 26 The Battle of Crothering Side How word was brought unto the Lord Carinius that the lords Jus and Brandoc de Ha were come again into the land, and how he resolved to give them battle on the side under Erngade end, and of the great flank march of Lord Brandoc de Ha over the mountains from Transdale, and of the great battle, and of the issue thereof. Laxus and those sons of Corrand walked on an afternoon in Crothering home mead. The sky above them was hot and coloured of lead, presaging thunder. No wind stirred in the trees that were livid green against that leaden pole. The noise of Mattock and Crobar came without intermission from the castle, where gardens had been, and arbours of shade and sweetness was now but wreck, broken columns and smashed porphyry vases of rare workmanship, mounds of earth and rotting vegetation, and those great cedars, emblems of their Lord's estate and pride, lay prostrate now with their roots exposed, a tangle of seafol voyage and branches broken withered and lifeless. Over this deathbed of ruined loveliness the towers of Onyx shoved ghastly against the sky. Is there not a virtue in seven, said Cargo? Last week was the sixth time we thought we had gotten the eel by the tail in yon flyblown hills of Mieland, and came empty home. When thinksed, Laxus, shalls run him to earth indeed. When egg-pies shall grow on apple-trees, answered Laxus. Near the general seteth greater store by his proclamations concerning the young woman, who likely never heareth of them, and assurably will not be by them tithed home again, and by these toys of revenge, than by sound soldier-ship. Hark! There goeth this day's work. They turned her to shout from the gates, to behold the northern of those two golden hypocrites, totter and crash down the steeps into the malt, sending up a great smoke from the stones and rubble which poured in its wake. Lord Laxus' brow was dark. He laid hand on Hemming's arm, saying, The times need all sage-cancel we can reach unto, or ye sons of Korund, if our Lord the King shall have indeed from this expedition into demon-land the victory at last of all his evil willers. Remember, that was a great misto our strength when the goblin went. Out upon the viper, said Cargo. Carinius was right in this, not to warrant him the honesty of such slippery cattle. He had not served above a month or two but that he ran to the enemy. Carinius, said Laxus, is yet but green in his estate. Doth he suppose the rest of his reign shall be but play in the enjoying of a kingdom? Those left-handed strokes of fortune may yet or throw him, the while that he streameth out his youth in wine and venery, and manageeth this private spite against this lady. Slipper youth must be under-propped with elder counsel lest all go amiss. The most reverend old-cancelor art thou, said Cargo, of six and thirty years of age. We be three. Take command thyself. I and my brother will back thee. I will that thou swallow back those words, said Laxus, as though there had never been spoke. Remember Causus and Galandus. Besides, albeit he seemed with no rather to be a man strawt than one that hath his wits, yet is Carinius in his sword itself a valiant and puissant soldier, a politic and provident captain as is not found besides in demon-land, nor in which land neither, and it were not your noble father, and this one in his youthly age. That is true, said Heming. Thou hast justly reproved me. Now, while there were a talking, came one from the castle, and made obeisance unto Laxus, saying, You are inquired for, O king, so please you to walk into the north chamber. Said Laxus, Is it he that was newly ridden from the east country? So it is, so please you, with a low leg, he made answer. Hath he not had audience with Carinius? He hath sought audience, said the man, but was denied. The matter presseth, and he urged me, therefore, seek unto your lordship. As they walked toward the castle, Heming said in Laxus's ear, Knowest thou not this brave new piece of court ceremony? For these days, when he hath stroid and hostage, despite the lady Mevrian, as to dare was stroid the horse-headed eagle, he giveth not audience till sundown. For at the deed of vengeance done, a retireth himself to his own chamber, and a wench with him. The daintiest and gamesomest he may procure, and so for two hours or three, drowned in the mency of his own pleasures, he abeteth some little deal for a season the pang of love. Now when Laxus was come forth from talking with the messenger from the east, he fared without delay to Carinius' chamber. There, thrusting aside the guards, he flung wide the shining doors, and found the lord Carinius merrily disposed. He was reclined on a couch deep cushioned with dark green three-pile velvet. An ivory table inlaid with silver and ebony stood at his elbow, bearing a crystal-flagon already two-points emptied of the foaming wine, and a fair gold goblet beside it. He wore a long loose sleeveless gown of white silk, edged with a gold fringe. This, fallen open at the neck, left naked his chest and one strong arm, that in that moment when Laxus entered, reached out to grasp the wine-cup. Upon his knee he held a damazole of some seventeen years, bare and fresh as a rose, with whom he was plainly on the point to pass from friendly converse to amorous privacy. He looked angrily upon Laxus, who without ceremony spoke, and said, The whole east is in a tumult. The burg is forced, which we built astride the style. Spitfire hath passed into Brakingdale to Victual Gailing, and hath overthrown our army that sat in siege thereof. Carinius drank a draught and spat. Foot, said he, much brute little fruit! I would know by what warrant thou troublous me with this titl-tattle, and I pleasantly disposing myself to mirth and recreation. Could it not wait till supper-time? Our Laxus might say more was a great clatter heard without on the stairs, and in came those sons of Corrand. Am I a king, said Carinius, gathering his robe about him, and shall I be forced? Avoid the chamber! Then, marking them stand silent with disordered looks, what's the matter, he said? Are ye tain with the swindle or the turn-sickness, or are ye out of your wits? Hemming answered, and said, Not mad, my lord! Here's Diderus that held the style-burg for us, ridden from the east as fast as his horse might wallop, and gotten here harder the heels of the former messenger, with fresh and more certain advertisement, fresher by four days than that one's. I pray you hear him. I'll hear him, said Carinius, at supper-time, nought sooner if the roof were afire. The land beneath thy feats of fire, cried Hemming, just and brand up to ha, home again, and half the country lost thee ere thou heard stoned. These devils are home again. Shall we hear that, and still be swill-balls? Carinius listened with folded arms. His great jaw was lifted up, his nostrils widened. For a minute he abhorred in silence, his cold blue eyes fixed as it were on somewhat afar. Then, home again, said he, and the east in a hubbub, and not unlikely. Thank Diderus for his tidings. He shall sweeten mine ears with some more at supper. Till then, leave me, unless ye mean to be stretched. But Laxus, with sighed and serious brow, stood beside him and said, My lord, forget not that you are here the vicar and legate of the king. Let the crown upon your head put perils in your thoughts, so as you may hark unpeaceably to them that are willing to lessen you with sound and sage advice. If we take order to-night to march by switch-water, we may very well shut back this danger, and stifle it ere it waxed to too much bigness. If, on the contrary, we suffer them to enter into these western parts, like enough without let or stare, they will overrun the whole country. Carinius rolled his eye upon him. Can nothing, he said, proscribe unto thee obedience! Look to thine own charge! Is the fleet in proper trim? For there is the strength, ease, and anchor of our power, whether for victualing, or to shift our weight against them which way we choose, or to give a sure asylum if it were come to that. What ails thee? Have we not these four months desired naught better than that these demons should take heart to strike a field with us? If it be true that just himself and Brandoc de Haugh have thrown down the castles and strengths which I had in the east, and moved with an army against us, why then I have them in the forge already, and shall now bring them to the hammer. And be satisfied, I'll choose mine own ground to fight them. There's yet matter for haste in this, said Laxus. A day's march, and we oppose them not, will bring them before croathering. That, answered Carinius, jumpeth pat with mine own design. I'll not go a league to bar their way, but receive them here where the ground lieth most favourable to meet an enemy, which advantage I'll employ to the greatest stretch of service, standing on croathering side, resting my flank against the mountain. The fleet shall ride in Orworth-haven. Laxus stroked his beard, and was silent a minute considering this. Then he looked up and said, This is so generalship, I may not again say it. It is a purpose, my lord, said Carinius, I have long had in myself, stored by for the event. Let me alone, therefore, to do that my right is. There's this good in it, too, as it befalleth. It will suffer that dived dapper to behold his home again afore I kill him. I shall find it a sight for sore eyes, I think, after my tending aunt. The third day after these doings, the farmer at Halt stood in his porch that opened westward on Tipper-Anderdale. An old man was he, crooked like a mountain thorn. But a bright black eye he had, and their hair curled crispy at above his brow. It was late afternoon, and the sky overcast. Towsel-haired sheep-dogs slept before the door. Swallows gathered in the sky. Near to him sat a damizel, dainty as a meadow-pippet, lieth as an antelope, and she was grinding grain in a hand-milk, singing the while. Grind-mil-grind, corineous grinds us all, kinging it in widowed-crowthering. The old man was furbishing a shield and morien-cap, and other tackle of war lay at his feet. I wonder they wilt still be busy with thy tackle, o' my father, said she, looking up from her singing and grinding. If ill-tide ill again, what should an old man do, but grieve and be silent? There shall be time for that hereafter, said the old man. But a little while his hand-fane of blow. They'll be for firing the roof-tree likely if they come back, said she, still grinding. There are to disobedient lass. If thou'dst but flit as I bade thee to the sheal-house up the dale, I'd force not a bean for their burnings. Let it burn, said she, if he be taken. What availeth then for thee or for me to be a-tarrying? Thou that art an old man, and full of good days? An eye that will not be left so. A great dog awoke beside her, and shook himself, then drew near, and laid his nose in her lap, looking up at her with kind, solemn eyes. The old man said, thou art a disobedient lass. And but for thee come sword, come fire, not a straw-care eye. Knowing it shall be but a passing storm, now that my lord is home again. They took the land from Lord Spitfire, said she. Aye, heenie, said the old man, and thou shalt see my lord, shall take it back again. Aye, said she, and still she grind, and still she sang. Grind mill, grind, carinious grinds us all. After a time, hissed, said the old man, was not that a horse-tread of the lane? Get thee with indoors, till I know if all be friendly. And he stooped painfully to take up his weapon. Warfully it shook in his feeble hand. But she, as one that knew the step, heeding nought else, leapt up with first red, then pale, then flushed again, and ran to the gate of the garth, and the sheep-dogs bounded before her. There in the gate she was met with a young man riding a weary horse. He was garved like a soldier, and horse and man were so bedraggled with mire and dust, and all manner of defilement, there were a sorry sight to see, and so jaded both that scarce it seemed to have might to journey another furlong. They halted within the gate, and all those dogs jumped up upon them, whining and barking for joy. There the soldier was well down from the saddle he had a sweet armful. "'Softly, my heart,' said he, "'my shoulder's somewhat raw.' "'Net is not to speak on. I've brought thee all my limbs home.' "'Was there a battle?' said the old man.' "'Was there a battle, father?' cried he. "'I'll