harvest on Krothering Side. Autumn came, and winter months, and the
lengthening days of the returning year. And with the first breath of
spring were the harbours filled with ships of war, so many as had never
in former days been seen in the land, and in every countryside from the
western Isles to Byland, from Shalgreth and Kelialand to the headlands
under Rimon Armon, were soldiers gathered with their horses and all
instruments of war.
Lord Brandoch Daha rode from the west, the day the Pasque flowers
first opened on the bluffs below Erngate End and primroses made sweet
the birch-forests in Gashterndale. He set forth betimes, and hard
he rode, and he rode into Galing by the Lion Gate about the hour of
noon. There was Lord Juss in his private chamber, and greeted him with
great joy and love. So Brandoch Daha asked, “What speed?” And Juss
answered, “Thirty ships and five afloat in Lookinghaven, whereof all
save four be dragons of war. Zigg I expect to-morrow with the Kelialand
levies; Spitfire lieth at Owlswick with fifteen hundred men from the
southlands; Volle came in but three hours since with four hundred more.
In sum, I’ll have four thousand, reckoning ships’ companies and our own
bodyguards.”
“Eight ships of war have I,” said Lord Brandoch Daha, “in Stropardon
Firth, all busked and boun. Five more at Aurwath, five at Lornagay in
Morvey, and three on the Mealand coast at Stackray Oyce, besides four
more in the Isles. And I have sixteen hundred spearmen and six hundred
horse. All these shall come together to join with thine in Lookinghaven
at the snapping of my fingers, give me but seven days’ notice.”
Juss gripped him by the hand. “Bare were my back without thee,” he said.
“In Krothering I’ve shifted not a stone nor swept not a chamber clean,”
said Brandoch Daha. “’Tis a muck-pit. Every man’s hand I might command
I set only to this. And now ’tis ready.” He turned sharp toward Juss
and looked at him a minute in silence. Then with a 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
aforetime, fribbling 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 Corsus hither and Corinius to work havoc i’ the land; and so put
on us the greatest shame was ever laid on mortal men, and we not bred
up to suffer shame.”
“Thou saidst seven days,” said Juss. “Snap thy fingers and call up thy
armies. I’ll delay thee not an hour.”
“Ay, but I mean to Carcë,” said he.
“To Carcë, whither else?” said Juss. “But I’ll take my brother Goldry
with us.”
“But I mean first to Carcë,” said Brandoch Daha. “Let my opinion sway
thee once. Why, a schoolboy should tell thee, clear thy flank and rear
ere thou go forward.”
Juss smiled. “I love this new garb of caution, cousin,” said he; “it
doth most prettily become thee. I question though whether this be not
the true cause: that Corinius took not up thy challenge last summer,
but let it lie, and that hath left thee hungry still.”
Brandoch Daha looked him sidelong in the eye, and laughed. “O Juss,”
he said, “thou hast touched me near. But ’tis not that. That was in
the weird that bright lady laid on me, in the sparrow-hawk castle
in Impland forlorn: that he I held most in hate should ruin my fair
lordship, and that to my hand should vengeance be denied. That I e’en
must brook. O no. Think only, delays are dangerous. Come, be advised.
Be not mulish.”
But the Lord Juss’s face was grave. “Urge me no more, dear friend,”
said he. “Thou sleep’st soft. But to me, when I am cast in my first
sleep, cometh many a time the likeness of Goldry Bluszco, held by a
maleficial charm on the mountain top of Zora Rach, 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 Brandoch Daha. “Also is he mine own
familiar friend, whom I love scarce less than thee. But when thou
speakest of oaths, remember there’s La Fireez too. What shall he think
on us after our oaths to him three years ago, that night in Carcë? Yet
this one blow should right him too.”
“He will understand,” said Juss.
“He is to come with Gaslark, and thou told’st me thou dost e’en now
expect them,” said Brandoch Daha. “I’ll leave you. I cannot for shame
say to him, ‘Patience, friend, truly ’tis not to-day convenient.
Thou shalt be paid in time.’ By heavens, I’d scorn to entreat my
mantle-maker so. 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 Juss caught him by the wrist. “Thou dost upbraid me
most unjustly, and well thou knowest it in thy heart, and ’tis that
makes thee so angry. Hark, the horn soundeth at the gate, and ’tis for
Gaslark. I’ll not let thee go.”
“Well,” said Lord Brandoch Daha, “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’rt warned.”
