Thereafter when May was at hand they set out on their road, and whereas
the Sage knew the wood well, he made a long story short by bringing them
to Vale Turris in four days' time. But when they rode down into the dale,
they saw the plain meads below the Tower all bright with tents and booths,
and much folk moving about amidst them; here and there amidst the roofs
of cloth withal was showing the half finished frame of a timber house
a-building. But now as they looked and wondered what might be toward,
a half score of weaponed men rode up to them and bade them, but courteously,
to come with them to see their Lord. The Sage drew forth his
let-pass thereat; but the leader of the riders said, as he shook his head:
"That is good for thee, father; but these two knights must needs give
an account of themselves: for my lord is minded to put down all lifting
throughout his lands; therefore hath he made the meshes of his net small.
But if these be thy friends it will be well. Therefore thou art free
to come with them and bear witness to their good life."
Here it must be said that since they were on the road again Ursula
had donned her wargear once more, and as she rode was to all men's
eyes naught but a young and slender knight.
So without more ado they followed those men-at-arms, and saw
how the banner of the Bull was now hung out from the Tower;
and the sergeants brought them into the midst of the vale,
where, about those tents and those half-finished frame-houses
(whereof they saw six) was a market toward and much concourse of folk.
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