tell thee, crothering sight is thicker with dead men slain than our garth with sheep at the shearing-time.' "'A lack and a lack. It is a most horrid wound, dear,' said the girl. "'Go in, and I'll wash it, and lay to it mill-foil pounded with honey. It is most sovereign against pain and loss of blood, and dryeth up the lips of the wound, and maketh whole thou'd snuck credit how soon. Thou hast bled over much, thou foolish one. And how couldst thou thrive without thy wife to tend thee?' The farmer put an arm about him, saying, "'Was the field hours, lad?' "'I'll tell you all, orderly, old man,' answered he. "'But I must stable him first,' and the horse nuzzled his breast. "'And ye must ballast me first. God shieldest is not a tale for an empty man to tell. "'Last, father,' said the damsel, "'have we not one sweet sipper to the mouth that we hold him here once more? And sweet or sour, let him take his time to fetch as the next?' So they washed his hurt and laid kindly herbs there, too, and bound it with clean linen, and put fresh raiment upon him, and made him sit on the bench without the porch, and gave him to eat and drink, cakes of barley-meal and dark heather-honey, and rough white wine of Tipper-Anderdale. The dogs laid close about him as if there was warmth there, and safety where as he was. His young wife held his hand in hers, as if that were enough if it should last for eye. And that old man, eating down his impatience like a school-boy chafing for the bell, fingered his partisan with trembling hand. "'Thou hadst the word I sent thee, father, after the fight below Gailing. Aye, it was good.' "'There was a council held that night,' said the soldier. "'All the great men together in the high hall in Gailing, so as it was a heaven to see. I was one of their cup-bearers, because I had killed the standard bearer of the witches in that same battle below Gailing. Me thought it was no great thing I did. Till after the battle, look you, my Lord's self standing beside me, and sayeth he, I nod, aye, by my name, father, I nod, sayeth, Thou'st done down the pen and a witch-land that against our freedom streamed so proud. Till thy light shall best stead demon-lander these dog-dears, sayeth he, Bear my cup to-night for thine honour.' I would last thou'd seen his eyes that-tide. Till the Lord to put marrow in the sword-arm, I were Lord. There had forth the great map of the world, of this demon-land, to study their business. I was by pouring the wine, and I heard their disputations. It is a wondrous map, wrought in crystal and bronze, most artificial, with waters aglissening and mountains standing substantial to the touch. My Lord points with sword. Here, sayeth, standeth carinius by all she were tellings, and budgeth not from crothering, and by the gods, sayeth, it is a wise disposition. For, Mark, if we go by Gastondale, as go we must succumb at him, he strikeeth down on us as hammer on Anvil. And if we will pass by toward the head of Thundafirth, and hear a pointeth it out with sword, down a cometh on our flank, and every gate the land's slope serveeth his turn and fighteth against us. I mined me o' those words, said the young man, cos my Lord Brandoc de Haar laughed, and said, Are we grown so strange by our travels, our own land, fighteth of the opposite party? Let me study it again. I fill this cup. Dear gods, but I'd fill him a ball of mine own heart's blood, if he required it of me, after our times together, Father. But more of that anon. The stoutest gentleman, and captain without peer. But Lord Spitfire, that was this while vaulting up and down the chamber, cried out, and said, To a folly to travel his road prepared us, take him o' that side he'd look at least to see us, so through the mountains, and upon him in his rear up from Mordedale. Ah, sayeth my Lord, and be pressed back into Mercdale Hags, if we miss of our first spring, it is too perilous, it is worse than gashed and down. So went it, and near for every year and naught to please him, till at the end my Lord Brandoc de Haar, that had been long time busy with the map, said, Now that you have threshed the whole stack and found not the needle, I will show you my reed, cos you shall not say I counseled you rashly. So they bared him say his reed, and he said unto my Lord, Thou and our main power shall go by switch water where, and let the whole land's first blaze your coming before you. You shall lie to moronite in some good fighting-stead, whither it shall not be to his vantage to move against you, happily in the old shearlings above Wrenthwate, or at any likely spotter for the road dipper south into Gashedendale. But at point of day strike camp and go by Gashedendale, and so up onto the side to do battle with him. So shall all fall out, even as his own hopes and expectations do desire it. But I, sayeth my Lord Brandoc de Haar, with seven hundred chosen horse, will have fared by then clean along the mountain ridge from Transdale even to Erngate End, so as when he turneth all his battle northward down the side to Wellmew, there shall hang above the security of his flank and rear that which he ne'er dreamed on. If he support my charging of his flank at Unawarese, with you in front to cope him, and he with so small an advantage upon us in strength of men, if he stand that, why then good night, the witches are our masters in arms, and we may off-cap to them and strive no more to riders. So said my Lord Brandoc de Haar, but all called him daft to think, haunt, carry an army or horse back in so small time, cross such cursed ground, it might not be. Well, quoth he, sayth you count it not possible, so much the more shall he. Cautious councils never will serve as this tide. Give me but my pick of man and horse to the number of seven hundred, and I'll so set this mask you shall not desire a better master of the revels. So in the end he had his way, and past midnight they were at it, our west planning and studying. At dawn was the whole army marshaled in the meadows below Moonmere, and my Lord spake among them, and told us he was minded to march into the west country and exterminate the witches out of Demonland, and he bade any man that deemed he had now had his fill of furious war, and deemed it a sweeter thing to go home to his own place, say forth his mind without fear, and he would let him go, yea, and giving good gifts there too, seeing that all had done manful service. But he would have no man in this enterprise who went not to it with his whole heart and mind. The damasul said, I wish there was not a man who would take that offer. There went up, said the soldier, such a shout, with such a stamping, and such a clashing together of weapons the land shook with, and the echoes rolled in the high quarries of the scarf like thunder, of them shouting, CROTHERING! JUST! BRAND UP DAHAR! LEAD US TO CROTHERING! Without more ado was the stuff packed up, and ere noon was the whole army gotten over the style. While we halted for day-meal hired by Blackwood in a Mordredale, came my Lord Branduck Dahar a riding among the ranks, but to take his pick of seven hundred of our ablest horse. Nor would he commit this to his officer, but himself called on each lad by name when so he saw a lightly one, and Speard would a ride with him. I trough he got never a near to that spearing. My heart was a cold lest he dore look me, watching him ride by as jaunty as a king. But I reigned in his horse and sayeth, Arnod, it is a bonny horse thou ridest. Could he carry thee to a swine-hunt down from Erngate end of the morning? I saluted him and said, Not so far only, Lord, but to burning hell saw thou but leaders. Come on, sayeth he, it is a better gate I shall lead thee, to CROTHERING HALL ere even tide. So now was our strength sundered, and the main army made ready to march westward down Switchwater Way, with the Lord Zig to lead the horse, and the Lord Vol and my Lord Self and his brother the Lord Spitfire, fairing in the midst amongst them all, and with them he on to Outland Trater, Lord Grow, but I do think him more a stick of sugar-paste than a man of war. And many gentlemen of worth went with them, Gizmo Gleam of Just Dell, Astar of Retray, and Bremery of Shores, and many more men of Mark. But there abode with my Lord Brandon Dahar, Arnund of Bae, and Thornrod of Canaver, Camarera of Strapardon, Emmer and Galt, Hesper Goulthring of Elmestead, Sturkmere of Blackwood, Melchor of Strufe, Quazes three sons from Dalney, and Stipmere of Fales. Fierce and choleric young gentleman, after his own heart, me thinks. Great horseman, not very forecasting of future things afar off, but entertainers of fortune by the day. Too rash to govern an army, but best of all to obey and follow him in so glorious an enterprise. There we parted, came my Lord to speak with my Lord Brandon Dahar, and my Lord looked into the lift that was all dark cloud and wind, and quoth he, fail not at the trist cousin, it is thy word that thou and I be finger and thumb, and never more surely than to-morrow shall this be seen. O friend of my heart, content thee, answereth my Lord Brandon Dahar, didst ever know me neglect my guests, and have I not bitten you to breakfast with me to-morrow morn in croathering meads? Now we of the seven hundred turned leftward at the water's meat, looked transdale into the mountains, and now came ill-weather upon us, the worst that ever I knew. Too softy now, and little rowdy now in transdale, as thou knowest farther, and weary work it was with every deer-track turned a water-course, and underfoot all slush and mire, and nought for a man to see, serve white mist and rain above and about him, and soppy bent and water, and dishorse hooves. Little there was to tell as we were one at last to the top of the pass, and to a not the clough-blue thicker and the wind wilder about us. Every man was wet to the breach, and bare a pint of water in's two shoes. Whilst we were halted on the saddle, my Lord Brandon Dahar rested not at all, but gave his horse to his man to hold, and himself fed back and forth among us, and for every man he had a jest or a merry look, so as to his meat and drink but to hear or to behold him. But a little while only would he suffer us to halt. Then right we turned up along the ridge, where the wear was yet worse than in the dale have been, with rocks and pits hidden in the heather, and slithery slabs of granite. By my faith I think no horse that was not born and bred to it might cross such country, wet or fine. He should be founded, or should break his legs and his rider's neck ere he should be gotten two hours journey along those ridges. But we that rode with my Lord Brandon Dahar to crothering side were ten hours riding so, besides our halts to water our horses and longer halts to feed them, and the last part of the wear threw merc night, and all the way the wind's teeth, with rain blown on the wind like spray and hail at wiles, and when the rain was done the wind veered to the north-west and blew the ridges dry, and then the little bits of rotten granite blew in our faces like hailstones on the wind. There was no shelter, not of the lee side of the rocks, but everywhere the storm wind baffled and buffeted us, and clapped his wings among the crags like thunder. Dear heaven weary we were, and like to drop, cold to the marrow, nigh blinded man and horse, yet with a dreadful industry pressed on. My Lord Brandon Dahar was now in the van, now in the rear guard, cheering men's hearts who marked with what blithe countenance himself did suffer the same hardships as his meanest trooper, like to one riding at ease to some great wedding-feast, crying, What, lads, merrily on? These fend toads of the Druima shall learn too late what way our mountain-pornies do go like stags up on the mountain. When it began to be morning we came to our last halt, and there was our seven hundred horse hid in the quarry under the tall cliffs of Erngad End. I warrant you we went carefully about it, so as no prying swine of which land looking up from below should aspire a glimpse of man or horse of the skyline. His Highness first set his sentinels and let call the muster, and saw that every man had his morning meal and every horse's feed. Then he took his stand behind a crag of rock when he could overlook the land below. He had me by him to do his errands. In the first light we looked down westward over the mountain's edge, and saw crothering them the arms of the sea. Not so dark, but we might