returned anon with a diadem of polished gold set all about with topazes
that had passed through the fire; and on the frontlet of that diadem
was the small figure of a crab-fish in dull iron, the eyes of it two
green beryls on stalks of silver. The boy set it down on the table
before the Lord Corinius, as it had been a dish of meat before him.
Corinius took a writing from his purse, and laid it on the table for
Corsus to see. And there was the signet upon it of the worm Ouroboros
in scarlet wax, and the sign manual of Gorice the King.
“My Lord Corsus,” said he, “and ye sons of Corsus, and ye other
Witches, I do you to wit that our Lord the King made me by these tokens
his viceroy for his province of Demonland, and willed that I should
bear a king’s name in this land and that under him all should render me
obedience.”
Corsus, looking on the crown and the royal warrant of the King, waxed
in one instant deadly pale, and in the next red as blood.
Corinius said, “To thee, O Corsus, out of all these great ones that
here be gathered together in Owlswick, will I submit me for thee to
crown me with this crown, as king in Demonland. This, that thou mayst
see and know how most I honour thee.”
Now were all silent, waiting on Corsus to speak. But he spake not a
word. Dekalajus said privily in his ear, “O my father, if the monkey
reigns, dance before him. Time shall bring us occasion to right you.”
And Corsus, disregarding not this wholesome rede, for all he might not
wholly rule his countenance, yet ruled himself to bite in the injuries
he was fain to utter. And with no ill grace he did that office, to set
on Corinius’s head the new crown of Demonland.
Corinius sat now in Spitfire’s seat, whence Corsus had moved to
make place for him: in Spitfire’s high seat of smoke-coloured jade,
curiously carved and set with velvet-lustred sapphires, and right and
left of him were two high candlesticks of fine gold. The breadth of
his shoulders filled all the space between the pillars of the spacious
seat. A hard man he looked to deal with, clothed upon with youth and
strength and all armed and yet smoking from the battle.
Corsus, sitting between his sons, said under his breath, “Rhubarb!
bring me rhubarb to purge away this choler!”
But Dekalajus whispered him, “Softly, tread easy. Let not our counsels
walk in a net, thinking they are hidden. Nurse him to security, which
shall be our safety and the mean to our wiping out this shaming. Was
not Gallandus as big a man?”
Corsus’s dull eye gleamed. He lifted a brimming wine-cup to toast
Corinius. And Corinius hailed him and said, “My lord Duke, call in
thine officers I pray thee and proclaim me, that they in turn may
proclaim me king unto all the army that is in Owlswick.”
Which Corsus did, albeit sore against his liking, knowing not where to
find a reason against it.
When the plaudits were heard in the courts without, acclaiming him as
king, Corinius spake again and said, “I and my folk be a-weary, my
lord, and would betimes to our rest. Give order, I pray thee, that they
make ready my lodgings. And let them be those same lodgings Gallandus
had whenas he was in Owlswick.”
Whereat Corsus might scarce forbear a start. But Corinius’s eye was on
him, and he gave the order.
While he waited for his lodgings to be made ready, the Lord Corinius
made great good cheer, calling for more wine and fresh dainties to set
before those lords of Witchland: olives, and botargoes, and conserves
of goose’s liver richly seasoned, taken from Spitfire’s plenteous store.
In the meantime Corsus spake softly to his sons: “I like not his naming
of Gallandus. Yet seemeth he careless, as one that feareth no guile.”
And Dekalajus answered in his ear, “Peradventure the Gods ordained his
destruction, to make him choose that chamber.”
So they laughed. And the banquet drew to a close with much pleasure and
merrymaking.
Now came serving men with torches to light them to their chambers. As
they stood up to bid good-night, Corinius said, “I’m sorry, my lord,
if, after thy pleasant usage, I should do aught that is not convenable
to thee. But I doubt not Owlswick Castle must be irksome to thee and
thy sons, that were so long mewed up within it, and I doubt not ye are
wearied by this siege and long warfare. Therefore it is my will that
you do instantly depart home to Witchland. Laxus hath a ship manned
ready to transport you thither. To put a fit and friendly term to our
festivities, we’ll bring you down to the ship.”
Corsus’s jaw fell. Yet he schooled his tongue to say, “My lord, so as
it shall please thee. Yet let me know thy reasons. Surely the swords
of me and my sons avail not so little for Witchland in this country of
our evil-willers that we should sheathe ’em and go home. Howbeit, ’tis
a matter demandeth no sweaty haste. We will take rede hereon in the
morning.”
