14 Third DayBefore the true light of day shone down on them, they were fortunate in putting some miles between themselves and the town of King Drammoch, though always Bran’s ears seemed to be alert for the sound of drumming hooves behind them to the west, and he did not spare the rod in beating on the horse which carried their two sacks of provisions and his sister, Eithne.
At first their way ran through gullies and dried-up watercourses, among the rolling hills; but as the day grew older they came to the beginnings of the Midland oak-forests, the vast green abode of many woodland tribes, and the haunt of lawless men.
Now Duatha was out of his depth; he had never been so far to the east of Britain as this and became a little restive.
As he walked at the tail-end of the column with Gemel