behold their fleet at anchor in Orwath roads, and their camp like a batch of beehives, so as a man might think to cast a stone into it below us. That was the first time I'd ergon to the wars with him. Faith is a pretty man to see. Weaned forward there on the heather with chin on his folded arms, his helm there decide so they should not see it glint from below. Quiet like a cat. Half asleep, you'd say. But his eyes were awake, looking down on crothering. It was well seen even from so far away how vile they had used it. The great red sun leaped out of the eastern clove-banks. A stir began in their camp below. Standards set up, men gathering there too, ranks forming, bugles sounding. Then a score of horse galloping up the road from Gastondale into the camp. His Highness, without turning his head, beckoned with his hand to me to call his captains. I run and fetched them. He gave them swift commands, pointing down where the witch-land swine rolled out their battle. Thieves and pirates who robbed his heinous subjects within his streams, with standard and penins and glittering naked spears moving northward from the tents. Then in the quiet came a sound made a man's heart leap within him. Faint out of the far hollows of Gastondale, the trumpet of my lord just his battle-call. My lord brandoked a harp, paused him in it, looking down. Then it turned him about with face that shone like the morning. Fair lords are saith, now lightly on horseback, for just fighteth against his enemies. I think he was well content. I think he was sure he would that day get his heart's sith of every one that had wronged him. That was a long ride down from Erdgate End. With all our heart's blood drumming us to haste, we must yet go warily, picking our way that tricky ground, steep as a roof-slope, uneven and with no shoe a foothold, with sikes in wet moss and rocks outcropping and shifting screes. There was naught but leave it to the horses, and bravely there brought us down the steeps. We were not half-way down ere we heard and saw how battle was joined. So intent with the witch-landers on my lord's main army, I think we were off the steep ground and forming for the charge ere they were aware of us. Our trumpet has sounded his battle-challenge. Who meddles we brandoked a harp? And we came down onto the crothering side like a rock-fall. I scarce know what where the battle went, Father. It was like a meeting of streams in spate. I think they opened to us right and left to ease the shock. There that were before us went down like standing-corn under a hail-store. We wheeled both ways, some against their right that was thrown back toward the camp, the more part with my lord brandoked a harp to our own right. I was with these in the main battle. His highness rode a hot, stirring horse, very fierce and dogged. Knee-to-knee with him went sterk-mir of black wood of the one side, and tharm-rod of the other. Neither man nor horse might stand up before them, and their fairing as in a maze now this way, now that, amid the thrumbling and thrusting of the footmen, heads and arms spitting off, men hewn in sunder from crown to belly, eye to the saddle, riderless horses maddened, blood splashed up from the ground like the slush from a marsh. So for a time till we had spent the vantage of our onset and felt for the first time the weight of their strength, for Carinius, as it appeareth, was now himself ridden from the vanward, where he had beat back for a time our main army, and set on against my lord brandoked a harp with horsemen and spearmen, and commanded his sling-casters besides to let freely at us and drive us toward the camp. And now in the great swing of battle where we carried back to the camp again. And there was a sweet devil's holiday. Horses and men tripping over tent ropes, tents torn down, crashes of broken crockery, and king laxus come thither with sailors from the fleet, hamstringing our horses, while Carinius charged us from the north and east. That Carinius beareth him in battle more like a devil from hell than a mortal man. In the first two strokes of the sword he overthrew two of our best captains, Romanoid of Dulley and Emeron Galt. Sturkmere, that stood in his way to stop him, are flung down with spear, horse, and man. They say he met twice with my lord brandoked a harp that day, but each time where they parted in the press, there they might rightly square together. I have stood in some goodly battles, father, as well thou knowest. First following my lord and my lord Goldry Bluscoe in foreign parts, and last year in the great rout at Crosby Outsikes, and again with my lord Spitfire when he smote the witches on Bremer rapes, and in the murdering great battle under Thremnius Hurch, but never was I in fight like to this of yesterday. Never saw I such feats of arms, as witness-camera of Strapardon, who with the great two-handed sword hewed off his enemy's leg close to the hip, saw huge a blow the blade sheared through leg and saddle and horse and all, and Sturkmere of Blackwood, rising like a devil out of a heap of slain men, and those helm was lost, and I was bleeding from three or four great wounds, I held off a dozen of the witches with deadly thrusts and sword-strokes, till they had enough, and gave back before him, twelve before one, and he'd given over for dead a while before. But all great deeds seemed trash beside the deeds of my lord Brandoc de Haar. In one short while had he three times a horse slain Sturk dead under him, yet yet never a wound himself, which was a marvel, for without care he rolled through and about, smiting down their champions. I mined me of him once, with his horse ripped and killed under him, and one of those witch-land lords that tilted at him on the ground as he leapt his feet again, how he caught the spear with two hands, and by main strength yurked his enemy out of the saddle. Prince Cargo it was, youngest of Coran's sons. Long may the witch-land ladies strain their dear eyes, they'll ne'er see Yon Hendi lad come sailing home again. His highness swiped him such a swipe of the neckbone as he pitched to earth, the head of him flew with the air like a tennis ball, and as the twinkling of an eye was my lord Brandoc de Haar, hoisted again on his enemy's horse, and turned to charge him anew. You'd say his arm must fail at last for weariness, of a man so lithe and jimped to look on? Yet I think his last stroke in that battle was not lighter than the first, and stones and spears and soid strokes seemed to come upon him with no more impression than blows with a straw would give to an adamant. I know not how long was that fight among the tents, only it was the best fight I ever was at, and the bloodiest, and by all tellings it was as great work at the other part, where my lord and his folk fought their way up onto the side. But of that we knew nothing, yet certain it is we had all been dead men had my lord not there prevailed, as certain tears he had never so prevailed but for our charging with their flank when they first advanced against him. But in that last hour all we that fought among the tents thought each man only of this, how he might slay yet one more witch, and yet again one more, before he should die. For Carinius in that hour put forth his might to crushes, and for every enemy there fell to earth two more seemed to be raised up against us, and our own folk fell fast, and the tents that were so white were one gore of blood. When I was a little tiny boy, father, we had a sport, swimming in the deep pools of Tifer under water, that one boy would catch to there and hold him under, till he could no more for want of breath. Me thinks there's no longing in the world so sore as the longing for air, when he that is stronger than thou grippeth thee still unto the water, nor no gladness of the world like the bonny sweet air in thy lungs again, when a letteth thee shoot up to the free daylight. It was right so with us, who had now set a due to hope, and saw all lost save life itself, and that not like to tarry long, when we heard suddenly the thunder of my lord's trumpet sounding to the charge, and ere our startled wits might rightly think what that portended was the whole surging battle whipped and scattered like the water of a lake caught up in a white squall, and that massed strength of the enemy, which had invested us round with so great a stream of shot and steel, reeled first forward, then backward, then forward again upon us, confounded in a vast confusion. I trow new strength came to our arms. I trow our swords open to their mouths. For northward we beheld the ensign of gailing, streaming like a blazing star, and my lord's self in a moment, high advanced above the route, and zig and a star, and hundreds of our horse, hewing their way towards us whilst we hewed towards them. And now was reaping time for us, and time of payment for all those weary, bloody hours we had held unto life with our teeth among the tents on crothering side, while they are the other part, my lord and his, had with all the odds of the ground against them painfully and yard by yard fought out the fight to victory. And now ere we well wist of it, the day was won, and the victory hours, and the enemy broken, and put to so great a rout us hath not been seen by living man. That false king Carinius, after he had terror to see the end of the battle, fled with a few of his men out of the great slaughter, and as it later appeared, got him a shipboard in Orworth harbour, and with three ships or four escaped to sea, but the most of their fleet was burned there in the harbour to save it from our hands. My lord gave command to take up the wounded and tendon, friend and foe alike. Among them was king Laxxus Tain up, stunned with a mersplow or some such, so they brought him before the lords, where they rested a little way down the side above the home means of crothering. He looked them all in the eye, most proud and soldier-like. Then a sayeth unto my lord, it may be pain, but no shame to us, to be vanquished after so equal and so great a fight. Herein only do I blame my ill look, that it denied me fall in battle. Thou, Mace, now, or just, strike off my head for the treason I wrote you three years ago, and since I know thee of a courteous and noble nature, I'll not scorn to ask of thee this courtesy, not to tarry, but take it now. My lord stood there like a warhorse after a breather. He took him by the hand. O Laxxus, sayeth he, I give thee not thy head only, but thy sword, and here I gave it him, hilt foremost. For thy dealings with us in the battle of Cartadza, let time that hath an art to make dust of all things so do with the memory of these. Since then, thou has shown thyself still our noble enemy, and so shall we account thee still. Therewith my lord commanded bring Laxxus down to the sea, and ship him aboard of a boat, for Carinius still held off the land with his ships, waiting no doubt to see if he or any other of his folk could yet be served. But as King Laxxus was upon parting, my lord brandocked a har, speaking with great show of carelessness, as of some trifling matter I had by chance called to mind. My lord, sayeth he, I near ask favour of any man. Only in a manner of return of courtesies me thought thou mightest be willing to bear my salutations to Carinius, sith I've no other messenger. Laxxus answereth he would freely do it. Then, sayeth his highness, say to him, I will not blame him that he aboard as not in the field after the battle was lost, for that had been a simple part, flatly against all maxims of right soldiership, and but to cast his life away. But freakish fortune, I blame, that twined as one from the other when we should have dealt together this day. He hath borne him in my holes, I am let to know, more in the fashion of a swine or a beastly airp than a man. Pray him come ashore ere you sail home, that I and he, with no man else to make me twist us, may cast up our account. We swear him peace and grith, and to serve conduct back to its ships if he prevail against me, or if I saw use him that he cry for mercy. If he'll not take this offer, then is he a dastard, and the whole world shall so acclaim him. Sir, sayeth Laxxus, I'll punctually discharge thy message. Whether he did so or no, father, I know not. But if he did, it seemeth it was little to Carinius' liking, for no sooner had his ship turn Laxxus aboard than she hoised sail and put out into the deep, and so good-bye. The young man ceased, and