Now went they into the high presence chamber, where was bright ladies
not a few, and captains and noble persons from up and down the land,
and stood on the dais. Gaslark the king walked up the shining floor,
and behind him his captains and councillors of Goblinland walked two by
two. The Prince La Fireez strode at his elbow, proud as a lion.
Blithely they greeted those lords of Demonland that rose up to greet
them beneath the starry canopy, and the Lady Mevrian that stood betwixt
her brother and Lord Juss so as ’twere hard 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 were the 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 chaste Huntress, nor the foam-born Queen herself.”
But Gaslark, when his eye lighted on the long black beard, the lean
figure slightly stooping, the pallid brow, the curls smoothed with
perfumed unguents, the sickle-like nose, the great liquid eyes, the
lily hand; he, beholding and knowing these of old, waxed in a moment
dark as thunder with the blood-rush beneath his sun-browned skin, and
with a great sweep snatched out his sword, as if without gare or beware
to thrust him through. Gro stepped hastily back. But the Lord Juss came
between them.
“Let alone, Juss,” cried Gaslark. “Know’st 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 gat money from me still. Blessed occasion! Now will I
let his soul out.”
But the Lord Juss laid his hand on Gaslark’s sword-arm. “Gaslark,” said
he, “leave off thy rages, and put up thy sword. A year ago thou’dst
done me no wrong. But to-day thou’dst have slain me a man of mine own
men, and a lord of Demonland.”
Now when they had done their greetings, they washed their hands and
sate at dinner and were nobly served and feasted. And the Lord Juss
made peace betwixt Gro and Gaslark, albeit ’twas no light task to
prevail upon Gaslark to forgive him. Thereafter they retired them with
Gaslark and La Fireez into a chamber apart.
Gaslark the king spake and said, “None can gainsay it, O Juss, that
this fight ye won last harvest tide was the greatest seen 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 past. Therefore
it is we came hither to thee, I and La Fireez 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
languisheth; and thereafter let us go with you on your going up to
Carcë.”
“O Juss,” 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 Bluszco
(or haply, there ended their life’s days in that glorious quest); but
Gaslark and La Fireez were not in it, they bade their friends farewell,
hung up their swords, and lived a quiet and merry life in Zajë Zaculo.
So let their memory be forgot.”
Lord Juss sat silent a minute, as one much moved. “O Gaslark,” he said
at length, “I’ll take thine offer without another word. But unto thee,
dear Prince, I must bare mine heart somewhat. For thou here art come
not strest in our quarrel to spend thy blood, only to put us yet deeper
in thy debt. And yet small blame 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 La Fireez brake in upon him, saying, “I prithee have
done, or thou’lt shame me quite. Whate’er I did in Carcë, ’twas 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 Carcë I’ll not go with you: for albeit
I am clean broke with Witchland, against Corund 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 Corund! She holdeth too much of our stock, methinks:
her heraldry is hearts not hands. And giving her hand she gave her
heart. ’Tis a strange world.”
“La Fireez,” said Juss, “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 dear brother Goldry out of bondage. So sware I or ever I
went that ill journey to Carcë 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 Pixyland, and many good things besides to be a token of our
love.”
Said the Prince, “Thou doest right. If thou didst other thou’dst have
my blame.”
“And mine thereto,” said Gaslark. “Do not I grieve, think’st thou, to
see the Princess Armelline, my sweet young cousin, grow every day more
wan o’ the cheek and pale? And all for sorrow and teen for her own
true love, the Lord Goldry Bluszco. 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 to-day better than to-morrow, and
to-morrow better than his morrow, to set sail for wide-fronted Impland.”
All this while the Lord Brandoch Daha said never a word. He sat back
in his chair of ivory and chrysoprase, now toying with his golden
finger-rings, now twisting and untwisting the yellow curls of his
moustachios and beard. In a while he yawned, rose from his seat and
fell to pacing 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 paced from shine to shade
and to shine again, passing the tall windows, seemed to caress his face
and form. 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 finger-tips with fire and vital
sap, like her own buds bursting in the Brankdale coppices.
In a while he ceased his walking, and stood by the Lord Gro who sat a
little apart from the rest. “How thinkest thou, Gro, of our counsels?
Art thou for the straight road or the crooked? For Carcë or Zora Rach?”
