Free Celtic Tales of Enchantment by Liam Mac Uistin

Dara?’ Glanluadh asked.
    â€˜They will remain in the dungeon until it is time for them to die,’ Ailne replied, with a grim smile.
    Glanluadh dropped to her knees. ‘Please let me bring them some food and drink before they die. Whatever they may have done to you, they protected me and showed me great kindness. Let me do this one thing for them before they are killed.’
    â€˜They will not be killed just yet,’ Ailne said. ‘My brother and I plan to use them as bait to lure other members of the Fianna here and complete our revenge.’
    â€˜All the more reason for giving them food and drink now,’ Glanluadh urged. ‘It will help to keep them alive until you have trapped their comrades.’
    Ailne thought for a moment and then nodded. ‘Very well, you may give them some food and drink, but I will be watching, so no tricks, or you will rejoin them, and this time I will not be so merciful.’
    Accompanied by Ailne, Glanluadh returned to the dungeon with food and water. Fionn and Dara had grown even weaker. Glanluadh’s heart was filled with pity, but Ailne stared down at them with a callous look on her face. She watched carefully as Glanluadh gave the food and drink to the prisoners.
    They ate slowly but gulped the water down their parched throats. ‘Enjoy the meal while you can,’ Ailne sneered. ‘It may be your last.’

    On the other side of the lake, the frantic search for Fionn and Dara was still going on, but, as time passed without any sighting, the Fianna were beginning to give up hope. Then there came an excited barking from Fionn’s hounds, Bran and Sceolaing; they had picked up their master’s scent. Straining at their leashes, the two dogs led the Fianna along a path which slanted down to the lakeshore.
    The warriors stopped and stared across the narrow channel at the castle on the other side. Then, without hesitation, they plunged into the grey waters and swam across. As they approached the castle, Oisín ordered: ‘Be ready with your weapons!’ They drew their swords and went up to the castle gate.
    Draoiantóir chuckled softly as he and Ailne watched from a tower high up in the castle. The Fianna warriors were walking straight into their trap! The giant slowly raised his hand; a bolt of blue light flew from his index finger and struck the group below. At once all the strength drained out of their bodies, and the warriors fell to the ground in an enchanted sleep.
    Ailne and her brother ran down and dragged the helpless warriors into the castle. When he had shackled their arms and legs, Draoiantóir carried the prisoners down to the dungeon and flung them in beside Fionn and Dara.
    â€˜Now I shall take revenge on all of you for the deaths of my sons and Mergach!’ he said, loosing his sword from the belt at his waist. Then a man’s voice came from upstairs, and Draoiantóir, fearing that he had been tricked, ran back up to confront the speaker.
    A tall, dark-haired man was standing in the kitchen, talking to Ailne and Glanluadh.
    â€˜Who are you?’ Draoiantóir demanded harshly.
    â€˜This is my husband, Lobharan,’ Glanluadh replied. ‘He heard the sound of the hounds and followed me here.’
    Not believing her, and suspecting that Lobharan had come to help the Fianna, the giant grabbed hold of him and, despite Glanluadh’s pleas, carried Lobharan down to the dungeon where he threw him in beside the others.
    â€˜I will make doubly sure that none of you can escape from here!’ he said. Once more he extended his magical right hand and his prisoners found themselves fixed to the floor, unable to move a muscle.
    â€˜Whatever gods you pray to,’ he said, ‘pray to them now.’ Draoiantóir drew his great sword and strode over to Conán Maol. ‘I’ll start with you, fat man!’ he roared.
    Although Conán Maol was always boasting about his bravery and his great