..Therefore
I was thinking that if ever I come back to mine own land and my home,
the scent of a pine-wood shall make me happy."
Ralph looked on her eagerly, but said naught for a while;
but at last he spoke: "Tell me, friend," said he, "if we
be met by strong-thieves on the way, what shall we do then?"
"It is not like to befall," she said, "for men fear the wood,
therefore is there little prey for thieves therein: but if we
chance on them, the token of Utterbol on mine armour shall make
them meek enough." Then she fell silent a while, and spoke again:
"True it is that we may be followed by the Utterbol riders;
for though they also fear the wood, they fear it not so much as they
fear their Lord. Howbeit, we be well ahead, and it is little
like that we shall be overtaken before we have met the Sage;
and then belike he shall provide."
"Yea," said Ralph, "but what if the chase come up with us:
shall we suffer us to be taken alive?" She looked on him solemnly,
laid her hand on the beads about her neck, and answered:
"By this token we must live as long as we may, whatsoever may befall;
for at the worst may some road of escape be opened to us.
Yet O, how far easier it were to die than to be led back to Utterbol!"
A while they rode in silence, both of them: but at last spake Ralph,
but slowly and in a dull and stern voice: "Maybe it were good that
thou told me somewhat of the horrors and evil days of Utterbol?"
"Maybe," she said, "but I will not tell thee of them.
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