But Corinius answered him, “Cry you mercy, needful it is that this very
night you go ashipboard.” And he gave him an ill look, saying, “Sith
I lie to-night in Gallandus’s lodgings, I think it fit my bodyguard
should have thy chamber, my lord Duke, which, as I lately learned,
adjoineth it.”
Corsus said no word. But Gorius, his younger son, that was drunk with
wine, leaped up and said, “Corinius, in an evil hour art thou come into
this land to demand servitude of us. And thou art informed of my father
right maliciously if thou art afeared of us because of Gallandus. ’Tis
this viper sitteth beside thee, the Goblin swabber, told thee falsely
this bad tale of us. And ’tis pity he is still inward with thee, for
still he plotteth evil ’gainst Witchland.”
Dekalajus thrust him aside, saying to Corinius, “Heed not my brother
though he be hasty and rude of speech; for in wine he speaketh, and
wine is another man. But most true it is, O Corinius, and this shall
the Duke my father and all we swear and confirm to thee with the
mightiest oaths thou wilt, that Gallandus sought to usurp authority for
this sake only, to betray our whole army to the enemy. And ’twas only
therefore Corsus slew him.”
“That is a flat lie,” said Laxus.
Gro laughed lightly.
But Corinius’s sword leaped half naked from the scabbard, and he made
a stride toward Corsus and his sons. “Give me the king’s name when ye
speak to me,” he said, scowling upon them. “You sons of Corsus are not
men to make me a stalk to catch birds with or to serve your own turn.
And thou,” he said, looking fiercely on Corsus, “wert best go meekly,
and not bandy words with me. Thou fool! think’st thou I am Gallandus
come again? Thou that didst murther him shalt not murther me. Or
think’st I delivered thee out of the toils thine own folly and thrawart
ways had bound thee in, only to suffer thee lord it again here and cast
all amiss again by the unquietness of thy malice? Here is the guard to
bring you down to the ship. And well it is for thee if I slash not off
thy head.”
Now Corsus and his sons stood for a little doubting in their hearts
whether it were fitter to leap with their weapons upon Corinius,
putting their fortunes to the hazard of battle in Owlswick hall, or to
embrace necessity and go down to the ship. And this seemed to them the
better choice, to go quietly ashipboard; for there stood Corinius and
Laxus and their men, and but few to face them of Corsus’s own people,
that should be sure for his party if it came to fighting; and withal
they were not eager to have to do with Corinius, not though it had been
on more even terms. So at the last, in anger and bitterness of heart,
they submitted them to obey his will; and in that same hour Laxus
brought them to the ship, and put them across the firth to Scaramsey.
There were they safe as a mouse in a mill. For Cadarus was skipper of
that ship, a trusted liegeman of Lord Laxus, and her crew men leal and
true to Corinius and Laxus. She lay at anchor as for that night in the
lee of the island, and with the first streak of dawn sailed down the
firth, bearing Corsus and his sons homeward from Demonland.
XXI: THE PARLEY BEFORE KROTHERING
WHEREIN IS SHOWN HOW WARLIKE POLICY AND A PICTURE PAINTED DREW THE
WAR WESTWARD: AND HOW THE LORD GRO WENT ON AN EMBASSAGE TO
KROTHERING GATES, AND OF THE ANSWER HE GAT THERE.
Now it is to be said of Zigg that he failed not to fulfil Spitfire’s
behest, but gathered hastily an army of more than fifteen hundred
horse and foot out of the northern dales and the habitations about
Shalgreth Heath and the pasture-lands of Kelialand and Switchwater
Way and the region of Rammerick, and came in haste over the Stile.
But when Corinius knew of this faring from the west, he marched three
thousand strong to meet them above Moonmere Head, to deny them the way
to Galing. But Zigg, being yet in the upper defiles of Breakingdale,
now for the first time had advertisement of the great slaughter at
Thremnir’s Heugh, and how the forces of Spitfire and Volle were broken
and scattered and themselves fled up into the mountains; and so deeming
it small gain with so little an army to give battle to Corinius, he
turned back without more ado and returned hastily over the Stile whence
he came. Corinius sent light forces to harry his retreat, but being not
minded as then to follow them into the west country, let build a burg
in the throat of the pass in a place of vantage, and stationed there
sufficient men to ward it, and so came again to Owlswick.
