Queen. ’Tis yet time enough, though. This half hour the King will not
be ready. I left him closeted with Corsus, that setteth presently about
his arming against the Demons. Thou hast heard?”
“Am I deaf,” said Prezmyra, “to a bell clangeth through all Carcë?”
“Alas,” said Gro, “that we waked too long last night, and lay too long
abed i’ the morning!”
Prezmyra answered, “That did not I. And yet I’m angry with myself now
that I did not so.”
“How? Thou sawest the King before the council?”
She bent her head for yes.
“And he nay-said thee?”
“With infinite patience,” said she, “but most irrevocably. My lord must
hold by Impland till it be well broke to the saddle. And truly, when I
think on’t, there’s reason in that.”
Gro said, “Thou takest it, madam, with that clear brow of nobleness and
reason I had looked for in thee.”
She laughed. “I have the main of my desire, if Demonland shall be put
down. Natheless, it maketh a great wonder the King picketh for this
work so rude a bludgeon when so many goodly blades lie ready to his
hand. Behold but his armoury.”
For, standing in the gateway at the head of the steep descent to the
river, they beheld where the lords of Witchland were met beyond the
bridge-gate to ride forth to the hawking. And Prezmyra said, “Is it not
brave, my Lord Gro, to dwell in Carcë? Is it not passing brave to be in
Carcë, that lordeth it over all the earth?”
Now came they down and by the bridge to the Way of Kings to meet with
them on the open mead on the left bank of Druima. Prezmyra said to
Laxus that rode on a black gelding full of silver hairs, “I see thou
hast thy goshawks forth to-day, my lord.”
“Ay, madam,” said he. “There is not a stronger hawk than these. Withal
they are very fierce and crabbed, and I must keep them private lest
they slay all other sort.”
Sriva, that was by, put forth a hand to stroke them. “Truly,” she said,
“I love them well, thy goshawks. They be stout and kingly.” And she
laughed and said, “Truly to-day I look not lower than on a King.”
“Thou mayst look on me, then,” said Laxus, “albeit I bear not my crown
i’ the field.”
“’Tis therefore I’ll mark thee not,” said she.
Laxus said to Prezmyra, “Wilt thou not praise my hawks, O Queen?”
“I praise them,” answered she, “circumspectly. For methinks they fit
thy temper better than mine. These be good hawks, my lord, for flying
at the bush. I am for the high mountee.”
Her step-son Heming, black-browed and sullen-eyed, laughed in his
throat, knowing she mocked and thought on Demonland.
Meanwhile Corinius, mounted on a great white liard like silver with
black ear-tips, mane, and tail, and all four feet black as coal, drew
up to the Lady Sriva and spoke with her apart, saying secretly so that
none but she might hear, “Next time thou shalt not carry it so, but
I will have thee when and where I would. Thou mayst gull the Devil
with thy perfidiousness, but not me a second time, thou lying cozening
vixen.”
She answered softly, “Beastly man, I did perform the very article of
mine oath, and left thee an open door last night. If thou didst look to
find me within, that were beyond aught I promised. And know for that
I’ll seek a greater than thou, and a nicer to my liking: one less ready
to swap each kitchen slut on the lips. I know thy practice, my lord,
and thy conditions.”
His face flamed red. “Were that my custom, I’d now amend it. Thou art
so true a runt of their same litter, they shall all be loathly to me as
thou art loathly.”
“Mew!” said she, “wittily spoke, i’ faith; and right in the manner of a
common horse-boy. Which indeed thou art.”
Corinius struck spurs into his horse so that it bounded aloft; then
cried out and said to Prezmyra, “Incomparable lady, I shall show thee
my new horse, what rounds, what bounds, what stop he makes i’ the full
course of the gallop galliard.” And therewith, trotting up to her, made
his horse fetch a close turn in a flying manner upon one foot, and so
away, rising to a racking pace, an amble, and thence after some double
turns returning at the gallop and coming to a full stop by Prezmyra.
“’Tis very pretty, my lord,” said she. “Yet I would not be thy horse.”
“So, madam?” he cried. “Thy reason?”
“Why,” said she, “were I the most temperate, strongest, and of the
gentlest nature i’ the world, of the heat of the ginger, most swift to
all high curvets and caprioles, I’d fear my crest should fall i’ the
end, tired with thy spur-galling.”
Whereat the Lady Sriva fell a-laughing.