there were all three silent a while. A faint breeze rippled the foliage of the orchards of Tiveranderdale. The sun was down behind the stately thorn-backs, and the whole sky from born to born was alight with the sunset glory. Dappled clouds with sky showing here and there between covered the heavens, serving the west were a great archway of clear air opened between clouds and earth. Air of an azure that seemed to burn, so pure it was, so deep, so charged with warmth, not the harsh blue of Noonday, nor the sumptuous deep eastern blue of approaching night, but a bright heavenly blue bordering on green, deep, tender, and delicate as the spirit of evening. A thwart the midst of that window of the west, a blade of cloud, hard-edged and jagged with teeth coloured as of live coals and dead, fiery and iron-dark in turn, stretched like a battered sword. The clouds above the arch were pale rolls. The zenith, like a black opal, dark blue and thunderous grey, dappled with fire. CHAPTER XXVII The Second Expedition to Impland How the Lord Jus, not to be persuaded from his set purpose, found where least it was to be looked for, upholding in that resolve, and of the sailing of the armament to Mu'elva by way of the Straits of Melikafkas, that was the last ember of red summer burning when they cut them that harvest on crothering side. Autumn came, and winter months, and the lengthening days of the returning year, and with the first breath of spring where the harbours filled with ships of war, so many years had never in former days been seen in the land, and in every countryside from the western isles to by-land, from Chalgroth and Kailieland to the headlands under Riman Arman, where soldiers gathered with their horses, and all instruments of war. Lord Brandoc de Haar rode from the west, the day the pask flowers first opened on the bluffs below Irngate End, and primroses made sweet the birch forests in Gastondale. He set forth betimes, and hard he rode, and he rode into Gaeling by the Liongate about the hour of noon. There was Lord Jus in his private chamber, and greeted him with great joy and love. So Brandoc de Haar asked, what speed? And Jus answered, thirty ships and five have floored in looking heaven, whereof all serve four bidragons of war. Zig I expect to morrow, with the Kailieland levis, spitfire lyeth at Owlswick, with fifteen hundred men from the southlands. Vol came in but three hours since, with four hundred more. In some I'll have four thousand reckoning ships, companies, and our own bodyguards. Eight ships of war have I, said Lord Brandoc de Haar, in Stropod and Firth, all busked and bound. Five moor at Orwath, five at Lornegate in Moorvay, and three on the Mieland coast at Stackray Ois, besides four moor in the Isles. And I have sixteen hundred spearmen and six hundred horse. All these shall come together to join with thine in looking heaven at the snapping of my fingers. Give me but seven days' notice. Just gripped him by the hand. Bear were my back without thee, he said. In crothering I've shifted not a storm, nor swept not a chamber clean, said Brandoc de Haar. It is a muck pit. Every man's hand I might command, I set only to this. And note is ready. He turned sharp toward Joss and looked at him a minute in silence. Then with the gravity that sat not often on his lips he said, Let me be urgent with thee once more. Strike and delay not. Do him not again that kindness we did him a foretime, frivelling our strength away on the cursed shores of Impland, and by the charmed waters of Ravary, so as he might as secure as sleep send courses hither and corineous to work havoc in the land, and so put on as the greatest shame was ever laid on mortal men. And we not bred up to suffer shame. Thou saidst seven days, said Joss, Snap thy fingers and call up thy armies. I'll delay thee not an hour. Aye, but I mean to Carsey, said he. To Carsey, with or else, said Joss. But I'll take my brother Goldry with us. But I mean first to Carsey, said Brandoc Gahar. Let my opinion swear thee once, why a schoolboy should tell thee, clear thy flank and rear ere thou go forward. Joss smiled. I love this new garb of caution, cousins, and he it doth most prettily become thee. I questioned though whether this be not the true cause, that Carineous took not up thy challenge last summer, but let it lie, and that hath left thee hungry still. Brandoc Gahar looked him side long in the eye and laughed. Oh, Joss, he said, thy hus touched me near. But tis not that. That was in the weird that bright lady laid on me, in the Sparrowhawk castle in Impland forlorn. That he I held most in her should ruin my fair lordship, and that to my hand should vengeance be denied. That I in must brook. Oh, no, think only, delays are dangerous. Come, be advised, be not mulesh. But the lord Joss's face was grave. Urge me no more, dear friend, said he. Thou sleepst soft. But to me, when I am cast in my first sleep, cometh many a time the likeness of Goldry Bluscoe, held by a malofficial charm on the mountaintop of Zoroarach, that standeth apart, out of the sunlight, out of all sound or warmth of life. Long ago I made vow to turn neither to the right nor to the left, until I set him free. He is thy brother, said Lord Brandoc Gahar. Also he is mine own familiar friend, whom I love scarce less than thee. But when thou speakest of oaths, remember those lafairies, too. What shall he think on us after our oaths to him three years ago that night in Caercy? Yet this one blow should write him, too. He will understand, said Joss. He is to come with gazlark, and thou toldst me, thou dost in now expect them, said Brandoc Gahar. I'll leave you. I cannot for shame say to him, patience friend, truly it is not to dare convenient, thou shalt be paid in time. By heavens, I'd scorn to entreat my mantelmaker soul. And this our friend that lost all and languisheth in exile because he saved our lives. So saying, he stood up in great discontent and ire as if to leave the chamber. But just caught him by the wrist. Thou dost upbraid me most unjustly, and well thou knowest it in thy heart, and is that makes thee so angry. Hark! The horn soundeth at the gate, and it's for gazlark. I'll not let thee go. Well, said Brandoc Gahar, have thy will. Only ask not me to plead thy rotten case to them. If I speak, it shall be to shame thee. Now thou art warned. Now they went into the high-presence chamber, where were bright ladies not a few, and captains and noble persons from up and down the land, and stood on the dais. Gazlark the king walked up the shining floor, and behind him his captains and counsellors of goblin land walked two by two. The prince Lafayres strode at his elbow, proud as a lion. Blithely they greeted those lords of demon land, that rose up to greet them beneath the starry canopy, and the lady Mevrion that stood betwixt her brother, and Lord Jus, so as to her heart to say which of the three was fairest to look on, so much they differed in their beauty's glory. Gro, standing near, said in himself, I know a fourth, and were she but joined with these, then with a crown of the whole earth's loveliness fitted in this one chamber, in a right casket surely, and the gods in heaven, if there be gods indeed, should go pale for envy, having in their starry gallery no fair to match with these, not Phoebus Apollo, not the chest huntress, nor the form-born queen herself. But Gazlark, when his eye lighted on the long black beard, the lean figure slightly stooping, the pallid brow, the curls smoothed with perfumed ungulance, the sickle-like nose, the great liquid eyes, the lily hand. He, beholding and knowing these of all, waxed in a moment darkest thunder, with the blood-rush beneath his sun-brown skin, and with a great sweep snatched out his sword, as if without gear or beware to thrust him through. Gro stepped hastily back. But the Lord Jus came between them. Let alone Jus! cried Gazlark. Nost not this fellow, what a vile enemy and viper we have here! A pretty perfumed villain, who for so many years did spin me a thread of many seditions and troubles, while his smooth tongue gapped money from me still. Blessed occasion, now will I let his soul out! But the Lord Jus laid his hand on Gazlark's sword on. Gazlark said he, leave off thy rages and put up thy sword. A year ago thou'dst done me no wrong, but today thou'dst have slain me a man of mine own men, and a lord of demon land. Now, when they had done their greetings, they washed their hands and set at dinner, and were nobly served and feasted. And the Lord Jus made peace between its groan and Gazlark, albeit it was no like task to prevail upon Gazlark to forgive him. Thereafter they retired them, with Gazlark and Lafairies, into a chamber apart. Gazlark, the king, spake, and said, None can gain say it, or just, that this fight ye won last harvest-tide was the greatest scene on land these many years, and of greatest consequence. But I have heard a bird sing, there shall be yet greater deeds done ere many moons be passed. Therefore it is we came hither to thee, I and Lafairies, that be your friends from of old, to pray thee, let us go with thee on thy quest across the world after thy brother, for sorrow of whose loss the whole world languishes. And thereafter let us go with you on your going up to Carsey. O Jus, said the prince, we would not in after-days that men should say, on such a time fared the demons into perilous lands enchanted, and by their strength and valorousness set free the Lord Goldry Blusko, or happily there ended their last days in that glorious quest. But Gazlark and Lafairies were not in it, they bade their friends farewell, hung up their swords, and lived a quiet and merry life in Zajez-a-Culor, so let their memory be forgot. Lord just sat silent a minute, as one much moved. O Gazlark, he said at length, I'll take thine offer without another word, but unto thee, dear prince, I must bear mine heart somewhat. For thou hear art come not stressed in our quarrel to spend thy blood, only to put us yet deeper in thy debt, and yet small blem it were to thee shouldst thou, in dishonourable sort, revile me, as many shall cry out against me, for a false friend unto thee, and a friend forsworn. But the prince Lafairies break in upon him, saying, I pretty have done, or thou shame me quiet. What ere I did in Karcy, it was but equal payment for your saving of my life in Lida-Nanguna, so was all evened up betwixt us. Think then no more on't, but deny me not to go with you to Impland. But up to Karcy I'll not go with you, for albeit I am clean broke with which land, against Korund and his kin I will not draw sword, nor against my lady sister. A black curse on the day I gave her white hand to Korund. She holdeth too much of our stock, me thinks. Her heraldry is hearts, not hands. And giving her hand she gave her heart. It is a strange world. Lafairies said just, we weigh not so lightly our obligation unto thee. Yet must I hold my course, having sworn a strong oath that I would turn aside, neither to the right nor to the left, until I had delivered my brother Goldrey out of bondage. So swear I, or ever I went that ill journey to Karcy, and was closed in prison fast, and by thee delivered. Nor shall blame of friends nor wrongful misprision, nor any power that is, shake me in this determination. But when that is done, no rest remaineth unto us, till we win back for thee thy rightful realm of pixieland, and many good things besides to be a token of our love. Said the Prince, thou doest right. If thou didst other, thouest have my blame. And mine there, too, said Gaslock. Do not I grieve, thinks to thou, to see the Princess Armaline, my sweet young cousin, grow every day more one of the cheek and pale, and all for sorrows and teen for her own true love, the Lord Goldrey Bluscoe. And she so carefully brought up by her mother, as nothing was too dear or hard to be brought to pass for her desire, thinking that a creature so noble and perfect could not be trained up too delicately. I deem today better than tomorrow, and tomorrow better than his morrow, to set self a wide-fronted Impland. All this while the Lord Brandoc de Haas had never a word. He sat back in his chair of ivory and chrysopraise, now toying with his golden finger-rings, now twisting and untwisting the yellow curls of his mustachios and beard. In a while he yawned, rose from his seat, and fell to piercing lazily up and down. He had hitched up his sword across his