“I know them,” says Fer rogain.  “Cless and Clissine and Clessamun, the king’s three conjurers.  Three of the same age are they:  three brothers, three sons of Naffer Rochless.  A man will perish by each of them.”

THE ROOM OF THE THREE LAMPOONEERS

“I beheld another trio hard by the room of the King himself.  Three blue mantles around them, and three bedgowns with red insertion over them.  Their arms had been hung above them on the wall.”

“I know those,” quoth he.  “Dris and Draigen and Aittit (’Thorn and Bramble and Furze’), the king’s three lampooners, three sons of Sciath foilt.  A man will perish by each of their weapons.”

THE ROOM OF THE BADBS

“I beheld a trio, naked, on the roof-tree of the house:  their jets of blood coming through them, and the ropes of their slaughter on their necks.”

“Those I know,” saith he, “three ... of awful boding.  Those are the three that are slaughtered at every time.”

THE ROOM OF THE KITCHENERS

“I beheld a trio cooking, in short inlaid aprons:  a fair grey man, and two youths in his company.”

“I know those,” quoth Fer rogain:  “they are the King’s three chief kitcheners, namely, the Dagdae and his two fosterlings, Seig and Segdae, the two sons of Rofer Singlespit.  A man will perish by each of them,” etc.

“I beheld another trio there.  Three plates of gold over their heads.  Three speckled mantles about them:  three linen shirts with red insertion:  three golden brooches in their mantles:  three wooden darts above them on the wall.”

“Those I know,” says Fer rogain:  “the three poets of that king:  Sui and Rodui and Fordui:  three of the same age, three brothers:  three sons of Maphar of the Mighty Song.  A man will perish for each of them, and every pair will keep between them one man’s victory.  Woe to him who shall wreak the Destruction!” etc.

THE ROOM OF THE SERVANT-GUARDS

“There I beheld two warriors standing over the king.  Two curved shields they had, and two great pointed swords.  Red kilts they wore, and in the mantles pins of white silver.”

“Bole and Root are those,” quoth he, “the king’s two guards, two sons of Maffer Toll.”

THE ROOM OF THE KING’S GUARDSMEN

“I beheld nine men in a room there in front of the same room.  Fair yellow manes upon them:  short aprons they wore and spotted capes:  they carried smiting shields.  An ivory-hilted sword in the hand of each of them, and whoever enters the house they essay to smite him with the swords.  No one dares to go to the room of the King without their consent.  Liken thou that, O Fer rogain!”

“Easy for me is that.  Three Mochmatnechs of Meath, three Buageltachs of Bregia, three Sostachs of Sliab Fuait, the nine guardsmen of that King.  Nine decads will fall by them in their first conflict, etc.  Woe to him that shall wreak the Destruction because of them only!”