A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

ut on Loch Awe and Loch Fyne, Loch Striven, Loch Ard, Loch Long,
Loch Lomond and all along the sea-loch coast, the fame of the Sons of
Usna spread, and the wonder of the beauty of Deirdrê, fairest of
women.
And ever the hatred of Conor grew, until one day there came into his
mind a plan of evil by which his burning thirst for revenge might be
handsomely assuaged.
He made, therefore, a great feast, at which all the heroes of the Red
Branch were present. When he had done them every honour, he asked
them if they were content. As one man: "Well content indeed!"
answered they.
"And that is what I am not," said the king. Then with the guile of fair
words he told them that to him it was great sorrow that the three heroes,
with whose deeds the Western Isles and the whole of the north and west
of Alba were ringing, should not be numbered amongst his friends, sit
at his board in peace and amity, and fight for the Ultonians like all the
other heroes of the Red Branch.
"They took from me the one who would have been my wife," he said,
"yet even that I can forgive, and if they would return to Erin, glad
would my welcome be."
At these words there was great rejoicing amongst the lords of the Red
Branch and all those who listened, and Conor, glad at heart, said, "My
three best champions shall go to bring them back from their exile," and
he named Conall the Victorious, Cuchulainn, and Fergus, the son of
Rossa the Red. Then secretly he called Conall to him and asked him
what he would do if he were sent to fetch the Sons of Usna, and, in
spite of his safe-conduct, they were slain when they reached the land of
the Ultonians. And Conall made answer that should such a shameful
thing come to pass he would slay with his own hand all the traitor dogs.
Then he sent for Cuchulainn, and to him put the same question, and, in
angry scorn, the young hero replied that even Conor himself would not
be safe from his vengeance were such a deed of black treachery to be
performed.