back under his two elbows, so that the shoe of the scabbard stood out under one arm, and the jewelled hilt under the other. His fingers strummed little tunes on the front of the rich rose velvet doublet that cased his chest. The spring sunlight, as he pierced from shine to shade and to shine again, passing the tall windows, seemed to caress his face and fall on. It was as if spring laughed for joy, beholding in him one that was her own child, clothed to outward view with so much loveliness and grace, but full besides to the eyes and fingertips, with fire and vital sap, like her own buds bursting in the brink-bell coppices. In a while he ceased his walking and stood by the Lord Groor, who sat a little apart from the rest. How thinkest thou, Groor, of our councils? What, though, for the straight road or the crooked? For carcy or zororach? Of the roads, answered Groor, a wise man will choose ever that one which is indirect. For but consider the matter, thou that art a great cragsman. Think our life's course a lofty cliff? I am to climb it, some time up, some time down. I pray, witherly does the straight road on such a cliff. Why, nor wither, for if I will go up by the straight way it is not possible. I am left gaping whilst thou by crooked courses has gained the top. Or if down, why it is easy and swift, but then, no more climbing evermore for me, and thou, clambering down by the crooked way, shall find me a dead and unsightly corpse at the bottom. Gramercy for thy mees and these, said Lord Brandoc the Heart. Well, it is a most weighty principle, backed with a most just and lively exposition. How dost thou interpret thy Maximune, our present question? Lord Groor looked up at him. My Lord, you have used me well, and to deserve your love and advance your fortunes, I have pondered much how you of Demonland might best obtain revenge upon your enemies. And I, dearly thinking hereupon, and conceiving in my head diverse imaginations, can devise no means but one that in my fancy seemeth best, which is this. Let me hear it, said Lord Brandoc the Heart. Said Groor, to as ever a fault in you demons, that you would not perceive how it is oft times good to draw the snake from her hole by another man's hand. Consider now your matter. You have a great force both for land and sea. Trust not too much in that. Off tath he of the little force, or come most powerful enemies, going about to entrap them by slight and policy. But consider yet again. You have a thing is mightier far than all your horses and spearmen, and dragons of war, mightier than thine own sword, my Lord, and thou accounted the best swordsmen in all the world. What thing is that? asked he. Groor answered, Reputation, my Lord Brandoc the Heart. This reputation of you demons for open dealings, even to your worst enemies. Tush, said he, tis but our way the world. Moreover, it is, I think, a thing natural in great persons of whatsoever country they be born. Treachery and double dealing proceed commonly from fear, and that is the thing which I think no man in this land comprehendeth. Myself, I do think that when the high gods made a person of my equality, they traced between his two eyes something, I know not what, which the common sword does not look upon without trembling. Give me but leave, said Lord Groor, and I'll pluck you a braver triumph in a little hour than your swords should win you in two years. Speak smooth words to which land, offer him composition, bring him to a council, and all his great men along with him. I'll so devise it, they shall all be suddenly taken off in a night, happily by setting upon them in their beds, or as we may find most convenient. All serve Corrand and his sons, then we may wisely spare and conclude peace with them. It shall not by ten days delay your sailing to Impland, whether you might then proceed with light hearts and minds at ease. Very prettily conceived upon my soul, said Brandoc de Haar. Might I advise thee, though it's best not talk to Jossy this manner, not now, I mean, while his mind saw bent on matters of weight and moment, nor I should not say it to my sister Mevrion. Women will often times take inside earnest such a conceit, though it be but talk and discourse. With me, it is otherwise. I am something of a philosopher myself, and I jest ambleth with my humour very pleasantly. Thou art pleased to be merry, said Lord Groor. Many air now as the event hath proved, rejected my wholesome councils to their own great hurt. But Brandoc de Haar said lightly, Fear not, my Lord Groor, we'll reject no honest reads of so wiser counsellor as thou. But—and here was a light in the eye of him, made Groor startle—did any man with serious intent dare bid me do a dastard deed? He should have my sword through the dearest part of his body. Lord Brandoc de Haar now turned him to the rest of them. Joss, said he, friend of my heart, me seemeth you're all of one mind and none of my mind. I'll inbid you farewell. Farewell, gazloch! Farewell, lafairies! But wither away, said Joss, standing up from his chair. Thou must not leave us! Wither but to my own place, said he, and was gone from the chamber. Gazloch said, he's much incensed. What has thou done to anger him? Mevrian said to Joss, I'll follow and cool him. She went, but soon returned, saying, No avail, my lords, he is ridden forth from galing and away as fast as his horse might carry him. Now were they all in a great stew, some conjecturing one thing and some another? Only the Lord just kept silence and a calm countenance, and the lady Mevrian. And Joss said at length to Gazloch, This it is, that he cheerful for to every day's delay that leteth him from having at Carinius. So it is I'll not blame him, knowing the vile injuries the fellow did him, and his insolence toward thee, madame. Be not troubled. His own self shall bring him back to me when time is, as no other power should do against his good will. He whose great heart heaven cannot force with force. And even so, the next night after, when folk were abed under sleep, Joss in his high bed-chamber, sitting later at his book, heard a bridal ring. So he called his boys to go with him with torches to the gate. And there in the dancing torch-light came the Lord Brandoc de Har, a riding into galing-castle, and somewhat of the bigness of a great pumpkin tied in a silk-and-cloth hung at his saddle-ball. Joss met him in the gate alone. Let me down from my horse, he said, and receive from me thy bed-fellow that thou must sleep with by the lake of Ravary. Thou hast gotten it, said Joss. The hippogriff's egg, out of dual torn by thyself alone. And he took the bundle right tenderly in his two hands. I, answered he, it was where thou and I made sure of it last summer, according to the word of a little margulet that first found it for us. The torn was frozen, and was tricky work diving, and most villainous cold. It is small marvel, though art a lucky man in thine undertakings, O Joss, when there hath such an art to draw thy friends to second thee. I thought thou'dst not leave me, said Joss. Thought! cried Brandoc de Har. Didst ever dream I'd suffer thee to do thy foolishnesses alone? Nay, I'll come first to the enchanted lake with thee, and let be carcey in the meantime. Hopey it I'll do it against the stream of my resolution quite. Now was but six days more of preparation, and on the second day of April was already in looking heaven for the sailing of that mighty armament. Fifty and nine ships of war, and five ships of birthing, and thrice two thousand fighting men. Lady Mevrian sat on her milk-white mare, overlooking the harbour, where the ships all orderly roded anchor, shadowy gray against the sun-bright shimmer of the sea, with here and there a splash of colour, crimson or blue or grass-green, from their painted holes, or a beam of the sun glancing from their golden masts or figureheads. Groh stood at her bridal rain. The galing-road, winding down from Havershaw Tongue, ran close below them, and so along the seashore to the keys at looking heaven. Along that rolled the hard earth rang with the tramp of armed men, and the tramp of horses, and the light west wind wafted to groan Mevrian on their grassy hill, snatches of deep-voiced battle-champs, or the galloping notes of trumpet and pipe, and the drum that sets men's hearts a-throb. In the van rolled the Lord Zig, four trumpeters walking before him in golden-purple, his armour from chin to toe, shone with silver, and jewels blazed on his gorget and baldrick, and the hilt of his long-straight sword. He rode a black stallion, savage-eyed, with ears laid back and a tail that swept the earth. A great company of horse followed him, and half as many tall spearmen, in russet leather jerkins plaited with brass and silver. These, said Mevrian, be of Kelly-A-Land and the shore-steads of arrow-furth, and his own vassalage from Ramarick and Amardadale. That is Hesper-Golthering right at the little behind him on his right hand. He loatheth two things in this world, a good horse and a swift ship. He on the left, he o'er the helm of dull silver set with raven's wings. So long of the leg thou'd save he rode a little horse he might straddle and walk it. Sturkmere of blackwood. He is of our kin. Not yet twenty years old, yet since crothering side accounted one of our air-blast. So she showed him all as they rode by. Peridor of Seul, captain of the Mielanders, and his nephew Stipmar. Fendor of Shulgrath, with Emeron Galt his young brother, that was newly healed from the great wound Carinius gave him at crothering side, these leading the shepherds and herdsmen from the great heaths north of Switchwater, who will hold by the stirrup, and so with their light bucklers and little brown swords, go into battle with the horsemen full gallop against the enemy. Bremery, in his ram's horn helm of gold and broided sircoat of scarlet velvet, leading the dalesmen from Onward Live and Tiferanderdale. Trentmore of Scorerdale, with the northeastern leves from Byland, and the strands and breaking-dale. Astor of Retre, Leenan Live, Boney First, Galantide, White of Skin, with bright red hair and beard, riding his lovely run at the head of two companies of spearmen, with huge iron-studded shields, men from about Drepabit and the southeastern dales, landed men and home men of Lord Goldriblusco. Then the island dwellers from the west, with old quads of dolly riding in the place of honour, noble to look on with his snowy beard and shining armour, and younger men their true leaders in war. Melchor of Struffy, great chested, fierce-eyed, with thick brown-curling hair, hoist on a plunging chestnut, his bernie bright with gold, a rich mantel of creamy silk-brocade flung about his ample shoulders, and thornrod on his little black mare, with silver bernie and bat's winged helm. He that held canorby in fee for Lord Brandoc de Ha, keen and ready like an arrow drawn to the barbs. And after them the west-marked men, with our none of by their captain, and after them four hundred horse, not to be surpassed for beauty or ordered array by any in that great army, and young Cameroar riding at their head, burly as a giant, straight as a lance, apparelled like a king, bearing on his mighty spear the pen and of the Lord of Crothering. Look well on these, said Mevrion, as they passed by, our own men of the side and Thunderforth and Struppardon, their mists search the wide world and not find their like for speed and fire, and all warlike goodliness and readiness to the word of command. That looks sad, my lord. Madam, said Lord Gro, to the ear of one that useth, as I use, to consider the vanity of all high earthly pumps, the music of these powers and glories, hath a deep underdrawn of sadness. Kings and governors that do exalt in strength and beauty, and lusty-hood and rich apparel, showing themselves for a while upon the stage of the world, and opened a minion of high heaven. What are they but the gilded summer fly, the decayeth with the dying dare? My brother and the rest must not stare for us, said the lady. They're meant to go aboard as soon as the army should become down to the harbour, for their ships be to sail out first down the Firth. Is it determined indeed that thou ghost with them on this journey? I had so determined, madam, answered he. She was beginning to move down towards the road and the harbour, but grew up at a hand on the rain and stopped her. Dear lady, he said, these three nights together I have dreamed a dream, a