Flahari then sent a messenger to his sister, begging her to send him at once a portion of the treasure he had left with her, that he might use it to make himself friends among the folk at court, and perchance obtain a remission of his sentence; but she sent the messenger back again empty, saying she knew not of what he spoke.

On this Flahari deemed that the time was come to reveal the truth, so he obtained permission from the King to send a message to his swineherd before he died, and to hear the man’s reply.  And the message was this, that Murtach the herd should come without delay to Tara and bring with him the child that Flahari had committed to him.  Howbeit this messenger also came back empty, and reported that on reaching Dun Flahari he had been met by the butler’s son that was over the estate, who had questioned him of his errand, and had then said, “Murtach the serf has run away as soon as he heard of his lord’s downfall, and if he had any child in his care he has taken it away with him, and he cannot be found.”  This he said because, on hearing of the child, he guessed what this might mean, and he had been the bitterest of all in urging Flahari’s death, hoping to be rewarded with a share of his lands.

Then Flahari said to himself, “Truly the proving of my father’s wisdom of life has brought me very near to death.”  So he sent for the King and entreated him that he might be suffered to go himself to the dwelling of Murtach the herd, promising that the King’s son should be then restored to him, “or if not,” said he, “let me then be slain there without more ado.”  With great difficulty Cormac was moved to consent to this, for he believed it was but a subterfuge of Flahari’s to put off the evil day or perchance to find a way of escape.  But next day Flahari was straitly bound and set in a chariot, and, with a guard of spearmen about him and Cormac himself riding behind, they set out for Dun Flahari.  Then Flahari guided them through the wild wood till at last they came to the clearing where stood the dwelling of Murtach the swineherd, and lo! there was the son of Cormac playing merrily before the door.  And the child ran to his foster-father to kiss him, but when he saw Flahari in bonds he burst out weeping and would not be at peace until he was set free.

Then Murtach slew one of the boars of his herd and made an oven in the earth after the manner of the Fianna, and made over it a fire of boughs that he had drying in a shed.  And when the boar was baked he set it before the company with ale and mead in methers of beechwood, and they all feasted and were glad of heart.