity."
"And a gloom settles over all those who remain free," King Fiachadh put in. "That has much to do with why our fellow kings will not fight, Mannach. They have no soul for it with Amergin crawling on all fours and eating grass."
"Do not continue," said King Mannach raising his hand. His old, strong face showed much grief. "Our own High King symbolizes all our pride ..."
"Do not confuse the symbol with the reality, however," said Corum. "Much pride remains amongst the Mabden race."
"Aye," said Medhbh. "It is true."
' 'Nonetheless,'' said King Fiachadh,' 'our people will only unite under an Amergin free from enchantment. Amergin was so wise. Such a great man was Amergin.'' And a tear came into his blue eye. He turned his head away from them.
‘ 'Then Amergin must be rescued," said Corum flatly. "Should I find your king for you and bring him to the West?'' He did not speak impetuously. From the beginning he had considered this. ‘ 'Disguised, I might reach Caer Llud."
And when Fiachadh looked back he was not crying. He was grinning. “ And I have the disguise," he said.
Corum laughed aloud. He had been considering a decision, plainly, which King Fiachadh had also been considering—perhaps for much longer.
‘ ‘ You are a Sidhi ..." began the king of the Tuha~na-Manannan.
"Related to them," said Corum, "as I discovered upon my last quest. We have looks in Corumon and, I suppose, certain powers. I fail to understand, though, why I should possess such powers—"
"Because all believe," said Medhbh simply, and she leaned towards him and touched his arm. The touch was like a kiss. He smiled tenderly at her.
"Very well," he said. ‘ 'Because all believe. However, you may call me 'Sidhi' if it suits you, King Fiachadh."
"Then, Sir Sidhi, know this. In the land of the Distant West, the land of my folk, the Tuha-na-Manannan, came a year since a visitor. His name was Onragh—"
"Onragh of Caer Llud!" gasped King Mannach. "In whose keeping ..."
"... Were the Treasures of Llud, the Sidhi Gifts? Aye. And Onragh lost them all from his chariot as he fled the Fhoi Myore and their vassals. Because the Hounds of Kerenos followed, he
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