Now came Gorice the King among them with his austringers and falconers
and his huntsmen with setters and spaniels and great fierce boar-hounds
drawn in a string. He rode upon a black mare with eyes fire-red, so
tall a tall man’s head scarce topped her withers. He wore a leather
gauntlet on his right hand, on the wrist whereof an eagle sat, hooded
and motionless, gripping with her claws. He said, “It is met. Corsus
goeth not with us: I fly him at higher game. His sons attend him,
losing not an hour in preparation for this journey. The rest, take
pleasure in the chase.”
So they praised the King, and rode forth with him eastaway. The Lady
Sriva whispered Corinius in the ear, “Enchantery, my lord, ruleth in
Carcë, and this it must be bringeth it about that none may see nor
touch me ’twixt midnight hour and cock-crow save he that must be King
in Demonland.”
But Corinius made as not to hear her, turning toward the Lady Prezmyra,
that turned thence toward Gro. Sriva laughed. Merry of heart she seemed
that day, eager as the small merlin sitting on her fist, and willing at
every turn to have speech with King Gorice. But the King heeded her not
at all, and gave her not a look nor a word.
So rode they awhile, jesting and discoursing, toward the Pixyland
border, rousing herons by the way whereat none made better sport than
Prezmyra’s falcons, flown from her fist at many hundred paces as the
quarry rose, and mounting with it to the clouds in corkscrew flights,
ring upon ring, up and up till the fowl was but a speck in the upper
sky, and her falcons two lesser specks beside it.
But when they were come to the higher ground and the scrub and
underwood, then the King whistled his eagle off his fist. She flew from
him as if she would never have turned head again, yet presently upon
his shout came in; then soaring aloft waited on above his head, till
the hounds started a wolf out of the brake. Thereon she swooped sudden
as a thunderbolt; and the King lighted down and helped her with his
hunting-knife; and so again, thrice and four times till four wolves
were slain. And that was the greatest sport.
The King made much of his eagle, giving her the last wolf’s lights and
liver to gorge herself withal. And he gave her over to his falconer,
and said, “Ride we now into the flats of Armany, for I will fly my
haggard: my haggard eagle caught this March in the hills of Largos.
Many a good night’s rest hath she cost me, to wake her and man her and
teach her to know my call and be obedient. I will fly her now at the
big black boar of Largos that afflicteth the farmers hereabout these
two years past and bringeth them death and loss. So shall we see good
sport, if she be not too coy and wild.”
So the King’s falconer brought the haggard and the King took her on
his fist. A black eagle she was, red-beaked and glorious to look on.
Her jesses were of red leather with little silver varvels whereon the
crab of Witchland was engraved in small. Her hood was of red leather
tasselled with silver. First she bated from the fist of the King,
screaming and flapping her wings, but soon was quiet. And the King rode
forth, sending his great brindled hounds before him to put up the boar;
and all his company followed after.
In no long time they roused the boar, that turned red-eyed and
moody-mad on the King’s hounds, and charged among them ripping up the
foremost so that her bowels gushed out. The King unhooded his eagle and
flew her off his fist. But she, wild and ungentle, fastened not upon
the boar but on a hound that held him by the ear. She fixed her cruel
claws in the hound’s neck and picked his eyes out ere a man might speak
two curses on her.
Gro, that was by the King, muttered, “O, I like not that. ’Tis ominous.”
By then was the King ridden up, and thrust the boar through with his
spear, piercing him above and a little behind the shoulder so that
the blade went through the heart of him and he sank down dying in his
blood. Then the King smote his eagle in his wrath with the butt of his
spear-shaft, but smote her lightly and with a glancing blow, and away
she flew and was lost to sight. And the King was angry, for all that
the boar was slain, for the loss of his hound and his haggard, and for
her ill behaviour. So he bade his huntsmen skin the boar and bring home
his skin to be a trophy, and so turned homeward.
After a while the King called to him the Lord Gro to ride forward a
little with him and out of earshot of the rest. The King said to him,
“Thou hast a discontented look. Is it that I send not Corund into
Demonland to crown the work he began at Eshgrar Ogo? Thou babblest
besides of omens.”
Gro answered, “My Lord the King, pardon my fears. For omens, indeed
’tis oft as the saw sayeth, ‘As the fool thinketh, so the bell
clinketh.’ I spake in haste. Who shall weep Fate from her determined
purpose? But since you did name Corund’s name——”
“I named him,” said the King, “because I am still ringing in the ears
with women’s talk. Whereto also I doubt not thou art privy.”
“Only so much,” answered he, “that this is my thought: he were our
best, O King.”