They that were with Corinius in Demonland numbered now more than five
thousand fighting men: a great and redoubtable army. With these, the
weather being fine and open, he in a short time laid under him all
eastern Demonland, save Galing alone. Bremery of Shaws with but
seventy men held Galing for Lord Juss against all assaults. So that
Corinius, thinking this fruit should ripen later and drop into his hand
when the rest had been gathered, resolved at winter’s end to march with
his main army into the west country, leaving a small force to hold down
the eastlands and contain Bremery in Galing. To this determination he
was led by all arguments of sound soldiership, most happily seconding
his own inclinations. For besides this of warlike policy two scarce
weaker lodestones drew him westward: first the old cankered malice he
bare in his heart against the Lord Brandoch Daha, that made Krothering
his dearest prey; and next, his own lustful desires most outrageously
burning for the Lady Mevrian. And this only for the sight of her
picture, found by him in Spitfire’s closet among his pens and inkstands
and other trinkets, which once looked on he swore that with Heaven’s
will (ay, or without if so it must be) she should be his paramour.
So on the fourteenth day of March, of a bright frosty morn, he with his
main army marched up Breakingdale and over the Stile, by that same road
that Lord Juss fared by and Lord Brandoch Daha, that summer’s day when
they went to take counsel in Krothering before the Impland expedition.
So came the Witches down to the watersmeet and turned aside to Many
Bushes. There they found not Zigg nor his lady wife nor any of his
folk, but found the house desolate. So they robbed and burned and went
their way. And a famous castle of Juss’s they sacked and burned in the
confines of Kelialand, and another on Switchwater Way, and a summer
palace of Spitfire’s on a little hill above Rammerick Mere. In such
wise they marched victoriously down Switchwater Way, and there was none
to dispute their progress but all fled at the approach of that great
army and hid themselves in the secret places of the mountains, avoiding
death and fate.
When he was come through the straits of Gashterndale up on to
Krothering Side, Corinius let pitch his camp under Erngate End, at the
foot of the scree-strewn slopes that rise steeply to the high western
face of the mountain, where the lean embattled crags far aloft stand
like a wall against high heaven.
Corinius came to Lord Gro and said to him, “To thee will I entrust mine
embassage to this Mevrian. Thou shalt go with a flag of truce to gain
thee entry to the castle; or if they will not admit thee, then bid her
parley with thee without the wall. Then shalt thou use what fantastic
courtier’s jargon nature and thine invention shall lightliest counsel
thee, and say, ‘Corinius, by the grace of the great King and the might
of his own hand king of Demonland, sitteth as thou well mayst see in
power invincible before this castle. But he willed me let thee know
that he is not come for to make war against ladies and damosels, and
be thou of this sure, that neither to thee nor to none of thy fortress
he will nought say nor hurt. Only this honour he proffereth thee, to
wed thee in sweet marriage and make thee his queen in Demonland.’
Whereto if she say yea, well and good, and we will go up peaceably
into Krothering and possess it and the woman. But if she deny me this,
then shalt thou say unto her right fiercely that I will set on against
the castle like a lion, and neither rest nor give over until I have
beaten it all to a ruin about her ears and slain the folk with the
edge of the sword. And that which she refuseth me to have in peaceful
love and kindness I will have of my own violent deed, that she and her
stiff-necked Demons may know that I am their king, and master of all
that is theirs, and their own bodies but chattels to serve my pleasure.”
Gro said, “My Lord Corinius, choose I pray thee another who shall be
fitter than I to do this errand for thee;” and so for a long time most
earnestly besought him. But Corinius, the more he perceived the duty
hateful to Gro, the firmer became his resolution that none but Gro
should undertake it. So that in the end Gro perforce consented, and in
the same hour went with eleven up to the gates of Krothering, and a
white flag of truce was borne before him.
He sent his herald up to the gate to desire speech of the Lady Mevrian.
And in a while the gates were opened, and she came down attended to
meet Lord Gro in the open garden before the bridge-gate. It was by
then late afternoon, and the burning sun swam low amid streaked level
clouds incarnadine, setting aflame the waters of Thunderfirth with the
reflection of his beams. From the horizon, high beyond the pine-clad
hills of Westmark, a range of clouds reared themselves, solid and of
an iron hue; so hard-edged against the vapoury sky of sunset, that
they seemed substantial mountains, not clouds: unearthly mountains (a
man might fancy) divinely raised up for Demonland, for whom not all
her ancient hills gave any longer refuge against her enemies. Here, in
Krothering gates, wintersweet and the little purple daphne bush that
blooms before the leaf breathed fragrance abroad. Yet was it not this
sweetness in the air that troubled the Lord Gro, nor that western glory
burning that dazzled his eyes; but to look upon that lady standing in
the gate, white-skinned and dark, like the divine Huntress, tall and
proud and lovely.