strange dream, and all the particulars thereof betokening heavy anxiety, increase of peril and savage mischief, promising some terrible issue. Me thinks if I go on this journey thou shalt see my face no more. Oh, fire, my lord, cried she, reaching in her hand. Give never a thought to such fond imaginings. It was the moon but glancing in thine eye. Or, if not, stay with us here and cheat fate. Gro kissed her hand and kept it in his. My lady Mevrion, he said, fate will not be cheated, cog we never so wisely. I do think there be not many extant that in a noble way fear the face of death less than myself. I'll go on this journey. There is but one thing should turn me back. And his, said she, for he fell silent on a sudden. He paused, looking down at her gloved hand resting in his. A man becomeeth hoarse and dumb, said he, if a wolf hath the advantage first to eye him, didst thou procure a wolf to dumb me when I would tell thee. But I did once, enough to let thee know. Oh, Mevrion, dost thou remember Nevidel? He looked up at her. But Mevrion sat with head erect, like a patroness divine, with sweet cool lips set firm, and steady eyes fixed on the hair-bone and the riding-ships. Gently she drew her hand from groves, and he strove not to return it. She eased forward the reins, grove mounted, and followed her. The rode quietly down to the road, and saw southward side by side to the harbour. O, there came within ear-shot of the key, Mevrion spake, and said, Thoualt not think me graceless nor forgetful, my Lord. All that is mine, o ask it, and I'll give it thee with both hands. But ask me not that I have not to give, or if I gave, should give but false gold. For that's a thing not good for thee nor me, nor I would not do it to an enemy, far less to thee, my friend. Now has the army all gotten a ship-board, and farewells said to Vol and those who should abide at home with him. The ships rode out into the Firth all orderly, their silken sails unfurled, and that great armament sailed southward into the open seas under a clear sky. All the way the wind favoured them, and they made a swift passage, so that on the thirtieth morning from their sailing out of looking-heaven, they sighted the long great lifeline of Impland the Moor, dim in the low-blown spray of the sea, and sailed through the straits of mellicafcass in column ahead, for scarce might two ships pass abreast through that narrow way. Black precipices shut in the straits on either hand, and the sea-birds in their thousands whitened every little ledge of those cliffs like snow. Great flights of them rose and circled overhead as the ships sped by, and the air was full of their plants. And right and left, as of young whales blowing, columns of white spray shot up continually from the surface of the sea. For these were the steadily-winged gannets fishing that sea-strait. By threes and fours there flew, each following other in ordered line, many mast heights high, and ever and anon one checked in her flight as if a bolt had smitten her, and swooped head foremost with wings half spread, like a broad-barbed dart of dazzling whiteness, till at a few feet above the surface she clapped close her wings, and cleft the water with the noise as of a great stone cast into the sea. Then in a moment up she bobbed, white and spruce with her prey in her gullet, rode the waves a minute to rest and consider, then with great sweeping wing-strokes up again to resume her flight. After a mile or two the narrows opened, and the cliffs grew lower, and the fleets sped past the red reefs of Uemnas, and the lofty stacks of Pashnamarthra, white with seagulls, onto the blue solitude of the Dydonian Sea. All day there sailed south-east with a failing wind. The coastline of Melikafkas fell away a stern, hailed in the mists of distance, and was lost a sight, until only the square cloven outline of the Pashnamarthran islands broke the level horizon of the sea. Then these two sank out of sight, and the ships rode on south-eastward in a dead calm. The sun stooped to the western waves, entering his bath of blood-red fire. He sank, and all the waves were darkened. All night they rode gently on under the strange southern stars, and the broken waters of that sea at every oar-stroke were like fire-burning. Then out of the sea to eastward came the day-star, ushering the dawn, brighter than all night-stars, tracing a little path of gold along the waters. Then dawn, filling the low eastern skies with a fleet of tiny cockleshells of bright gold fire. Then the great face of the sun the blaze, and with the going up of the sun a light wind-sprangle, bellying their sails on the starboard tack, saw that ere day declined, the sea-cliffs of Mualva hung white above the spray mist on their lower bed-bow. They beached the ships on a white shell-strand behind a headland that sheltered it from the eastern north. Here the barrier of cliffs stood back a little from the shore, giving place for a fertile dell of green pasture, and woods clustering at the foot of the cliffs, and a little spring of water in the midst. So for that night they slept on board, and next day made their camp, discharging the ships of Berthen that would laden with the horses and stuff. But the Lord just was minded not to tarry an hour more in Mualva than should suffice to give all-needful orders to gazlok and lafairies what they should do, and when expect him again, and to make provision for himself, and those who must fare with him beyond the shadowing cliffs into the haunted wests of the maruna. Air noon was all this accomplished, and farewells said, and these lords, just Spitfire and Brandoc de Ha, set forth along the beach southward towards a point where it seemed most hopeful to scale the cliffs. With them went the Lord Gro, both by his own wish, and because he had known the maruna of Fortan, and these particular parts thereof, and with them went besides those two brothers-in-law, Zigg and Astar, bearing the precious burden of the egg, for that honour and trust had just laid on them at their earnest seeking. So with some pairs after an hour or more they won up the barrier, and halted for a minute on the cliff's edge. The skin of Gro's hands was hurt with the sharp rocks. Tenderly he drew on his lambswold gloves, and shivered a little, for the breath of that desert blew snail and frore, and there seemed a shadow in the air southward, for all it was bright and gentle weather below as there would come. Yet albeit his frail body quailed, even so were his spirits within him razed with high and noble imaginings, as he stood on the lip of that rocky cliff. The cloudless vault of heaven, the unnumbered laughter of the sea, that quiet curve beneath, and those ships of war, and that army camping by the ships. The emptiness of the blasted walls to southward, where every rock seemed like a dead man's skull, and every rank tuft of grass, haggred. The bearing of those lords of demonland who stood beside him, as if not should be of commoner course to them pursuing their resolve, than to turn their backs on living land, and enter those regions of the dead. These things with the power as of a mighty music made Gro's breath catch in his throat, and the tear spring in his eye. In such wise, after more than two years, did Lord Just begin his second crossing of the maruna, in quest of his dear brother, the Lord Goldred Bluscoe. Of the Lord Just's riding of the Hippogriff to Zororach, and of the ills encountered by him in that accursed place, and the manner of his performing his great enterprise to deliver his brother out of bondage. Lulled with light-stirring airs, too gentle soft to ruffle her glassy surface, warm incense-laden airs sweet with the perfume of immortal flowers, the charmed lurk of ravery dreamed under the moon. It was the last hour before the dawn. Enchanted bolts, that seemed builded of the glowworm's light, drifted on the starry bosom of the lake. Over the sloping woods, the limbs of the mountains lowered, unmeasured, vast, mysterious in the moon's glamour. In remote high spaces of night, beyond, glimmered the spires of Kostra Pivrarcha, and the virgin snows of Romshear and Kostra Belaun. No bird or beast moved in the stillness, only a nightingale singing to the stars from a coppice of olive trees near the queen's pavilion on the eastern shore. And that was a note not like a birds of Middle-earth, but a note to charm down spirits out of the air, or to which the imperishable senses of the gods, when they would hold communion with Holy Night, and make her perfect, and all her lamps and voices perfect in their eyes. The silken hangings of the pavilion door, parting as in the portal of a vision, made way for that queen, fostering of the most high gods. She paused a step or two beyond the threshold, looking down where those lords of Demonland, Spitfire, and Brandoc de Ha, with Gro and Zig and Astor, wrapped in their cloaks, lay on the go and eat dewy banks that sloped down to the water's edge. The sleep, she whispered, even as he within sleepeth against the dawn. I do think it is only in a great man's breast sleep hath so gentle a bed when great events are to ward. Like a lily, or like a moonbeam, strayed through the leafy roof into a silent wood. She stood there, her face uplifted to the story night, where all the air was drenched with the silver radiance of the moon. And now in a soft voice she began supplication to the gods, which are from everlasting, calling upon them in turn by their holy names, upon Grey-eyed Palace, and Apollo, and Artemis the Fleet Huntress, upon Aphrodite, and Heri, Queen of Heaven, and Ares and Hermes, and the dark-tressed earth-shaker. Nor was she afraid to address her holy prayers to him who, from his veiled porch beside Acheron and Leith Lake, binds to his will the devils of the underglue, nor to the great Father of all, in whose sight time from the beginning until to-day is but the dipping of a wand into the boundless ocean of eternity. So prayed she to the blessed gods, most earnestly requiring them, that under their countenance might be that ride, the like whereof earth had not known, the riding of the hippogriff, not rashly, and by an ass, as here too far to his own destruction. But by the man of men, who with clean purpose and resolution undismared, should enforce it carry him to his heart's desire. Now in the east beyond the feathery hill-tops, and the great snow-wall of Romshire, the gates were opening to the day. The sleepers wakened and stood up. There was a great noise from within the pavilion. They turned, wide-eyed, and forth of the hangings of the doorway came that young thing new hatched, pale and doubtful as the new light which trembled in the sky. Just walked beside it, his hand on the sapphire man. High and resolute was his look, as he gave good morrow to the queen, to his brother and his friends. No word there said, only in turn gripped him by the hand. The hour was upon them. For even as dare striding on the eastern snow-fields, stormed night out of high heaven, so and with such swift increase of splendour was might bodily and the desire of the upper air born in that wild steed. It shone as if lighted by a moving lamp from within wood, sniffed the sweet morning air and winnared, pouring the grass of the water-side, and tearing it up with its claws of gold. Just patted the creature's arching neck, looked to the bridle he had fitted to its mouth, made sure of the fastenings of his armour, and loosened in the scabbard his great sword. And now up sprang the sun. The queen said, Remember, when thou shalt see the Lord thy brother in his own shape, that is no illusion. Mistrust all else. And the almighty gods preserve and comfort thee. There with the hippogriff, as if maddened with the day-beams, plunged like a wild-horse, spread wide its rainbow-pinions, reared and took wing. But the Lord just was sprung astride of it, and the grip of his knees on the ribs of it was like brazen clamps. The firm land seemed to rush away beneath him to the rear. The lake and the shore and the islands thereof shod in a moment small and remote, and the figures of the queen and his companions, like toys, then dots, then shrunken to nothingness, and the vast silence of the upper air opened, and received him into utter loneliness. In that silence earth and sky swirled like the wine in a shaken goblet, as the wild steed rocketed higher and higher in great spirals. A cloaked billowy white shut in the sky before