Now then was great feast and glee in the City of the Sundering Flood.
The gates were thrown open, the bridges made free, the country-folk
flocked in, and the markets were thronged and gay; neighbour held
merry converse with neighbour, and there was marrying and giving in
marriage. Of the Outland foes none thought, save it were the King and
one or two of his councillors; for all men trusted in Sir Godrick that
he would look to the safe-guarding of the city. But as for Sir
Godrick, like a wise man of war he set to work looking to all points
of defence, both the castles of the town and especially the ships in
the haven, that they were as defensible as might be.
And after all the Outland king came not at all that year, whereas he
had fallen sick when he was just at point to take ship with his host;
so that all was put off till the next spring, and there was time and
to spare for Sir Godrick to do all he would strengthening the defences
of the city. But none the more for that was he sluggish, but did so
much that he made the City of the Sundering Flood exceeding strong, so
that it might scarce be stronger; and all things flourished there: old
foes became new friends, and all men were well content, save it were
the King and his faitours, who rued it now that they had sold
themselves so cheap.
Amidst all this, Osberne was somewhat more at Longshaw and the borders
of the Wood Masterless than in the city. Of numberless folk did he ask
his old questions, and gat ever the same answer, that they knew nought
of it; and indeed now it was less and less like that they should know
aught as time wore. So that at last he began to get ungleeful at
whiles, and few-spoken with men.
Came the spring, and therewith the mighty Outland conqueror; but the
shortest tale to tell of him is, that there he conquered nothing, but
was held aloof at all points, save here and there he was suffered to
break through to his great scathe. But his host was so big, that he
hung about till the autumn. He gat but one gain, such as it was, that
ere he brake up his host the King of the City fled to him and became
his friend. And they two took rede together as to what they should do
the next year to fall upon the land which was his, as he said.
Meantime, his back being turned upon his once subjects, many men began
to think belike they might do without him once and for all, when they
cast up the use he had been to them in times past. And this
imagination grew, until at last a great Mote was called, and there it
was put forward, that since the City had a Porte and a Great Council,
and a Burgreve under these, the office of King was little needed
there. So first with one accord they escheated their runaway, who they
well knew would henceforth be their foe, and gave out that all they
who had held of him should now hold of the Porte; and next, with
little gainsaying, they did away with the office of King altogether,
and most men felt the lighter-hearted therefor. And the City throve as
well as ever it had done. So wore that year to an ending.
The next year the two Kings did in very sooth bring a great host
against that folk; but fell not on the city itself, but gat a-land
some twenty miles to the east thereof; and this they did easily,
because Sir Godrick, with the rede of the Great Council, let them do
so much, whereas he deemed it were well if he might be done with them
once and for all. So he gat the very pick of his folk together, of
whom was the Red Lad in high place, much dreaded of all his foemen.
Then Sir Godrick by his wisdom chose time and place for the battle,
whereas the others must fight when and where he would. Such an
overthrow they gat, that they might not draw to a head again. The old
City King, fighting desperately, was slain by the Red Lad in the
beginning of the rout; but the other King escaped by sharp spurring
and the care and valour of his best knights, who rode about him in a
plump. He stayed not till he came to his ships, where he gat aboard
and sailed away to his own land, whence he came back again never to
trouble the City of the Sundering Flood.