For know, that we can all see that the Lord hath set his love on
this damsel; and what better can betide, if thou come to Utterbol,
but that the Lord shall at once see that there is love betwixt
you two, and then there will be an end of the story."
"How so?" quoth Ralph. Said Redhead: "At Utterbol all do
the will of the Lord of Utterbol, and he is so lustful and cruel,
and so false withal, that his will shall be to torment the damsel
to death, and to geld and maim thee; so that none hereafter shall
know how goodly and gallant thou hast been."
"Redhead," quoth Ralph much moved, "though thou art in no knightly service,
thou mayst understand that it is good for a friend to die with a friend."
"Yea, forsooth," said Redhead, "If he may do no more to help than that!
Wouldst thou not help the damsel? Now when thou comest back from the quest
of the Well at the World's End, thou wilt be too mighty and glorious
for the Lord of Utterbol to thrust thee aside like to an over eager dog;
and thou mayst help her then. But now I say to thee, and swear to thee,
that three days after thou hast met thy beloved in Utterbol she will be dead.
I would that thou couldst ask someone else nearer to the Lord than I
have been. The tale would be the same as mine."
Now soothly to say it, this was even what Ralph had feared
would be, and he could scarce doubt Redhead's word. So he sat
there pondering the matter a good while, and at last he said:
"My friend, I will trust thee with another thing; I have a mind to flee
to the wildwood, and yet come to Utterbol for the damsel's deliverance.
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