Francis W. Lovett

Six Colors for a Champion Francis W. Lovett

Set in fifth-century Ireland, Gaul, and Italy, the narrative tells of Ciarnan, a young, proud, and impetuous Connaught warrior aristocrat, bent on establishing his name and reputation. Early on he meets a lively girl, Edain, gets himself into trouble with a veteran champion, and lets his temper cause him to break the solemn peace of Colmain fair by apparently killing an arrogant and insulting Leinsterman. The penalty for the deed is death, and Ciarnan flees the fair, leaving behind his dreams of high rank and the girl Edain, who thinks herself rejected.

In his flight, he meets and becomes chief of a small leaderless clan, with whom he joins the army of the High King, Dathi the Quick with Weapons. He sails with Dathi to raid Gaul for slaves and treasure. Dathi's wife, Aoife, and her handmaidens, including Edain, accompany the armies through Gaul and into the Alps, but Ciarnan and Edain are at odds with each other. Along the way, cities are sacked, battles are fought against the Huns and the Roman legions, and Ciarnan advances in rank to chief of the chariot force. Eventually, when Dathi is killed by lightning for violating a holy hermit's sanctuary, and Ciarnan captures a Roman count, he is elected battle leader. The Gaels are bound by oath to return Dathi's body for burial in Ireland, and so a retreat through Gaul to the sea is necessary. More battles are fought, Ciarnan is taken prisoner, is helped to escape, encounters Bishop Patricius, once a slave in Ireland, now beseeched to return to his ministry, and finally reaches the sea to return to Ireland and reconciliation with Edain.

Ciarnan's elder brother, Fergus, is manipulated by Bricriu, supposedly killed by Ciarnan, into thinking that he has been cheated out of his right to be chief of their clan and he threatens war to prove his claim. Civil war is averted when the new High King rewards Ciarnan for his services, pardoning him for his crime at Colmain fair and naming him leader of his armies. He gives Ciarnan many rich gifts, best of which is the cloak with the six colors of a champion. Edain and Ciarnan look to a happy future together in Ireland while, in Gaul, Patricius prepares to return to Ireland, knowing that he will never see his homeland again.