There was no question of forming a shield-wall since the Irish like the Picts, fought on the run. First, came a hail of missiles and then the charging together for hand to hand combat. To ward off the projectiles, I held my shield covering my face and head. This was a wise precaution because I had to use my axe to hack off a shaft deeply embedded in the linden wood. This had to be done quickly as the foe was on the charge, but the arrow made the shield unbalanced and unwieldy.
The recollection of battle incidents is generally fleeting and incoherent in my experience, but two things stand out from that fray: I saved Lugaid’s life and he delivered mine. He was assailed by two enemies at the same time and, since I had just dispatched my ferocious adversary, I was able to spin and deal a shud
