Fate of the Lir-Brood: Elric…

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Silent, O Moyle, be the roar of thy water;

Break not, ye breezes, your chain of repose;

While murmuring mournfully, Lir’s lonely daughter

Tells to the night-star her tale of woes.

– Moore

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… On account of the clamour about the talking swans generated by Elric, which had swept over the kingdom of Erin, Kemoc-the-Holy came to Inis Glora in search of the uncanny birds.

The four swans were drawn to the shore by the strange sound of the bell that kept the watch of hours throughout the night.

“Let us sing our song, now,” said Finnola, as she and her brothers drew near the lonely hut were Holy Kemoc kept his vigil.

At the sound of the Fairy Music uttered by the swans, Kemoc, emerged from his hermitage.

“Come, now to land,” said the Holy-Man, “trust in me and your long enchantment shall end.”

As the swans came ashore, Kemoc placed a slender silver-chain between Finnola and Aedh and Fiachra and Conn.

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There were other, less generous, forces in the green land of Erin which were desirous of the four swans.

The ruler of Connacht at this time was Largnen, son of Colman, and his wife Decca, daughter of Finnan, the king of Munster, conceived an unhealthy hankering after the talking swans.

Political expediency meant that what Decca thought she wanted she usually received.

King Largnen sent to Kemoc requesting the uncanny birds.

But Kemoc-the-Holy refused to give them up.

So the king immediately set out for Kemoc’s hermitage…

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to be continued…