So they displayed their pennon, and rode into the street,
where folk pressed about them in friendly wise; for the new
Lord of Utterbol had made firm and fast peace with Goldburg.
So they rode to the hostel, and gat them victual, and rested
in peace that night. But Ralph wondered whether the Queen
would send for him when she heard of his coming back again,
and he hoped that she would let him be; for he was ashamed
when he thought of her love for him, and how that he had clean
forgotten her till he was close to Goldburg again.
But when morning was come Ralph spake to Redhead and asked him
how he should do to wage men for the homeward journey on thence;
and Redhead said: "I have already seen the Clerk of the Porte,
and he will be here in an hour with the license for thee to wage
men to go with thee to Cheaping Knowe. As for me, I must needs
go see the King, and give him a letter sealed by my lord's hand;
and when I come back from him, I will go round to the alehouses which be
haunted of the men-at-arms to see after strong carles for thine avail.
But to the King hast thou no need to go, save he send for thee,
whereas thou art not come hither to chaffer, and he needeth not
men of war."
Ralph stared at him and said: "The King, sayst thou? is there
no Queen of Goldburg?" Said Redhead: "There is the King's
wedded wife, but her they call not Queen, but Lady."
"But the Queen that was," said Ralph, "where is she then?"
"Yea truly," said Redhead, "a Queen sat alone as ruler here a while ago;
but whether she died, or what befell her, I know nothing.
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