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father, the old king, left to me.’
    He paused and put his hand on Diarmaid’s shoulder. ‘I saw how you dealt with my brothers’ warriors; I would be glad of your help to win back what is rightfully mine.’
    ‘I will help willingly,’ Diarmaid replied, ‘if, in return, you will assist me in finding my friends who have been kidnapped by a creature known as the Giolla Deacair. We tracked them as far as the cliff that borders the land by the well, but I have seen no sign of them since.’
    ‘I have one hundred and fifty warriors here,’ the prince replied. If you lead them into battle against my evil brother, they will be at your disposal to find your comrades.’
    ‘Fear not,’ Diarmaid assured him, ‘I will not rest until you have regained what is yours by right.’

    Fionn and the others had succeeded in climbing the hill and were following Diarmaid’s tracks. When they reached the well they saw the mark he had left. Foltlár inspected the ground.
    ‘There is no sign of Diarmaid’s tracks continuing on here,’ he said. ‘There is only one way he could have gone – down through the well.’
    ‘Then we shall have to go that way too,’ Fionn declared. He jumped into the well, followed by the others. They sank to the bottom and, just as Diarmaid had, they emerged into the beautiful Tír Faoi Thoinn.
    Foltlár picked up Diarmaid’s tracks again and they followed them over the plain. They had just stopped for a brief rest when they saw a large group of armed warriors approaching them.
    ‘Look!’ exclaimed Goll Mac Morna. ‘That is Diarmaid Ó Duibhne at their head.’
    Fionn and the others shouted joyfully and ran forward to greet Diarmaid. He told them of his adventures since he had left them at the cliff.
    ‘These are the men of the Knight of Valour,’ he said, gesturing at the group behind him. ‘We are coming from a great battle in which we defeated the army of the evil king of this land. I myself killed the king in single combat.’
    He beckoned the knight forward. ‘And this is my friend, the Knight of Valour, who is now King of Tír Faoi Thoinn. He has promised to help us find Conán and the others.’
    The new king greeted Fionn and his companions. ‘Diarmaid told me of your quest,’ he said. ‘I have found out that the Giolla Deacair is really Abhartha, a Tuatha Dé Danann magician. He is holding your people at an enchanted fort on the far side of those hills.’
    ‘We shall go at once and free them,’ Fionn said.
    ‘I and my men would be glad to help you,’ offered the king.
    Fionn thanked him and assured him that he and his companions could deal with Abhartha themselves. Then, with Diarmaid accompanying them, they set off again in quest of the so-called Giolla Deacair.
    They made their way across the hills and came within sight of the Giolla’s fort. They stopped to formulate a plan. Goll Mac Morna suggested launching a surprise attack on Abhartha and his men.
    Fionn disagreed. ‘I think it would be best if we sent a messenger to Abhartha asking him to free our comrades. If we were to attack him suddenly he might kill them in revenge.’ His face grew grim. ‘But, if he refuses to comply, we shall have no mercy on him or his people.’
    The wise and silver-tongued Feargus Finnbéal was sent as an emissary to the Giolla. He was surprised to see his kidnapped comrades playing games on the green in front of the fort. They rushed to greet him.
    Hearing the commotion, Abhartha emerged from the fort. ‘I am an ambassador from Fionn Mac Cumhaill,’ Feargus told him. ‘He and his men are near your fort. He has sent me to ask you to free our comrades. Otherwise, the Fianna will wage terrible war on you and your people.’
    ‘As you can see, I have treated your comrades with kindness,’ Abhartha said. ‘Neither I, nor any of my people, wish to meet the Fianna in war again. We know that we have no hope of defeating them in battle. So, I will gladly set your comrades free and pay whatever