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Cú Chulainn released a howl as the ríastrad took full control, fighting against the sorcerer...

"It's him." The sorcerer spoke with an echo to his voice. It sounded as though he'd spoken from within a cave, but he was standing in the middle of a field. "Seize the beast."

The men he'd taken out before quickly threw ropes over his body. Had it been just a few ropes they wouldn't have been able to hold him under the ríastrad. But the power that had seized him—this wasn't druid magic, it was something else.

The sorcerer released his spell. More than a dozen ropes now constricted his frame.

"Sétanta of Ulster," the sorcerer said. "By the authority of Manannán mac Lir you are under arrest."

Cú Chulainn knew that name. Where had he heard it before? Manannán mac Lir...

It dawned on him. That was the name of the Faerie King... the one whom Fand was supposed to marry.

Cú Chulainn released the ríastrad and returned to his normal size. It gave him enough slack in the ropes to quickly leap out of them.

The sorcerer raised his staff again.

"Wait," Cú Chulainn said. "I have no quarrel with the Faerie King. I will face whatever charges have been levied against me willingly. There is no need for constraints."

The sorcerer nodded and lowered his staff. "Very well, but if you resist..."

"I won't," Cú Chulainn said. "Take me to the King."