X - XI Summary

X. The day after the bloody battle, Cuchulainn makes sure to strut his non-monstrous form for the army and especially their poets and bards, to make sure they know he is not always the monstrous creature he was during his massacre. His handsome physical qualities are noted. One of the Ulster exiles, Dubthach, wishes to kill the man there and then, but Fergus, as always, urges caution. Medb cannot look upon Cuchulainn, for fear he will suddenly sling a javelin and kill her.

Cuchulainn urges the army to send someone out to fight him and they all refuse. Medb and Ailill use the old trick of making Fergus drunk, and in his drunken state Fergus agrees to come out to fight Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn makes fun of Fergus' lack of a real sword. Cuchulainn agrees to yield to Fergus if...