them. Brighter and brighter it grew in its dazzling whiteness as they spent towards it, until they touched it, and the glory was dissolved in a gray mist that grew still darker and colder as they flew, till suddenly they emerged from the further side of the cloud into a radiance of blue and gold blinding in its glory. So for a while they flew with no set direction, only ever higher, till at length obedient to just as mastery the hippogriff ceased from his sports and turned obediently westward, and so in a swift straight course, mounting ever, sped over Ravary towards the departing night. And now indeed it was as if they had verily overtaken night in her western curves. For the air waxed darker about them, and always darker, until the great peaks that stood round Ravary were hidden, and all the green land of Zimeambia, with its plains and winding waters, and hills and uplands and enchanted woods, hidden and lost in an evil twilight. And the upper heaven was a team with portents, whole armies of men skirmishing in the air, dragons, wild beasts, bloody streamers, blazing comets, fiery strikes, with other apparitions innumerable, but all silent and all cold, so that just his hands and feet were numbed with the cold, and his mustachios stiff with whorefrost. Before them now, invisible till now, loomed the gaunt peak of Zororach, black, wintry and vast, still towering above them for all they sawed even higher, grand and lonely above the frozen wastes of the Psarean glaciers. Just stared at that peak till the wind of their flight blinded his eyes with tears. But it was yet too far for any glimpse of that which he hungered to behold. No brazen citadel, no coronal flame, no watcher on the heights. Zoror, like some dark queen of hell, the disdains that presumptuous mortal eyes should dare to look lovely on her dread beauties, drew across her brow a veil of thunder-cloud. They flew on, and that steel-blue pall of thunderous vapor rolled forth till it canopied all the sky above them. Just took his two hands for warmth into the feathery armpits of the Hippogriff's wings, where the wings joined the creature's body. So bitter cold it was, his very eyeballs were frozen and fixed. But that pen was a light thing beside some what he now felt within him, the like whereof he never before had known. A death like horror as of the houseless loneliness of naked space which gripped him at the heart. They landed at last on a crag of black obsidian storm, a little below the clone that hid the highest rocks. The Hippogriff, crouched on the steep slope, turned its head to look on just. He felt the creature's body beneath him quiver. Its ears were laid back, its eye wide with terror. Poor child, he said, I have brought thee an ill journey, and thou but one hour hatched from the egg. He dismounted, and in that same instant was bereaved, for the Hippogriff, with a hoarse scream of terror, took wing and vanished down the murk air, diving headlong away to eastward, back to the world of life and sunlight. And the Lord just stood alone in that region of fear and frost, and the soul-quailing gloom, under the black summit rocks of Zoroarach. Setting, as the Queen had counseled him to do, his whole heart and mind on the dread goal he intended, he turned to the icy cliff. As he climbed, the cold cloud covered him, yet not so thick, but he might see ten paces' distance before and about him as he went. Illcitesy now, and he now took quail at strongman's resolution, shored in his path. Shapes of damned fiends and gorgons of the pit, running in the way, threatening him with death and doom. But just, gritting his teeth, climbed on and through them, there being unsubstantial. Then up rose an eldritch cry. What man of middle earth is this that troubleth our quiet? Make an end. Call up the basilisks. Call up the golden basilisk, which bloweth upon and seteth on fire whatsoever he seeth. Call up the starry basilisk, and whatsoever he seeth, it immediately shrinks up and perishes. Call up the bloody basilisk, who if he see or touch any living thing, had floweth away so that not there remaineth but the borns. That was a voice to freeze the marrow. Yet he pressed on, saying in himself, all his illusion, said that alone she told me of. And nought appeared, only the silence and the cold, and the rocks grew ever steeper, and their ice glares more dangerous, and the difficulty like the difficulty of those barriers of M. Shear, up which more than two years ago he had followed Brandoc de Ha, and on which he had encountered and slain the beast-mantecora. The leaden hours drifted by, and now night shut down, bitter and black and silent. So a weariness bodily was come upon just, and his whole soul weary with all and near to death, as he entered a snow-bedded gully that cut deep into the face of the mountain, there to await the day. He dost not sleep in that freezing night, scarcely doubt he rest lest the cold should master him, but must keep for ever moving and stamping and shaving hands and feet. And yet as the slow night crept by, death seemed a desirable thing that should end such utter weariness. Morning came with but a cold alteration of the mist from black to gray, disclosing the snow-bound rocks, silent, dreary, and dead. Just, enforcing his half-frozen limbs to resume the assent, beheld a sight of war too terrible for the eye. A young man, helmed and graved in dark iron, a black amour with goggle eyes and white teeth of grin, who held by the neck a fair young lady kneeling on her knees and clasping his as in supplication, and he most bloodily brandishing aloft his spear of six foot of length, as minded to weave her of her life. This lady, seeing the Lord Just, cried out on him for sucker very piteously, calling him by his name and saying, Lord Just of Demonland, have mercy, and in your triumph over the powers of night, pause for an instant to deliver me, poor afflicted damsel, from this cruel tyrant. Can your towering spirit, which hath quarried upon kingdoms, make a stupid him? Well, that should approve you noble indeed, and bless you for ever. Surely the very heart of him groaned, and he clapped hand to sword, wishing to right so cruel or wrong, but on the motion he bethought him of the wiles of evil that dwelt in that place, and of his brother, and with the great groan passed on. In which instant he beheld side-long how the cruel murderer smote with his spear that delicate lady, and detrenched and cut the two master veins of her neck, so as she fell dying in her blood. Just mounted with a great pace to the head of the gully, and looking back beheld how Blackamoor and Lady Both were changed to two coiling serpents. And he laboured on, shaken at heart, yet glad to have so escaped the powers that would have limed him so. Darker grew the mist, and heavier the brooding dread which seemed elemental of the airs about that mountain. Pausing well-nigh exhausted on a small stance of snow, just beheld the appearance of a man armed who rolled prostrate in the way, tearing with his nails at the hard rock and frozen snow, and the snow was all one gore of blood beneath the man. And the man besought him in a stifled voice to go no further, but raise him up and bring him down the mountain. And when just, after an instant's doubt betwixt pity and his resolve, would have passed by, the man cried and said, Hold, for I am thy very brother thou seekest, albeit the king hath by his art framed me to another likeness, hoping so to delude thee, for thy love's sake be not deluded. Now the voice was liked to the voice of his brother Goldry, how be it weak. But the Lord just bethought him again at the words of Sufferne's brother-queen, that he should see his brother in his own shed, and not else must he trust. And he thought, it is an illusion, this also. So he said, If that thou be truly my dear brother, take thy shed. But the man cried as with the voice of the Lord Goldry Blusko, I may not till that I be brought down from the mountain. Bring me down, or my curse be upon thee for ever! The Lord just was torn with pity and doubt and wonder, to hear that voice again of his dear brother so beseeching him. Yet he answered and said, Brother, if that it be thou indeed, then bide till I have won to this mountaintop on the citadel of Brass, which in a dream I saw, that I may know truly thou art not there, but here. Then will I turn again and suck at thee. But until I see thee in thine own shape I will mistrust all. For hither I came from the ends of the earth to deliver thee, and I will set my good on no doubtful cast, having spent so much and put so much in danger for thy dear sake. So with a heavy heart he set hand again to those black rocks, iced and slippery to the touch. There with uproars an eldritch cry, Rejoice! For this earth-born is mad! Rejoice! For that was not perfect friend that relinquished his brother at his need. But just climbed on, and by and by looking back, beheld how in that seeming man's place writhed a grisful serpent. And he was glad, so much as gladness might be in that mountain of affliction and despair. Now was his strength near gone, as day drew again toward night, and he climbed the last crags under the peak of Zora. And he, who had all his days drunk deep of the fountain of the joy of life, and the glory and the wonder of being, felt ever deadlier and darker in his soul that lonely horror which he had first tasted the day before at his first near sight of Zora, while he flew through the cold air portant laden. And his whole heart grew sick because of it. And now he was come to the ring of fire that was about the summit of the mountain. He was beyond terror or the desire of life, and trod the fire as it had been his own home's threshold. The blue tongs of flame died under his foot-tread, making a way before him. The brazen gates stood wide. He entered in. He passed up the brazen stair. He stood on that high roof floor which he had beheld in dreams. He looked, as in a dream, on him he across the confines of the dead to find. Lord Goldry Bluscoe, keeping his lone watch on the unhallowed heights of Zora. Not otherwise was the Lord Goldry, not by unhares breadth, than has just had a four time seen him on that first night in Costa Belon, so long ago. He reclined, propped on one elbow, on that bench of brass. His head erect, his eyes fixed as on distant space, viewing the depths beyond the starshow, as one waiting till time should have an end. He turned not at his brother's greeting. Just went to him and stood beside him. The Lord Goldry Bluscoe moved to not an eyelid. Just spoke again and touched his hand. It was stiff, and like dank earth. The cold of it struck through just his body and smote him at the heart. He said in himself, He is dead. With that the horror shut down upon just his soul like madness. Fearfully he stared about him. The cloud had lifted from the mountain-speak and hung like a pole above his nakedness. Chill air that was like the breath of the whole world's grain. Vast blank cloud barriers. Dim far forms of snow and ice. Silent, solitary, pale like mountains of the dead. It was as if the bottom of the world were open and truth laid bare. The ultimate nothing. To hold off the horror from his soul just turned in memory to the dear life of earth. Those things he had most set his heart on. Men and women he loved dearest in his life's days. Battles and triumphs of his opening manhood. High festivals and galing. Golden summer noons under the west mark pines. Hunting mornes on the high heaths of me-land. The day he first backed a horse of a spring morning in a primrose glade that opened on Lumiere when his small brown legs were scarcely length of his forearm now, and his dear father held him by the foot as he trotted, and showed him where the squirrel had her nest in the old oak tree. He bowed his head as if to avoid a blow. So plain he seemed to hear somewhat within him, crying with a high voice and loud, Thou art nothing. And all thy desires and memories and loves and dreams. Nothing. The little dead earthloughs were of greater avail than Thou. Were it not nothing as Thou art nothing. For all is nothing. Earth and sky and sea and there that dwell therein. Nor shall this illusion comfort thee if it might, that when Thou art abolished these things shall endure for a season. Stars and months return, and men grow old and die, and new men and women live and love and die and be forgotten. For what is it to thee that shall be as a