See ye to that."
Then stood forth the big man and said: "He is a fair young knight,
as ye may see; and he rideth seeking adventures, and Roger did us to wit
that he was abiding in the Burg at his peril, and would have him away,
even if it were somewhat against his will: and we were willing that it
should be so, all the more as I have a guess concerning what he is;
and a foreseeing man might think that luck should go with him."
Therewith he turned to Ralph and said: "How say ye, fair sir,
will ye take guesting with us a while and learn our ways?"
Said Ralph: "Certain I am that whither ye will have me go,
thither must I; yet I deem that I have an errand that lies not your way.
Therefore if I go with you, ye must so look upon it that I am
in your fellowship as one compelled. To be short with you,
I crave leave to depart and go mine own road."
As he spoke he saw the youth walking up and down in short turns; but his face
he could scarce see at all, what for his slouched hat, what for his cloak;
and at last he saw him go up to the tall man and speak softly to him awhile.
The tall man nodded his head, and as the youth drew right back nigh to
the thicket, spake to Ralph again.
"Fair sir, we grant thine asking; and add this thereto that we give thee
the man who has joined himself to thee, Roger of the Rope-walk to wit, to help
thee on the road, so that thou mayst not turn thy face back to the Burg of
the Four Friths, where thine errand, and thy life withal, were soon sped now,
or run into any other trap which the Wood Perilous may have for thee.
Pages:
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126