"
Said Ralph: "Are these women also of the Dry Tree?
For I perceive them to be born of the foes of the Burg."
Now the townsmen had let their talk drop a while to listen to
the talk of the aliens; and Roger answered still in a loud voice:
"Nay, nay, it is not so. These queens are indeed war-taken thralls,
but not from them of the Dry Tree, or they would have been
slain at once, like as the carles of those accursed ones.
But these are of the folk of the Wheat-wearers, even as those
whom thou sawest brought to-day amidst the other spoil.
And to this folk the Burg showeth mercy, and whenso the host goeth
against them and over-cometh (and that is well-nigh whenever they meet)
these worthy lords slay no woman of them, but the men only,
whether they be old or young or youngest. As for their women they
are brought hither and sold at the market-cross to the highest bidder.
And this honour they have, that such of them as be fair,
and that is the more part of the younger ones, fetch no ill penny.
Yet for my part I were loth to cheapen such wares: for they make
but evil servants, being proud, and not abiding stripes lightly,
or toiling the harder for them; and they be somewhat too handy
with the knife if they deem themselves put upon. Speak I sooth,
my masters?" quoth he, turning toward them of the town.
Said a burgher somewhat stricken in years, "Nought but sooth;
peaceable men like to me eschew such servants; all the more because of this,
that if one of these queens misbehave with the knife, or strayeth
from her master's bed, the laws of the Burg meddle not therein.
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