blown-out flame? And all things in earth and heaven, and things past, and things for to come, and life and death, and the mere elements of space and time, of being and not being, all shall be nothing unto thee, because Thou shalt be nothing, for ever. And the Lord just cried aloud in his agony, Fling me to torture us, deliver me to the black infernal furies, let them blind me, see me in the burning lake, for so there should yet be hope. But in this horror of nothing is neither hope, nor life, nor death, nor sleep, nor waking, for ever, for ever. In this black mood of horror he abode for a while, until a sound of weeping and wailing made him raise his head, and he beheld a company of mourners, walking one behind another about the brazen floor, all cloaked in funeral black, mourning the death of Lord Goldry Blusko, and there rehearsed his glorious deeds, and praised his beauty and prowess and goodliness and strength. Soft women's voices lamenting, so that the Lord just's soul seemed as he listened to a rise again out of annihilation's waste, and his heart grew soft again, even unto tears. He felt a touch on his arm, and looking up meant the gaze of two eyes gentle as a doves, suffused with tears, looking into his from under the darkness of that hood of mourning, and a woman's voice spake and said, This is the observable day of the death of the Lord Goldry Blusko, which hath been dead now a year, and we his fellows in bondage it do bewail him, as thou mayst see, and shall so bewail him again year by year whilst we are on live. And for thee, great Lord, must we yet more sorrowfully lament, since of all thy great works done this is the empty girdom, and this the period of thine ambition. But come, take comfort for a season, since unto all dominions faith hath set their end, and there is no king on the road of death. So the Lord just, his heart dead within him for grief and despair, suffered her taking by the hand, and conduct him down a winding stairway that led from that brazen floor to an inner chamber fragrant and delicious, lighted with flickering lamps. Surely life and its turmoil seemed faded to a distant and futile murmur, and the horror of the void seemed there but a vain imagination under the heavy sweetness of that chamber. His senses swooned. He turned towards his veiled conductress. She, with a sudden motion, cast off her mourning-clock, and stood there, her whole fair body bared to his gaze, open-armed, a sight to ravish the soul with love and old delight. Well, now, had he clasped to his bosom that vision of dazzling loveliness. But fortune, or the high gods, or his own soul's might, walk yet again in his drugged brain remembrance of his purpose, so that he turned violently from that beard prepared for his destruction, and strode from the chamber up to that roof where his dear brother sat as in death. Just caught him by the hand. Speak to me, kinsmen! It is I, just! It is just thy brother! But gold removed not, neither answered any word. Just looked at the hand resting in his, so like his own to the very shape of the fingernails, and the growth of the hairs on the back of the hand and fingers. He let it go, and the arm dropped lifeless. It is very certain, said he, thou art in a manner frozen, and thy spirit's an understanding frozen and congealed within thee. So saying, he bent to gaze close in goldre's eyes, touching his arm and shoulder, not a limb stirred, not an eyelid flickered. He caught him by the hand and sleeve as if to force him up from the bench, calling him loudly by his name, shaking him roughly, crying, Speak to me, thy brother, that crossed the world to find thee! But he abhorred a dead weight in just his grasp. If thou be dead, said just, then am I dead with thee. But till then I'll ne'er think thee dead. And he sat down on the bench beside his brother, taking his hand in his, and looked about him. Nought but utter silence. Night had fallen, and the moon's calm radiance and the twinkling stars mingled with the pale fires that hedged that mountaintop in an uncertain light. Hell loosed no more her denizens in the air, and since the moment when just had, in that inner chamber, shaken himself free of that last illusion, nor presence had he seen, nor simulacrum of man nor devil, save only Goldra, his brother. Nor might that horror any more master his high heart, but the memory of it was but as the bitter chill of a winter sea, that takes the swimmer's breath for an instant as he plunges first into the icy waters. So, with a calm and a steadfast mind, the Lord just abhorred there, his second night without sleep, for sleep he dared not in that accursed place. But for joy of his found brother, albeit it seemed there was in him neither speech nor sight nor hearing, just scarce wist of his great weariness. And he nourished himself with that ambrosia given him by the Queen, for well he thought the utter most strength of his body should now be tried, and the task he now decreed him. When it was there he arose, and taking his brother Goldra bodily on his back set forth. Past the gates of brass just bore him, and past the barriers aflame, and painfully, and by slow degrees, down the long northern ridge which overhangs the Psarian glaciers. All that day, and the night following, and all the next day after were they on the mountain, and well night dead was just for weariness, when on the second day an hour or two before sundown they reached the Moraine. Yet was triumph in his heart, and gladness of a great deed done. They lay that night in a grove of strawberry trees, under the steep foot of a mountain some ten miles beyond the western shore of Ravary, and met Spitfire and Brandoc de Ha, who had waited with their boats two nights at the appointed spot, about even tired of the following day. Now as soon as just had brought him off the mountain, this frozen condition of the Lord Goldra was so far thawed that he was able to stand upon his feet and walk. But never a word might he speak, and never a look there got from him, but still his gaze was set and unchanging, seeming when it rested on his companions to look through them and beyond them, as had some far things seen in a mist. So that each was secretly troubled, fearing less this condition of the Lord Goldrae Bluscoe should prove Remedillus, and this that they now received back from prison, but the poor Remain of him they had so much desired. They came a land, and brought him to Sophonis but the Queen, where she made haste to meet them on the fair lawn before her pavilion. The Queen, as if knowing beforehand both their case and the Remedy thereof, took by the hand the Lord Justin said, O my Lord, there yet remaineth a thing for thee to do, to free him thoroughly, that hast outfaced terrors beyond the use of man to bring him back. A little stone indeed to crown this building of thine, and yet without it all were in vain, as itself were vain without the rest that was all thine. And mine is this last, and with the pure heart I give it thee. So saying she made the Lord just bow down, till she might kiss his mouth, sweetly and soberly, one light kiss. And she said, This give unto the Lord thy brother. And just did so, kissing his dear brother in like manner on the mouth. And she said, Take him, dear my lords, and I have utterly put out the remembrance of these things from his heart. Take him, and give thanks unto the High Gods because of him. There with the Lord Goldry Blusker looked upon them, and upon that fair queen, and the mountains, and the woods, and the cool lakes' loveliness, as a man awakened out of a deep slumber. Surely there was joy in all their hearts that day. CHAPTER XXIX THE FLEET AT MUELVA How the Lords of Demonland came again to their ships at MUELVA, and the tidings they learned there. For nine days' space, the Lords of Demonland abode with Queen Sophonisba in Kostro-Beloan, and beside the Lake of Ravary, tasting such high and pure delights, as be like none else hath tasted, if it were not the spirits of the blessed in Elysium. When they bade her farewell, the Queen said, My little mortals shall bring me tidings of you. And when you shall have brought to me a perdition the wicked regiment of Witchland, and returned again to your dear native land, then is my time for that, my Lord just, whereof I have often talked to thee, and often gladdied my dreams with the thought thereof, to visit earth again, and the habitations of men, and be your guest in Manny Mountain Demonland. Just kissed her hand and said, Fail not in this, dear Queen, what so air-bitide. So the Queen let bring them by a secret way out upon the high snow-fields that are betwixt Kostro-Beloan and Romshire, once they came down into the glen of the dark water that descends from the glacier of Temorm, and saw through many perilous escapes, after many days, back by way of the marooner to MUELVA and the ships. There, Gaslock and the Fireys, when their greetings were done and their rejoicings, said to the Lord just, We abide too long time here, we have entered the barrel, and the bung-hole is stopped. Therewithal they brought him Hesper-Gol-Thring, who three days ago, sailing to the Straits for forage, came back again but yesterday with a hotter law-room that he met certain ships of Witchland, and brought them to battle, and Gat-Won-Sunken ere they break off the fight, and took up certain prisoners. By whose examination, saith he, as well as from mine own perceiving and knowing, it appeareth Laxus holdeth the Straits with eight score ships of war, the greatest ships that ever the sea bear until this day, come hither of purpose to destroy us. Eight score ships, said Lord Brandoc de Hor, Witchland Commandeth not the half, nor the third part of such a strength, since we did them down last harvest-tide in Orwath-Haven. It is not liveable, Hesper. Hesper answered him, Your Highness shall find it truth, and the more sore I want, and the wonder. It is the scouring of his subject allies, said Spitfire. We shall find them no such hard matter to dispatch after the others. Just said to the Lord Graw, What make us there with these news, my Lord? I think no wonder in it, answered he. Witchland is of good memory, and mindeth him of your seamanship of cartadze. He useeth not to idle, nor to set all on one hazard. Nor comfort not thyself, my Lord Spitfire, that these be pleasure galleys borrowed from the soft bestrians or the simple foliots. There be new ships, buildeth for us, my Lords, and our undoing. It is by no conjecture I say it unto you, but of my own knowledge, albeit the number appeareth far greater than ere I dreamed of. But or ever I sailed with Carinius to Demonland. Great buildings of an army naval was begun at Tenovas. I do very well believe, said King Gaslark, that none knoweth all this better than thou, because thyself didst counsel it. Oh, Gaslark, said Lord Brandon Cahar, must thou still itch to play at Choppberry when cherry-time is past? Let him alone. He is our friend now. Eight score ships of the Straits, said just, and ours unhundred. It is well seen what great difference and odds there is betwixt us, which we must need encounter, or else ne'er sail home again, let alone to Carinius, for out of this sea is no sea-way for ships, but only by these Straits of Melikafkas. We shall do of laxus, said Lord Brandon Cahar, that he troeth to do of us. But just was fallen silent, his chin in his hand. Goldry Blusko said, I would allow him odds and beat him. It is a great shame in thee, or just, said Brandon Cahar, if thou wilt be abashed at this, if that there be in number more than we, what then? They are in hope, quarrel, and strength far inferior. But just, still in a study, reached out and caught him by the sleeve, holding him so a moment or two, and then looked up at him and said, Thou art the greatest quarreler of a friend that ever I knew, and if I were an angry man I could not obey thee. May I not three minutes study the means, but thou shalt cry upon me for a milk-soap? They laughed, and the Lord just rose up and said, Call we a council of war, and let Hesper Golthering be at it, and his skippers that were with him at that voyage, and pack up the stuff, for we will away or the morn. If we like not these lettuce we may pull back our lips, but no choice remaineth. If laxus will deny a sea-room through Melikafkas straits, I try there shall go up thence a crash, which when the king hereeth it, he shall know it for our first banging on the gates of Karsi.