“Of two roads,” answered Gro, “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,
sometime up, sometime down. I pray, whither leadeth the straight road
on such a cliff? Why, nowhither. For if I will go up by the straight
way, ’tis not possible; I am left gaping whiles thou by crooked courses
hast gained the top. Or if down, why ’tis easy and swift; but then,
no more climbing ever more for me. And thou, clambering down by the
crooked way, shalt find me a dead and unsightly corpse at the bottom.”
“Grammercy for thy me’s and thee’s,” said Lord Brandoch Daha. “Well,
’tis a most weighty principle, backed with a most just and lively
exposition. How dost thou interpret thy maxim in our present question?”
Lord Gro 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
daily thinking hereupon, and conceiving in my head divers imaginations,
can devise no means but one that in my fancy seemeth best, which is
this.”
“Let me hear it,” said Lord Brandoch Daha.
Said Gro, “’Twas ever a fault in you Demons that you would not perceive
how ’tis 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. Oft hath he of the little
force o’ercome most powerful enemies, going about to entrap them
by sleight 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
swordsman in all the world.”
“What thing is that?” asked he.
Gro answered, “Reputation, my Lord Brandoch Daha. This reputation of
you Demons for open dealings even to your worst enemies.”
“Tush,” said he. “’Tis but our way i’ the world. Moreover, ’tis, 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 a thing which I think no man in this land comprehendeth.
Myself, I do think that when the high Gods made a person of my quality
they traced between his two eyes something, I know not what, which the
common sort durst not look upon without trembling.”
“Give me but leave,” said Lord Gro, “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 Witchland, 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, haply by setting upon them
in their beds, or as we may find most convenient. All save Corund and
his sons; them we may wisely spare, and conclude peace with them. It
shall not by ten days delay your sailing to Impland, whither you might
then proceed with light hearts and minds at ease.”
“Very prettily conceived, upon my soul,” said Brandoch Daha. “Might I
advise thee, thou’dst best not talk to Juss i’ this manner. Not now, I
mean, while his mind’s so bent on matters of weight and moment. Nor I
should not say it to my sister Mevrian. Women will oft-times take in
sad earnest such a conceit, though it be but talk and discourse. With
me ’tis otherwise. I am something of a philosopher myself, and thy jest
ambleth with my humour very pleasantly.”
“Thou art pleased to be merry,” said Lord Gro. “Many ere now, as the
event hath proved, rejected my wholesome counsels to their own great
hurt.”
But Brandoch Daha said lightly, “Fear not, my Lord Gro, we’ll reject
no honest redes of so wise a counsellor as thou. But,” and here was a
light in the eye of him made Gro startle, “did any man with serious
intent dare bid me do a dastard deed, he should have my sword through
the dearest part of’s body.”
Lord Brandoch Daha now turned him to the rest of them. “Juss,” said
he, “friend of my heart, meseemeth y’are all of one mind, and none of
my mind. I’ll e’en bid you farewell. Farewell, Gaslark; farewell, La
Fireez.”
“But whither away?” said Juss, standing up from his chair. “Thou must
not leave us.”
“Whither but to mine own place?” said he, and was gone from the chamber.
Gaslark said, “He’s much incensed. What hast thou done to anger him?”
Mevrian said to Juss, “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 Juss kept silence and a calm countenance,
and the Lady Mevrian. And Juss said at length to Gaslark, “This it is,
that he chafeth at every day’s delay that letteth him from having at
Corinius. Certes, I’ll not blame him, knowing the vile injuries the
fellow did him and his insolence toward thee, madam. Be not troubled.
His own self shall bring him back to me when time is, as no other power
should do ’gainst his good will; he whose great heart Heaven cannot
force with force.”
And even so, the next night after, when folk were abed and asleep,
Juss, in his high bed-chamber sitting late at his book, heard a bridle
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 Brandoch Daha
a-riding into Galing Castle, and somewhat of the bigness of a great
pumpkin tied in a silken cloth hung at his saddle-bow. Juss 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 Juss. “The hippogriff’s egg, out of Dule
Tarn, by thyself alone?” and he took the bundle right tenderly in his
two hands.
“Ay,” answered he. “’Twas where thou and I made sure of it last summer,
according to the word of her little martlet that first found it for us.
The tarn was frozen and ’twas tricky work diving and most villanous
cold. It is small marvel thou’rt a lucky man in thine undertakings, O
Juss, when thou hast such an art to draw thy friends to second thee.”
“I thought thou’dst not leave me,” said Juss.
“Thought?” cried Brandoch Daha. “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 Carcë i’ the meantime. Howbeit I’ll do it ’gainst
the stream of my resolution quite.”
