The Roots of the Mountains Page 24

  CHAPTER XXIII. TALK IN THE HALL OF THE HOUSE OF THE FACE.

  IN sooth they were come to the very Gate of Burgstead, and the greatgates were shut, and only a wicket was open, and a half score of stoutmen in all their war-gear were holding ward thereby. They gave place toHall-face and his company, albeit some of the warders followed themthrough the wicket that they might hear the story told.

  The street was full of folk, both men and women, talking together eagerlyconcerning all these tidings, and when they saw the men of theHue-and-cry they came thronging about them, so that they might scarce getto the door of the House of the Face because of the press; so Hall-face(who was a very tall man) cried out:

  ‘Good people, all is well! the runaways are slain, and Face-of-god iscome back with us; give place a little, that we may come into our house.’

  Then the throng set up a shout, and made way a little, so that Hall-faceand Gold-mane and the others could get to the door. And they enteredinto the Hall, and saw much folk therein; and men were sitting at table,for supper was not yet over. But when they saw the new-comers theymostly rose up from the board and stood silent to hear the tale, for theyhad been talking many together each to each, so that the Hall was full ofconfused noise.

  So Hall-face again cried out: ‘Men in this hall, good is the tidings.The runaways are slain; and it was Face-of-god who slew them as he cameback safe from the waste.’

  Then they shouted for joy, and the brethren and Stone-face with them (forhe had entered with them from the street) went up on to the daïs, whilethe others of the Hue-and-cry gat them seats where they might at theendlong tables.

  But when Face-of-god came up on to the daïs, there sat Iron-face lookingdown on the thronged Hall with a ruddy cheerful countenance, and besidehim sat the Bride; for he had caused her to be brought thither when hehad heard of the tidings of battle. She was daintily clad in aflame-coloured kirtle embroidered with gold about the bosom and sleeves,and there was a fillet of golden roses on her ruddy hair. Her eyes shonebright and eager, and the pommels of her cheeks were flushed and redcontrary to their wont. Needs must Gold-mane sit by her, and when hecame close to her he knew not what to do, but he put forth his hand toher, yet with a troubled countenance; for he feared her grief mingledwith her beauty: as for her, she wavered in her mind whether she shouldforbear to touch him or not; but she saw that men about were looking atthem, and especially was Iron-face looking on her: therefore she stood upand took Gold-mane’s hand and kissed his face as she had been wont to do,and by then was her face as white as paper; and her anguish pierced hisheart, so that he well-nigh groaned for grief of her. But Iron-facelooked on her and said kindly:

  ‘Kinswoman, thou art pale; thou hast feared for thy mate amidst all thesetidings of war, and still fearest for him. But pluck up a heart; for theman is a deft warrior for all his fair face, which thou lovest as a womanshould, and his hands may yet save his head. And if he be slain, yet arethere other men of the kindred, and the earth will not be a desert tothee even then.’

  She looked at Iron-face, and the colour was come back to her facesomewhat, and she said:

  ‘It is true; I have feared for him; for he goeth into perilous places.But for thee, thou art kind, and I thank thee for it.’

  And therewith she kissed Iron-face and sat down in her place, and stroveto overmaster her grief, that her face might not be changed by it; fornow were thoughts of battle, and valiant hopes arising in men’s hearts;and it seemed to her too grievous if she should mar that feast on the eveof battle.

  But Iron-face kissed and embraced his son and said: ‘Art thou late comefrom the waste? Hast thou seen new things? We look to have a notabletale from thee; though here also have been tidings, and it is not unlikethat we shall presently have new work on our hands.’

  ‘Father,’ quoth Face-of-god, ‘I deem that when thou hast heard my talethou wilt think no less of it than that there are valiant folk to beholpen, poor folk to be delivered, and evil folk to be swept from off theface of the earth.’

  ‘It is well, son,’ said Iron-face. ‘I see that thy tale is long; let italone for to-night. To-morrow shall we hold a Gate-thing, and then shallwe hear all that thou hast to tell. Now eat thy meat and drink a bowl ofwine, and comfort thy troth-plight maiden.’

  So Gold-mane sat down by the Bride, and ate and drank as he needs must;but he was ill at ease and he durst not speak to her. For, on the onehand, he thought concerning his love for the Sun-beam, and how sweet andgood a thing it was that she should take him by the hand and lead himinto noble deeds and great fame, caressing him so softly and sweetly thewhile; and, on the other hand, there sat the Bride beside him, sorrowfuland angry, begrudging all that sweetness of love, as though it weresomething foul and unseemly; and heavy on him lay the weight of thatgrudge, for he was a man of a friendly heart.

  Stone-face sat outward from him on the other side of the Bride; and heleaned across her towards Gold-mane and said:

  ‘Fair shall be thy tale to-morrow, if thou tellest us all thineadventure. Or wilt thou tell us less than all?’

  Said Face-of-god: ‘In good time shalt thou know it all, foster-father;but it is not unlike that by the time that thou hast heard it, thereshall be so many other things to tell of, that my tale shall seem oflittle account to thee—even as the saw saith that one nail driveth outthe other.’

  ‘Yea,’ said Stone-face, ‘but one tale belike shall be knit up with theothers, as it fareth with the figures that come one after other on theweaver’s cloth; though one maketh not the other, yet one cometh of theother.’

  Said Face-of-god: ‘Wise art thou now, foster-father, but thou shalt bewiser yet in this matter by then a month hath worn: and to-morrow shaltthou know enough to set thine hands a-work.’

  So the talk fell between them; and the night wore, and the men ofBurgdale feasted in their ancient hall with merry hearts, little weigheddown by thought of the battle that might be and the trouble to come; forthey were valorous and kindly folk.