“Haply so,” said the King. “But wouldst have me therefore hold my
stroke in the air while occasion knocketh at the gate? I’ll tell thee,
I am potent in art magical, but scarce may I stay time’s wing the while
I fetch Corund out of Impland and pack him westaway.”
Gro held his peace. “Well,” said the King, “I will hear more from thee.”
“Lord,” he answered, “I like not Corsus.”
The King gave him a frump to his face. Gro held his peace again awhile,
but seeing the King would have more, he said, “Since it likes your
majesty to demand my counsel, I will speak. You know, Lord, of all your
men in Carcë Corinius is least my friend, and if I back him you will
be little apt to think me moved by interest. In my clear judgement, if
Corund be barred from this journey (as reason is, I freely embrace it,
he must bide in Impland, both to harvest there his victories and to
deny the road to Juss and Brandoch Daha if haply they return from the
Moruna, and besides, time, as you most justly say, O King, calleth for
speedy action): if he be barred, you have no better than Corinius. A
complete soldier, a tried captain, young, fierce, and resolute, and one
that sitteth not down again when once he standeth up till that his will
be accomplished. Send him to Demonland.”
“No,” said the King. “I will not send Corinius. Hast thou not seen
hawks that be in their prime and full pride for beauty and goodness,
but must be tamed ere they be flown at the quarry? Such an one is he,
and I will tame him with harshness and duress till I be certain of him.
Also I have sworn and told him, last year when in his drunkenness he
betrayed my counsel and o’erset all our plans, broke me from Pixyland
and set my prisoners free, that Corund and Corsus and Laxus should
be preferred and advanced before him until by quiet service he shall
purchase my good will again.”
“Give then the glory to Corsus, but to Corinius the rude work on’t for
a tiring. Send him as Corsus’s secretary, and your work shall be better
performed, O King.”
But the King said, “No. Thou art a fool to think he would receive it,
that being in disgrace could not humble himself but look bigger than
before. And certainly I will not ask him, and so give him the glory to
refuse it.”
“My Lord the King,” said Gro, “when I said unto you, I like not Corsus,
you did scoff. Yet ’tis no simple niceness made me say it, but because
I do fear he shall prove a false cloth: he will shrink in the wetting
and can abide no trial.”
“By the blight of Sathanas,” said the King, “what crazy talk is this?
Hast forgot the Ghouls twelve years ago? True, thou wast not here. And
yet, what skills it? When the fame hath gone back and forth through all
the world of their great spill when Witchland stood i’ the greatest
strait that ever she stood, and more than any other Corsus was to
praise for our delivering. And since then, five years later, when he
held Harquem against Goldry Bluszco, and made him at last to give over
the siege and go home most ingloriously, and else had all the Sibrion
coast been the Demons’ appanage not ours.”
Gro bowed his head, having nought to say. The King was silent awhile,
then bared his teeth. “When I would burn mine enemy’s house,” he said,
“I choose me a good brand, full of pitch and rosin, apt to sputter well
i’ the fire and fry them. Such an one is Corsus, since he fared to
Goblinland ten years ago, on that ill faring which, had I been King, I
never had agreed to; when Brandoch Daha took him prisoner on Lormeron
field and despitefully used him, stripped him stark naked, shaved him
all of one side smooth as a tennis ball and painted him yellow and sent
him home with mickle shame to Witchland. Hell devour me, but I think
his heart is in this enterprise. I think thou’lt see brave doings in
Demonland when he comes thither.”
Still Gro was silent, and the King said after awhile, “I have given
thee reasons enow, I think, why I send Corsus into Demonland. There
is yet this other, that by itself weigheth not one doit, yet with the
others beareth down the balance if more thou lookest for. Unto mine
other servants great tasks have I given, and great rewards: to Corund
Impland and a king’s crown therefor, to Laxus the like in Pixyland,
to thee by anticipation Goblinland, for so I do intend. But this old
hunting-dog of mine sitteth yet in’s kennel with ne’er a bone to busy
his teeth withal. That is not well, and shall no longer be neither,
since there’s no reason for’t.”
“Lord,” said Gro, “in all argument and wise prevision you have quite
o’erset me. Yet my heart misgives me. You would ride to Galing. You
have ta’en an horse therefor with never a star in’s forehead. Instead,
I see there is a cloud in’s face; and such prove commonly furious,
dogged, full of mischief and misfortune.”
They came down now upon the Way of Kings. Westward before them lay the
marshes, with the great bulk of Carcë eight or ten miles distant their
chiefest landmark, and the towers of Tenemos breaking the level horizon
line beyond it. The King, after a long silence, looked down on Gro. His
lean rugged countenance was outlined darkly against the sky, terrible
and proud. “Thou too,” said he, “shalt be in this faring to Demonland.
