Challenge of the clans by Kenneth C Flint Page A

"And why is it you've come here? What are you seeking in the west?"
    Again Finn hesitated. How much was it safe to tell this odd little man?
    "Come on, lad. I'm safe enough!" Cnu urged, as if he had read Finn's mind.
    Finn decided that he was right. There was no reason not to tell him anyway. He would have to reveal his intentions sometime if he meant to begin realizing them.

    "I mean to become a skilled warrior," he announced, drawing himself up in what he hoped was a resolute pose.
    "Well, well!" said Cnu, sounding properly impressed. He ran a critical eye over the young man's physique and nodded approvingly. "You do seem to have the size and muscle for it. Are you going into fosterage then?"
    "Fosterage?" repeated Finn, not understanding the term.
    "Yes, lad. You know. To be trained by some chieftain along with the sons of the other warriors of your clan."
    "I have no clan," said Finn. "My parents are dead.**
    "Ah. Tm sorry for that," Cnu told him. "But where is it you'll go for your training?"
    "I was told that there are chieftains who might take me into their service."
    Cnu shook his head. "There are chieftains who hire warriors to strengthen their household companies. But they want only skilled fighters. They've no time to waste training young men fi*om strange lands."
    So, Finn thought, this first step in his quest was going to be even harder than he thought. He took a rather forlorn bite fi*om his bread and wondered what he would do.
    But once more the little man appeared to read his thoughts.
    "Don't be despairing, lad," he said brightly, blowing a little warble on his pipe. "You've had good fortune meeting the Little Nut today. It happens that I know the king of Bantry. His fortress is some days west, near Lough Lein. He might help you. He's a good man, and a great friend of mine. I think I could convince him to take you in."
    "You could?" said Finn with rising hopes. Then he grew wary again. "But why should you want to help me?"
    "You are a suspicious one, you surely are," Cnu told him. "But don't worry, my young Finn. I'm a man who likes to help others, and I've a feeling you need a

    bit more help than you're letting on to me. Will you accept that?"
    Finn shrugged and then smiled. "I will," he said. "iVe little other choice."
    "He couldn't find him!" Tadg said angrily. He threw a stick into his fire with a savage gesture. It flared, sending a red, wavering glow that gave false animation to the watching skulls. Conan looked about nervously.
    "We lost his track in the storm," Goll said defensively. "We think he turned another way. But he's left the glens, I'm certain. He could be anywhere now."
    "You must search for him. Hunt him down!" Tadg insisted. "He'll raise the blood feud against you one day if he is Cumhal's son."
    "I've no doubt about that," Goll said. "I saw him clear enough. There's no mistaking he has his mother's looks"—he put a hand gingerly to his bruised neck— "and his father's strength."
    "He's a dangerous lad," Conan put in, "running through us bold as you please and then leading us about in the woods! He left: us so lost it took us all the next day to get out again. A long, cold, and soggy night that was! Why we—"
    "Enough of your complaining. Brother," Goll said sharply, then turned to the druid. "But Conan is right, Tadg. This Finn has great courage and great skill."
    "Your admiration is misplaced, MacMoma," Tadg said scornfully. "His skills could mean your own destruction. You cannot continue to fail me in this."
    "Fail you?" Goll said in outrage. "And when do the sons of Morna act at your command?"
    "To fail the high king I meant, of course," Tadg smoothly and hastily amended. "It's for Conn that I speak. He is very distressed."
    "We haven't given up the search for him," Goll irritably replied. "I've sent a company of my best warriors to continue the hunt. They're led by Luachra, the finest champion and the finest tracker of all the Fians.

    If MacCumhal is within the four corners of