Mevrian, seeing him speechless, said at last, “My lord, I heard thou
hadst some errand to declare unto me. And seeing a great camp of war
gathered under Erngate End, and having heard of robbers and evil-doers
rife about the land these many moons, I look not for soft speech. Take
heart, therefore, and declare plainly what ill thou meanest.”
Gro answered and said, “Tell me first if thou that speakest art in
truth the Lady Mevrian, that I may know whether to human kind I speak
or to some Goddess come down from the shining floor of heaven.”
She answered, “Of thy compliments I have nought to do. I am she thou
namest.”
“Madam,” said Lord Gro, “I would not have brought your highness this
message nor delivered it, but that I know full well that did I refuse
it another should bear it thee full speedily, and with less compliment
and less sorrow than I.”
She nodded gravely, as who should say, Proceed. So, with what
countenance he might, he rehearsed his message, saying when it was
ended, “Thus, madam, saith Corinius the king: and thus he charged me
deliver it unto your highness.”
Mevrian heard him attentively with head erect. When he had done she was
silent a little, still studying him. Then she spake: “Methinks I know
thee now. Thou art Lord Gro of Goblinland that bearest me this message.”
Gro answered, “Madam, he thou namest went years ago from this earth. I
am Lord Gro of Witchland.”
“So it seemeth, from thy talk,” said she; and was silent again.
The steady contemplation from that lady’s eyes was like a knife
scraping his tender skin, so that he was ill at ease well nigh past
bearing.
After a little she said, “I remember thee, my lord. Let me stir thy
memory. Eleven years ago, my brother went to war in Goblinland against
the Witches, and overcame them on Lormeron field. There slew he the
great King of Witchland in single combat, Gorice X., that until that
day was held for the mightiest man-at-arms in all the world. My brother
was as then but eighteen winters old, and that was the first blazing up
of his great fame and glory. So King Gaslark made great feasting and
great rejoicing in Zajë Zaculo because of the ridding of his land of
the oppressors. I was at those revels. I saw thee there, my lord; and
being but a little maid of eleven summers, sat on thy knee in Gaslark’s
halls. Thou didst show me books, with pictures in strange colours of
gold and green and scarlet, of birds and beasts and distant countries
and wonders of the world. And I, being a little harmless maid, thought
thee good and kind of heart, and loved thee.”
She ceased, and Gro, like a man hath taken some drowsy drug, stood
looking on her confounded.
“Tell me,” said she, “of this Corinius. Is he such a fighter as men
say?”
“He is,” said Gro, “one of the most famousest captains that ever was.
That might not his worst enemies gainsay.”
Mevrian said, “A likely consort, think’st thou, for a lady of
Demonland? Remember, I have said nay to crowned kings. I would know thy
mind, for doubtless he is thy very familiar friend, since he made thee
his go-between.”
Gro saw that she mocked, and he was troubled at heart. “Madam,” said
he, and his voice shook somewhat, “take not in too great scorn this
vile part in me. Verily this I brought thee is the most shamefullest
message, and flatly against my will did I deliver it unto thee. Yet
with such constraint upon me, how could I choose but strike my forehead
into dauntless marble and word by word deliver my charge?”
“Thy tongue,” said Mevrian, “hath struck hot irons in my face. Go back
to thy master. If he look for an answer, tell him he may read it in
letters of gold above the gates.”
“Thy noble brother, madam,” said Gro, “is not here to make good that
answer.” And he came near to her, saying in a low voice so that only
they two should hear it, “Be not deceived. This Corinius is a naughty,
wicked, and luxurious youth, that will use thee without any respect
if once he break in by force into Krothering Castle. It were wiselier
carried to make some open show to receive him; so by fair words and
putting of him off thou mayst yet escape.”
But Mevrian said, “Thou hast mine answer. I have no ears to his
request. Say too that my cousin the Lord Spitfire hath healed his
wounds, and hath an army afoot shall whip these Witches from my gates
ere many days be passed by.”
So saying she returned in great scorn within the castle.
But the Lord Gro returned again to the camp and to Corinius, who asked
him how he had sped.
He answered, she did utterly refuse it.
“So,” said Corinius; “doth the puss thump me off? Then pause my hot
desires an instant, only the more thunderingly to clap it on. For
I will have her. And this coyness and pert rejection hath the more
fixedly confirmed me.”
