The Roots of the Mountains: Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbours, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in ArmsMorris, William
Science
The Roots of the Mountains: Wherein Is Told Somewhat of the Lives of the Men of Burgdale, Their Friends, Their Neighbours, Their Foemen, and Their Fellows in Arms
Morris, William
Fantasy fiction
‘Luck go with thine hands!’ said Face-of-god. ‘Take whomso thou wilt of
the Burgdalers that have a mind to fare with thee to the number of five
score; and send word of thy thriving to Folk-might, the chieftain of the
Dale; as for us, meseemeth that we shall abide here no long while. How
sayest thou, Folk-might, shall Dallach go?’
Then Folk-might, who stood close beside him, looked up and reddened
somewhat, as a man caught heedless when he should be heedful; but he
looked kindly on Face-of-god, and said:
‘War-leader, so long as thou art in the Dale which ye kindreds have won
back for us, thou art the chieftain, and no other, and I bid thee do as
thou wilt in this matter, and in all things; and I hereby give command to
all my kindred to do according to thy will everywhere and always, as they
love me; and indeed I deem that thy will shall be theirs; since it is
only fools who know not their well-wishers. How say ye, kinsmen?’
Then those about cried out: ‘Hail to Face-of-god! Hail to the Dalesmen!
Hail to our friends!’
But Folk-might went up to Face-of-god, and threw his arms about him and
kissed him, and he said therewithal, so that most men heard him:
‘Herewith I kiss not only thee, thou goodly and glorious warrior! but
this kiss and embrace is for all the men of the kindreds of the Dale and
the Shepherds; since I deem that never have men more valiant dwelt upon
the earth.’
Therewith all men shouted for joy of him, and were exceeding glad; but
Folk-might spake apart to Face-of-god and said:
‘Brother, I suppose that thou wilt deem it good to abide in this Hall or
anigh it; for hereabouts now is the heart of the Host. But as for me, I
would have leave to depart for a little; since I have an errand, whereof
thou mayest wot.’
Then Face-of-god smiled on him, and said: ‘Go, and all good go with thee;
and tell my father that I would have tidings, since I may not be there.’
So he spake; yet in his heart was he glad that he might not go to behold
the Bride lying sick and sorry. But Folk-might departed without more
words; and in the door of the Hall he met Crow the Shaft-speeder, who
would have spoken to him, and given him the tidings; but Folk-might said
to him: ‘Do thine errand to the War-leader, who is within the Hall.’ And
so went on his way.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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