Said Birdalone: This is then a fetch of my witch-mistress of whom I
told thee erst, and the image of her; what is the other? Said Leonard:
I were fain not to tell thee. Yet needs must thou, said Birdalone. Dear
lady, said Leonard, the other is an image of thee, and even most like
unto thee; but whiles clad in a scanty grey coat and barefoot, and
whiles clad in a fair green gown goodly broidered, and broidered shoon;
and whiles all mother-naked.
And what voice cometh from mine image? said Birdalone, smiling, yet
somewhat pale withal. Said Leonard: One while a voice of sweet singing,
as of a bird in the brake, and that is when thou art clad; and again,
when thou art naked, a voice of shrieking and wailing, as of one
enduring torments.
Spake Birdalone: And when did these wonders begin? Said he: Not till
after Sir Hugh and thy she-friends were gone hence.
Pondered Birdalone a little; then she said: I see herein the malice of
my witch-mistress; she would not send these fetches while Hugh was
here, lest he should turn to seeking me with all his might. But when
they departed, she would have the castle waste, and then she sent them,
wotting that thereby she would rid her of Sir Geoffrey of Lea; while,
on the other hand, I was nought so much unto him that he would spend
all his life seeking me. But now I deem I know so much of her that I
may bid thee to look on her as dead if these fetches come not again
within a little while. Then mayst thou send and do Sir Geoffrey to wit
thereof, and belike he will come back again; and fain were I thereof
for it will be merrier if the Castle of the Quest be dwelt in once
more.
Yea, verily, said Leonard; but far merrier yet wert thou to dwell
there. Nay, she said, but now I see that it is not fated for me. Let us
go in, for I would get to what I would do.
So therewith they passed under the shadow of the archway, and Birdalone
stayed not but went straightway into the hall, and through it; and the
priest, who lagged somewhat behind her speedy feet, cried out unto her:
Whither wilt thou? what chamber wilt thou visit first? But she stayed
not, and spake to him over her shoulder as she went: Follow me if thou
wilt; I have but one place only to come to ere I leave the Castle of
the Quest, save I must needs turn back on my footsteps.
Then Leonard came up with her, and she went her ways out of the hall,
and out on to the waterswale of the castle, and so to the little haven
of the water-gate. There Birdalone looked about her eagerly; then she
turned to Leonard and pointed with her finger and said: Lo thou! there
yet lieth my ferry of old time, the Sending Boat; now wot I wherefore I
was drawn hither. And her eyes glittered and her body quivered as she
spake.
Yea forsooth, said Leonard, there it lieth; who of all folk in the
castle had durst to touch it? But what hath it to do with thee, O
kindest lady?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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