XXII: AURWATH AND SWITCHWATER
HOW THE LADY MEVRIAN BEHELD FROM KROTHERING WALLS THE WITCHLAND
ARMY AND THE CAPTAINS THEREOF: AND OF THE TIDINGS BROUGHT HER
THERE OF THE WAR IN THE WEST COUNTRY, OF AURWATH FIELD AND THE
GREAT SLAUGHTER ON SWITCHWATER WAY.
The fourth day after these doings aforewrit, the Lady Mevrian walked
on the battlements of Krothering keep. A blustering wind blew from
the north-west. The sky was cloudless: clear blue overhead, all else
pearl-gray, and the air a little misty. Her old steward, stalwart and
soldier-like, greaved and helmed and clad in a plated jerkin of bull’s
hide, walked with her.
“The hour should be about striking,” said she. “’Tis to-day or
to-morrow my Lord Zigg named to me when they were here a-guesting. If
but Goblinland keep tryst it were the prettiest feat, to take them so
pat.”
“As your ladyship might clap a gnat ’twixt the palms of your two
hands,” said the old man; and he gazed again southward over the sea.
Mevrian set her gaze in the same quarter. “Nothing but mist and spray,”
she said after a few minutes’ searching. “I’m glad I sent Lord Spitfire
those two hundred horse. He must have every man can be scraped up, for
such a day. How thinkest thou, Ravnor: if King Gaslark come not, hath
Lord Spitfire force enow to cope them alone?”
Ravnor chuckled in his beard. “I think and my lord your brother were
here he should tell your highness ‘ay’ to that. Since first I bowled a
hoop, they taught me a Demon was under-matched against five Witches.”
She looked at him a little wistfully. “Ah,” she said, “were he at home.
And were Juss at home.” Then on a sudden she faced round northward,
pointing to the camp. “Were they at home,” she cried, “thou shouldst
not see outlanders insulting in arms on Krothering Side, sending me
shameful offers, caging me like a bird in this castle. Have such things
been in Demonland, until now?”
Now came a boy running along the battlements from the far side of the
tower, crying that ships were hove in sight sailing from the south and
east, “And they make for the firth.”
“Of what land?” said Mevrian, while they hastened back to look.
“What but Goblinland?” said Ravnor.
“O say not so too hastily!” cried she. They came round the turret wall,
and the sea and Stropardon Firth opened wide and void before them. “I
see nought,” she said; “or is yon flight of sea-mews the fleet thou
sawest?”
“He meaneth Thunderfirth,” said Ravnor, who had gone on ahead, pointing
to the west. “They shape their course toward Aurwath. ’Tis King Gaslark
for sure. Mark but the blue and gold of his sails.”
Mevrian watched them, her gloved hand drumming nervously on the marble
battlement. Very stately she seemed, muffled in a flowing cloak of
white watered silk collared and lined with ermine. “Eighteen ships!”
she said. “I dreamed not Goblinland might make so great a force.”
They were silent for a time, watching the ships sail in to the mouth of
the firth and make land at Aurwath. “Dear heavens,” she said, “were I
a man to help them. Will Spitfire be there in time? The Witches be in
great force.”
“Your ladyship may see,” said Ravnor, walking back along the wall,
“whether the Witchlanders have slept while these ships sailed to port.”
She followed and looked. Great stir there was in the Witchland army,
marshalling before the camp; there was coming and going and leaping on
horseback, and faintly on the wind their trumpets’ blare was borne to
Mevrian’s ears as she beheld them from her high watch-tower. The host
moved forth down the meadows, all orderly, a-glitter with bronze and
steel. Southward they came, passing at length through the home-meads
of Krothering, so near that each man was plainly seen from the
battlements, as they rode beneath.
Mevrian leaned forward in an embrasure, one hand on either battlement
at her left and right. “I would know their names,” said she. “Thou,
that hast oft fared to the wars, mayst teach me. Gro I know, with a
long beard; and heart-heaviness it is to see a lord of Goblinland in
such a fellowship. What’s he beside him, yon bearded gallant, with a
winged helm and a diadem about it, like a king’s, and beareth a glaive
crimson-hafted? He looketh a proud one.”
The old man answered, “Laxus of Witchland: the same that was admiral of
their fleet against the Ghouls.”
“’Tis a brave man to look on, and worthy a better cause. What’s he
rideth now below us, heading their horse: ruddy and swarthy and light
of build, hath a brow like the thundercloud, and weareth armour from
neck to toe?”
Ravnor answered, “Highness, I know him not certainly, the sons of
Corund so favour one another. But methinks ’tis the young prince
Heming.”
Mevrian laughed. “Prince quotha?”
“So moveth the world, your highness. Since Gorice set Corund in kingdom
in Impland——”