Laxus shall have sway afloat, since that is his element of water.
Gallandus shall be secretary to Corsus, and thou shalt be with them
in their counsels. But the main command, as I have decreed, lieth in
Corsus. I’ll not crop his authority, no, not by an hair’s breadth. Sith
Juss hath called the main, I will go hazard with Corsus. If I throw out
with him, Hell rot him for a false die. But ’tis not such a cast shall
cast away all my fortune. I have a langret in my purse shall cross-bite
for me i’ the end and win me all, howsoe’er the Demons cog against me.”
• • • • •
So ended that day’s sporting. And that day, and the next, and near
a month thereafter was the Duke Corsus busied up and down the land
preparing his great armament. And on the fifteenth day of July was the
fleet busked and boun in Tenemos Roads, and that great army of five
thousand men-at-arms, with horses and all instruments of war, marched
from their camp without Carcë down to the sea.
First of them went Laxus with his guard of mariners, he wearing the
crown of Pixyland and they loudly acclaiming him as king and Gorice
of Witchland as his over-lord. A gallant man he seemed, ready-looking
and hard, well-armed, with open countenance and bright seaman’s eyes,
and brown, crisp, curly beard and hair. Next came the main foot army
heavy-armed with axe and spear and the short Witchland hanger, yeomen
and farmers from the low lands about Carcë or from the southern
vineyards or the hill country against Pixyland: burly swashing fellows,
rough as bears, hardy as wild oxen, agile as an ape; four thousand
fighting men chose out by Corsus up and down the land as best for this
great conquest. The sons of Corsus, Dekalajus and Gorius, rode abreast
before them with twenty pipers piping a battle song. Surely the tramp
of that great army on the paven way was like the tramp of Fate moving
from the east. Gorice the King, sitting in state on the battlements
above the water-gate, sniffed with his nostrils as a lion at the scent
of blood. It was early morn, and the wind hung southerly, and the great
banners, blue and green and purple and gold, each with an iron crab
displayed above it, flaunted in the sun.
Now came four or five companies of horse, four hundred or more in all,
with brazen armour and bucklers and glancing spears; and last of all,
Corsus himself with his picked legion of five hundred veterans to bring
up the rear, fierce soldiers of the coast-lands that followed him of
old to the eastern main and Goblinland, and had stood beside him in
the great days when he smote the Ghouls in Witchland. On Corsus’s
left and right, a little behind him, rode Gro and Gallandus. Ruddy of
countenance was Gallandus, gay of carriage and likely-looking, long of
limb, with long brown moustachios and large kind eyes like a dog.
Prezmyra stood beside the King, and with her the ladies Zenambria and
Sriva, watching the long column marching toward the sea. Heming the
son of Corund leaned on the battlements. Behind him stood Corinius,
scornful-lipped, with folded arms, most glorious in holiday attire, a
wreath of dwale about his brows, and wearing on his mighty breast the
gold badge of the King’s captain general in Carcë.
Corsus, as he rode by beneath them, planted on the point of his sword
his great helm of bronze plumed with green-dyed estridge-plumes and
raised it high above his head in homage to the King. The sparse gray
locks of his hair lifted in the breeze, and pride flamed on the heavy
face of him like a November sunset. He rode a dark bay, heavily built
like a bear, that stepped ponderously as weighed down by his rider’s
bulk and the great weight of gear and battle-harness. His veterans
marching at his heel lifted their helms on spear and sword and bill,
singing their old marching song in time to the clank of their mailed
feet marching down the Way of Kings:
When Corsus dwelt at Tenemos,
Beside the sea in Tenemos,
_Tirra lirra lay_,
The Gowles came downe to Tenemos,
They brent his house in Tenemos,
_Downe derie downe day_.
But Corsus carved the Gowls
The coarsest meat
They ere did ete,
He made him garters with their bowels.
When hee came home to Tenemos,
Came home agayn to Tenemos,
_With a roundelaye_.
The King held aloft his staff-royal, returning Corsus his salute, and
all Carcë shouted from the walls.
In such wise rode the Lord Corsus down to the ships with his great army
that should bring bale and woe to Demonland.
