There were about twenty men on the farther bank, thorough rapscallions and cut-throats, all of them, whom Guy the Stallion and the Polecat had got together. Merlin was walking up and down like a grey wolf behind the bars of a cage. Fulk saw Guy the Stallion to the front as usual, cocking his red beard fiercely, with that hacked old sword of his over his shoulder. They seemed undecided and ready to argue among themselves, while Merlin cursed them because they were not savage enough to suit his temper. He kept showing them his right hand, a gesture that puzzled Fulk, and pointing them across the water, but these rats would not or could not swim. Fulk stepped down from the stool. “Watch Merlin for me while I play the surgeon.” She took his place on the stool, while Fulk ransacked the solar for clean linen and brought a bowl of water and a cup of wine from the kitchen. He set the bowl of water and the linen on a second stool, and handed Isoult the wine cup. “Drink, my desire.” “The dogs yonder will not take to the water, though Merlin lashes them with his tongue.” “Have a care. If they see a face they will let fly at the window.” He bathed her wounded forearm as gently as a falconer imps the wing of a hawk. It was a clean stab, and the blood had ceased to ooze; so Fulk left well alone, and pouring in a little sweet oil from a phial he had found in a cupboard, set to bandage the arm with strips of linen. “Say if I hurt, Isoult.” “Am I a child? And you are very gentle.” She laughed softly. “I must have my shift and tunic.” “I will bring them in.” “And be shot for your pains!” “I shall put on my harness. It is stout stuff. They can shoot till they have emptied their quivers.” He knotted the bandage, kissed her fingers. “Isoult!” She turned to him, stooping a little, her eyes all a-kindle. “Six men could not say you nay!” “Because of one woman!” “Ah—ah!” She kissed him, with passion, her eyes half closed. “Brave heart, I did not call in vain. What care I so long as we are together?” She drew her hand across his cheek. “Fetch your harness. I will help you to arm, and I can keep watch.” He brought his armour, bassinet, gorget, breast and back pieces, shoulder-plates, arm guards, gauntlets, cuishes, genouillères, greaves, and solerets. Isoult was as good as any squire. She climbed on the stool every half minute to keep Merlin and his lousels under view. When she had fastened the laces of his bassinet she asked him, “What will you do now, great captain?” “Rescue your clothes, dear lady.” “And then?” “Start a few planks and sink the boat, and bring the horses under cover.” “And then?” “Bolt all the shutters, barricade the door that leads from the kitchen into the yard.” “And then?” “Eat.” She laughed. “We are well victualled; we can stand a siege.”