“By my skin,” said Mogue, “it’s my blood you’ll want next, my lad.”
“If you give me the Comb of Magnificence, Mogue, I shall serve you for six years--three years more than I said yesterday. I shall serve you well, even though I am the son of a King and can find out who my father and mother are.”
“I won’t give you the Comb of Magnificence.”
“I’ll serve you seven years if you do, Mogue.”
Mogue drank and drank out of the ale-pot, frowning to himself. He put the ale-pot away and said, “I suppose your life won’t be any good to you unless I give you the Comb of Magnificence?”
Mogue sighed heavily, but he went to his pack and took out the box that the treasures were in. He let Flann take out the Comb of Magnificence.
“Seven years you will have to serve me,” said Mogue, “and you will have to begin your service now.”
“I will begin it now,” said Flann, but he stole out of the tent, put on his red cloak and went to the King’s orchard.
“Oh, Flann, my treasure-bringer,” said Flame-of-Wine, when she came to him. “I have brought you the Comb of Magnificence,” said he. Her hands went out and her eyes became large and shining. He put the Comb of Magnificence into her hands.
She put the comb into the back of her hair, and she became at once like the tower that is builded--what broke its height and turned the full sunlight from it has been taken away, and the tower stands, the pride of a King and the delight of a people. When she put the Comb of Magnificence into her hair she became of all Kings’ daughters the most stately.
She walked with Flann along the paths of the orchard, but always she was watching her shadow to see if it showed her added magnificence. Her shadow showed nothing. She took Flann to the well in the orchard, and looked down into it, but her image in the well did not show her added magnificence either. Soon she became tired of walking on the orchard paths, and when she came to the gate she walked no further but stood with Flann at the gate. “A kiss for you, Flann, my treasure-bringer,” said she, and she kissed him and then went hurrying away. And as Flann watched her he thought that although she had kissed him he was not now in her mind.
He went out of the orchard disconsolate, thinking that when he was on his seven years’ service with Mogue Princess Flame-of-Wine might forget him. As he walked on he passed the little house where the Spae-Woman had her besoms and heather-stalks. She ran to him when she saw him.