• • • • •
Now was but six days more of preparation, and on the second day of
April was all ready in Lookinghaven for the sailing of that mighty
armament: fifty and nine ships of war and five ships of burthen and
thrice two thousand fighting men.
Lady Mevrian sat on her milk-white mare overlooking the harbour
where the ships all orderly rode at 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 hulls or a beam of
the sun glancing from their golden masts or figure-heads. Gro stood
at her bridle-rein. The Galing road, winding down from Havershaw
Tongue, ran close below them and so along the sea-shore to the quays
at Lookinghaven. Along that road the hard earth rang with the tramp
of armed men and the tramp of horses, and the light west wind wafted
to Gro and Mevrian on their grassy hill snatches of deep-voiced
battle-chants or the galloping notes of trumpet and pipe and the drum
that sets men’s hearts a-throb.
In the van rode the Lord Zigg, four trumpeters walking before him in
gold and 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 plated
with brass and silver. “These,” said Mevrian, “be of Kelialand and the
shore-steads of Arrowfirth, and his own vassalage from Rammerick and
Amadardale. That is Hesper Golthring rideth a little behind him on
his right hand; he loveth two things in this world, a good horse and
a swift ship. He on the left, he o’ the helm of dull silver set with
raven’s wings, so long of the leg thou’dst say if he rode a little
horse he might straddle and walk it: Styrkmir of Blackwood. He is of
our kin; not yet twenty years old, yet since Krothering Side accounted
one of our ablest.”
So she showed him all as they rode by. Peridor of Sule, captain of the
Mealanders, and his nephew Stypmar. Fendor of Shalgreth with Emeron
Galt his young brother, that was newly healed from the great wound
Corinius gave him at Krothering 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 broidered surcoat of scarlet velvet,
leading the dalesmen from Onwardlithe and Tivarandardale. Trentmar of
Scorradale with the north-eastern levies from Byland and the Strands
and Breakingdale. Astar of Rettray, lean and lithe, bony-faced,
gallant-eyed, white of skin, with bright red hair and beard, riding
his lovely roan at the head of two companies of spearmen with huge
iron-studded shields: men from about Drepaby and the south-eastern
dales, landed men and home-men of Lord Goldry Bluszco. Then the
island dwellers from the west, with old Quazz of Dalney riding in the
place of honour, noble to look on with his snowy beard and shining
armour, but younger men their true leaders in war: Melchar of Strufey,
great-chested, fierce-eyed, with thick brown curling hair, horsed on a
plunging chestnut, his byrny bright with gold, a rich mantle of creamy
silk brocade flung about his ample shoulders, and Tharmrod on his
little black mare with silver byrny and bats-winged helm, he that held
Kenarvey in fee for Lord Brandoch Daha, keen and ready like an arrow
drawn to the barbs. And after them the Westmark men, with Arnund 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
Kamerar riding at their head, burly as a giant, straight as a lance,
apparelled like a king, bearing on his mighty spear the pennon of the
Lord of Krothering.
“Look well on these,” said Mevrian as they passed by. “Our own men
of the Side and Thunderfirth and Stropardon. Thou may’st search the
wide world and not find their like for speed and fire and all warlike
goodliness and readiness to the word of command. Thou look’st 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 pomps, the music of these
powers and glories hath a deep under-drone of sadness. Kings and
governors that do exult in strength and beauty and lustihood and rich
apparel, showing themselves for awhile upon the stage of the world and
open dominion of high heaven, what are they but the gilded summer fly
that decayeth with the dying day?”
“My brother and the rest must not stay for us,” said the lady. “They
meant to go aboard as soon as the army should be come down to the
harbour, for their ships be to sail out first down the firth. Is it
determined indeed that thou goest 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 Gro put a hand on the rein
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. Methinks if I go on this journey thou
shalt see my face no more.”
“O fie, my lord,” cried she, reaching him her hand, “give never a
thought to such fond imaginings. ’Twas 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 Mevrian,” 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 o’ this journey. There is but one thing should turn me
back.”
“And ’tis?” said she, for he fell silent on a sudden.
He paused, looking down at her gloved hand resting in his. “A man
becometh hoarse and dumb,” said he, “if a wolf hath the advantage first
to eye him. Didst thou procure thee a wolf to dumb me when I would tell
thee? But I did once; enough to let thee know. O Mevrian, dost thou
remember Neverdale?”