XVIII: THE MURTHER OF GALLANDUS BY CORSUS
OF THE UPRISING OF THE WARS OF KING GORICE XII. IN DEMONLAND;
WHEREIN IS SEEN HOW IN AN OLD MAN OF WAR STIFFNECKEDNESS AND
TYRANNY MAY OVERLIVE GOOD GENERALSHIP, AND HOW A GREAT KING’S
DISPLEASURE DURETH ONLY SO LONG AS IT AGREETH WITH HIS POLICY.
Nought befell to tell of after the sailing of the fleet from Tenemos
till August was nigh spent. Then came a ship of Witchland from the west
and sailed up the river to Carcë and moored by the water-gate. Her
skipper went straight aland and up into the royal palace in Carcë and
the new banquet hall, whereas was King Gorice XII. eating and drinking
with his folk. And the skipper gave letters into the hand of the King.
By then was night fallen, and all the bright lights kindled in the
hall. The feast was three parts done, and thralls poured forth unto the
King and unto them that sat at meat with him dark wines that crown the
banquet. And they set before the feasters sweetmeats wondrous fair:
bulls and pigs and gryphons and other, made all of sugar paste, some
wines and spigots in their bellies to draw at, and suckets of all sorts
cut out of their bellies to taste of, every one with his silver fork.
Mirth and pleasure was that night in the great hall in Carcë; but now
were all fallen silent, looking on the King’s countenance while he read
his letters. But none might read the countenance of the King, that was
inscrutable as the high blind walls of Carcë brooding on the fen. So
in that waiting silence, sitting in his great high seat, he read his
letters, which were sent by Corsus, and writ in manner following:
“Renouned Kinge and moste highe Prince and Lorde, Goreiyse Twelft of
Wychlonde and of Daemounlonde and of all kingdomes the sonne dothe
spread his bemes over, Corsus your servaunte dothe prosterate miself
befoare your Greateness, evene befoare the face of the erthe. The
Goddes graunte unto you moste nowble Lorde helthe and continewance
and saffetie meny yeres. After that I hadde receaved my dispache and
leave fram your Majestie wherby you did of your Royall goodnes geave
and graunt unto mee to be cheefe commaundere of al the warlyke foarces
furneshed and sent by you into Daemonlond, hit may please your Majestie
I did with haiste carry mine armie and all wepons municions vittualls
and othere provicions accordingly toward those partes of Daemonlonde
that lye coasted against the estern seas. Here with xxvij schyppes and
the moare partt of my peopell I sayling upp ynto the Frith Micklefrith
did fynde x or xi Daemouns schyppes asayling whereof had Vol the
commaundemente withowt the herborough of Lookingehaven, and by and by
did mak syncke all schyppes of the sayd Voll withowt excepcioun and did
sleay the maist paart of them that were with hym and hys ashipboard.
“Nowe I lette you onderstande O my Lorde the Kyng that or ever wee
made the landfalle I severinge my armye ynto ij trowpes had dispatched
Gallandus with xiij schyppes north-abowt to lande with xv honderede
menne at Eccanois, with commande that hee shoulde thenceawaye fare upp
ynto the hylles thorow Celyalonde and soe sease the passe calld the
Style because none schoulde cum overe fram the west; for that is a gode
fyghtynge stede as a man myghte verry convenably hould ageynst gret
nomberes yf he bee nat an asse.
“So havinge ridd me wel of Vol, and by my hoep and secreat intilligence
these were thayr entire flete that was nowe al sonken and putt to
distruccioun by mee, and trewly hit was a paltry werk and light, so few
they were agaynst my foarce agaynst them, I dyd comme alande att the
place hyghte Grunda by the northe perte of the frith wher the watere
owt of Breakingdal falleth into the se. Here I made make my campe with
the rampyres thereof reachynge to the schore of the salt se baithe
befoare and behynde of me, and drew in supplies and brent and slawe
and sent forth hoarsmen to bryng mee in intelligence. And on the iv
daie hadd notise of a gret powre and strengtht cumming at me from sowth
out of Owleswyke to assaille mee in Grunda. And dyd fyghte agaynst
them and dyd flinge them backe beinge iv or v thowsand souldiers. Who
returning nexte daie towarde Owlswyke I dyd followe aftir, and so
toke them facynge me in a plaise cauled Crosbie Owtsykes where they
did make shifte to kepe the phords and passages of Ethrey river very
stronge. Heare was bifaln an horable great murtheringe battell where
Thy Servaunte dyd oppresse and overthrowe with mitch dexteritee those
Daemons, makynge of them so bluddie and creuell a slawghter as hathe
not been sene afore not once nor twice in mans memorye, and blythely I
tel you of Vizze theyr cheefe capitaine kild and ded of strips taken at
Crosby felde.