So when he was come anigh the stead he saw the gathered folk and the
glittering of weapons about a knoll a bowshot without the garth, and
made the best of his way toward the Mote. And as he was drawing near,
there ran toward him divers men from the skirts of the throng, and
cried out for him to hasten, "For now," cried one of them, "the Mote
is dealing with thee." So he ran on with them; and when he entered the
throng, which for those parts was no small one, there went up a great
shout, and they shoved him along up to the foot of the knoll, on the
top whereof stood three of the best men of estate, and the Lawman of
the Dale, and the captain of the men of Eastcheaping. These called him
to come amongst them, and then the Lawman fell to speaking: "Osberne
Wulfgrimsson," said he, "thou art late to the Mote, and it is
well-nigh done, but this is the heart of the matter, that we have ten
score and six of good men pledged them to ride with these friends of
of Eastcheaping; but they have craved to have a captain to them chosen
from us Dalesmen. But whereas there hath been but little war or strife
in the Dale since the riding of the White Champion, which is a thirty
years ago, we be for the most part little skilled in battle; and we
all wot that thou hast a man's heart in thy lad's body, and that thou
hast slain a mighty man of war, a man deft in all prowess. Wherefore
some of the folk have spoken of thee to be the captain of our company;
and I tell thee that I shall presently call for the word of the whole
Mote, and if they yeasay it, then must thou needs go as captain of
these, will thou nill thou."
Osberne was as red as fire in the face by then the Lawman was done,
and he said: "Master, I pray thee consider my youth, and how I have
had no schooling herein, and know nought of ordering men or arraying a
battle. All this is nought like defending life and livelihood against
a robber when there was none to serve at a pinch, and using one's
mother-wit in dealing with it." The captain of the Eastcheapers smiled
upon him kindly and said: "My son, he who can use his mother-wit to
any purpose when the edges be aloft hath learned the more part of
battle-craft. Withal it is but a few hours agone that I saw thee
handling the men of thine household like to a ripe man. Fear not, my
son, but that thou shalt do well enough; and moreover I promise that I
will learn thee the craft all I may. And know that if thou deny this,
then shalt thou take the heart out of these good fellows, who be eager
enough to help the good town and be no mannikins, I warrant them.
Naysay it not, my lad, naysay it not."
Now was Osberne's heart thumping against his ribs, what for sudden
wonder, what for the hope of renown that flashed upon him as a sudden
flame of strange light. But withal he thought in himself, and that all
suddenly also: If the Sundering Flood is to be encompassed here is
indeed the beginning of it, if this good Knight shall be my friend and
shall learn me the craft of war, and thereby I become a man of might,
to be desired and waged by them who have not had either the craft or
the courage to fight for themselves face to face with their foemen.
Wherefore now he turned to the Lawman and said: "Master, it is enough;
if the Mote of the neighbours will have me captain I may not naysay
it: and may my luck be enough to overcome my childish years: and if
not, may I lie on the field and not come back again to hear the
mothers and maids curse me for having cast away the lives of their
sons and their dears."
Then spake the Lawman, after he had smiled on Osberne and laid his
hand on the lad's shoulder: "Men of the East Dale, ye be met together
to see if ye can in any wise help our friends and neighbours of
Eastcheaping, and ye have told off certain men to go in arms for their
avail, and will have a captain over them. Now it hath been said to me
that he who seems likeliest for the said captain is the young man
Osberne Wulfgrimsson of Wethermel, and if this be so, let me hear your
voices saying Yea. But even then there will be time for any man of you
to name another, if it seem good to him, and that name will also be
put to the Mote, and a dozen others if such there be. Now first, what
say ye to Osberne Wulfgrimsson?"
Straightway arose a great cheer and the clashing of weapons, and
well-nigh every man as it seemed cried out Yea. But when the noise and
cry was abated, the Lawman bade any man who would put forth another
name. No man spake for a little while, till at last Surly John pushes
forth to the front and says: "I name Erling Thomasson, a good man and
true!" Brake forth then great laughter and whooping, for the said
Erling was a manifest niggard, a dastard who sweated in his bed when
the mouse squeaked in the wall a nighttime. But one man sang out:
"Yea, Lawman, and I name Surly John." Thereat was great laughter, and
men shoved John to and fro till they had hustled him out to the skirts
of the throng, and there bid him go a wolf-hunting.
But now the Lawman takes Osberne by the hand and leads him to the edge
of the knoll, and stands there and says: "Men of the Dale, ye would go
to the war; ye would take a captain to you; ye would have Osberne
Wulfgrimsson for your captain. All this ye have done uncompelled, of
your own will; therefore take not the rue if it not turn out so well
as ye looked for. But now I bid all them that be going on this journey
to lift up their right hands and swear to be leal and true to your
captain, Osberne Wulfgrimsson, in all things for life or for death."
Even so they did with a hearty good will: thereupon Osberne spake and
said, after he had a word with [the Knight] Sir Medard, apart: "All ye
my men, I have but this to say to you: I hold you trusty and valiant,
and men unlike to fight soft. But this I know of you, as of all other
of us Dalesmen, that ye are most wont to go each after his own will,
and it is well-nigh enough to put a man off from doing a thing if
another man say to him, Do it. Now this manner ye must change, since
ye are become men-at-arms, and if I bid you go to the right or the
left, ye need think of nought but which is your right hand and which
the left; though forsooth I wot well that some of ye be so perverse
that even that debate may lead you into trouble and contention. Now
look to it that ye may not all be captains, and they that try it, so
long as I be over you, are like to wend into wild weather. Now
stouthearts, and my friends, it is now a little past high noon; and we
shall abide here no longer than tomorrow morn, and at daybreak we
shall be on our way to Eastcheaping, wherefore that time have yet got
to see to your weapons and array, and to say farewell, such of you as
be not too far off, to your kindred and wives and sweethearts. And now
let all we do our best when we come among the edges, so that hereafter
one man may say to another: Thou art as valiant as the Dalesmen when
they fought in the war of Eastcheaping."
Then all men gave a great shout, and were well-nigh weeping-ripe for
high heart and for love of him, though a minute before their faces
were all agrin, so wise and valiant and kind they deemed his words and
the manner of his speaking.
Therewith the Mote brake up, and the men were busy arraying them for
departure: and as for Osberne, he had his hands full of work, in
giving and taking commandments, and in learning from Sir Medard the
beginnings of the lore of battle; so that what hopes he had of making
his way to the trysting-place once more were speedily swept aside. And
the next morning betimes they set out together, the Dalesmen and the
Eastcheapers, in all good fellowship, and in two days' time came to
Eastcheaping; and they were lodged full well by the crafts-masters of
the good town. But Sir Medard took Osberne with him up into the Castle
and guested him there, that he might the closer teach him his new
craft, and an apt scholar he found. Also from the morrow after their
coming, the captain, by bidding of the Porte, furnished and arrayed
the Dalesmen with weapons, as long spears and good swords and bows and
arrows, and jacks and sallets and shields, and they went out into the
mead under the Castle to be better assured thereby, and fell to
learning how best to handle their weapons. And both their captains and
they themselves deemed it best that they should fight a-foot; for
though they were good horsemen after their fashion, they would have to
learn all in the craft of fighting a-horseback.