Back in Leinster, Congal and his other foster brother, Donn, hailed Máel and took him to his father's hall, where a great welcome was prepared. That nigh his stepmother's lady in waiting slept with him as she had done before, and she did not speak of her mistress.

After a week though, she brought up the subject again and it was as if nothing had changed. Echaid's daughter still desired Máel, and she was more persistent than ever...

--

" Let's end this once and for all!", Congal cried.

" How?"

" Leave it to me."

" What do you have in mind?"

" I will arrange a tryst between the two of you."

" You will do what? That's the very thing we are trying to avoid. It would bring shame upon the entire clan."

" It will not. The only one who shall be ashamed is Echaid's daughter, for I'll make it clear to her that there is no chance she will ever have you. Tell your beloved to say to her mistress you'll await her near Aife's Cows tomorrow evening. All you'll have to do is to go out hunting. Tomorrow your problem will be solved."

--

She was humming happily as she put the golden bangles around her wrists.

" How do I look?"

" Gorgeous my lady."

" You aren't jealous that you'll have to share him are you?"

" Not at all, my lady."

" Without me you wouldn't have slept with him anyhow. At last he yields. At last he's mine."

She draped a richly emroidered cloak over her shoulders and fastened it with a brooch of the purest red gold. Then she opened the door and stept out into the cold. At last Máel had made up his mind. Surely he understood that she fitted better with a young prince than an old king?

A fierce wind blew into her face and she shivered, but it was worth braving such weather if that would be the road towards Máel's bed...

She saw someone on the road and for an instant she wondered if it was Máel who came to meet her, but then she saw it was Congal.

" Go back, woman!", he cried.

" Don't mingle in this, Congal. It's between me and Máel."

" It is not. Go back, I tell you."

" Step aside."

" No."

She tried to walk past him, but she felt how the warrior's strong hand closed around her arm.

" Let me go."

" Máel does not want you."

" How do you know what Máel want?"

She tried to wriggle out of his grip, but the more she struggled, the tighter he held her.

" You're hurting me."

" I'll bring you back to your husband,where you belong."

It was no use for a frail woman to fight a man like Congal. He dragged her back to the king's hall and banged the door.

The lady in waiting stared at them with a frightened look as Congal pushed Echaid's daughter inside.

" Brute", she cried and her face was red with anger.

" I hope you got the message?"

--

" Is he gone?"

The lady in waiting nodded.

" I can't see him."

" Very well then. I'll tell Máel what sort of a man his dear Congal is. He treats women as if they are cattle."

" Yes my lady. He's very rude."

" Now let's try again."

Again Echaid's daughter stepped into the cold and set out to Aife's Cows, yet again she saw Congal blocking the way.

" I told you to go back!", he howled, " How clear should I be woman? He does not want you."

" You're a savage Congal."

" If you won't go back I'll show you how savage I can be"

" You won't dare. I am the queen of Leinster..."

" So you are?"

Congal took his riding whip from his belt and held it up in a threatening gesture.

" You wouldn't hit a woman, let alone your queen."

" You are not my queen, foolish girl! Go back!"

" And you are not a warrior!"

" That's it!"

Before she could react, a fierce pain burned on the side of her head. He had hit her! Congal had hit her. She was furious and wanted to cast herself upon him, but another blow of his whip made her stagger back.

" Have you learned your lesson, queen? Máel does not want you. He can't reject you because of his honour, but I can."

" Máel...", she stammered," Máel knows you are here?"

" Sort of... It's none of your business woman. Go back to your husband and leave Máel alone."

She looked at him and muttered a curse.

" What did you say woman?"

" That you shall bleed tonight."

" Spare me your empty threats."