登陆注册
4700500000050

第50章

That night, though there was some little coming and going between the Tofters and the Brimsiders, yet either flock slept on their own side of the river. Moreover, before the midst of the night, cometh David to the wood-side, and had with him all men defensible of the Tofts and the houses thereabout, and most of the women also many of whom bore spear or bow, so that now by the wood-side, what with them of the Tofts and the folk who joined them thereto from the country-side about Hazeldale, there were well-nigh ten hundreds of folk under weapons; and yet more came in the night through; for the tidings of the allegiance of Brimside was spreading full fast.

Betimes on the morrow was King Christopher afoot, and he and Jack and David and Gilbert, and they twelve in company, went down to the banner by the water-side; and to them presently came Oliver Marson and ten other of the captains of Brimside, and did them to wit that the Baron were fain if they would come to his pavilion and hold counsel therein, for that he was not so sick but he might well speak his mind from where he lay. So thither they went all, with good will, and the Baron greeted them friendly, and made what reverence he might to Christopher, and bade him say what was his mind and his will. But Christopher bade them who were his elders in battle to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and said:

"Meseemeth, Lord King, thou didst grow old yesterday at my costs; but since thou wilt have me to speak, I will even do so. And to make matters the shorter, I will say that I wot well what ye have to do; and that is, to fall upon the Earl Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now some folk deem we should fare to Brimside and have a hosting there; but I say nay; whereas it lieth out of the road to Oakenham, and thereby is our road, meseemeth; and it is but some six days' riding hence, save, as is most like, two of those days be days of battle But if we go straight forward with banners displayed, each day's faring shall be a day of hosting and gathering; for I tell thee, Lord King, the fame of thee has by now gone far in this country-side. Wherefore I say no more, since I wax weary, than this: to the road this morning, and get we so far as Broadlees ere night-fall, for there we shall get both victual and folk."

There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake:

"Baron of Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if these lords and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk in good order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye, lords?"

None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering of this or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside men should fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside, and that then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly the folk of the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host came upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their battles awhile till they might take their advantage.

So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and their mates crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheer when they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for a while, so did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; and happy were they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky and so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a very tall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss her cheek, and she did not gainsay him, and thereafter nought was good to him save an occasion to die for her.

As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them that wheresoever his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whenso they came upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went from company to company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendly that all praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was all good and nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them lucky indeed if their king were half good and half bad.

Merry then was the road to Broadlees, and they came there before night-fall; and it was a little cheaping town and unwalled, and if the folk had had any will to ward them, they lacked might. But when they found they were not to be robbed, and that it was but the proclaiming of King Christopher in the market-place, and finding victual and house-room for the host, and the Mayor taking a paper in payment thereof, none stirred against them, and a many joined the host to fight for the fair young King. Now nought as yet had they heard at Broadlees of any force stirring against them.

But in the morning when they went on their ways again, and were bound for Cheaping Woodwall, which was a fenced town, they sent out well-horsed riders to espy the road, who came back on the spur two hours after noon, and did them to wit that there was a host abiding them beneath the walls of Woodwall under the banner of Walter the White, an old warrior and fell fighter; but what comfort he might have from them of Woodwall they wotted not; but they said that the tidings of their coming had gone abroad, and many folk were abiding the issue of this battle ere they joined them to either host. Now on these tidings the captains were of one mind, to wit, to fare on softly till they came to a defensible place not far from the foemen, since they could scarce come to Woodwall in good order before nightfall, and if they were unfoughten before, to push forward to battle in the morning.

Even so did they, and made a halt at sunset on a pleasant hill above a river some three miles from Woodwall, and there they passed the night unmeddled with.

同类推荐
  • 驻春园小史

    驻春园小史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 陈刚中诗集

    陈刚中诗集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

    Letters on Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七千佛神符经

    七千佛神符经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 達方鎮年表

    達方鎮年表

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 慈源河

    慈源河

    宇航员从太空俯瞰地球时发现,地球上大部分都是水。这些水形成了无数的江河湖海,滋润着地球上所有的生命。水是生命之源。而我们人类居住的这个美丽的地球,她之所以美丽,不仅是因为有水,还因为有阳光和空气。在这些自然馈赠的礼物中,就数水的变换花样最多。它有时候是液体,有时候是气体,有时候又变成了固体。当它是液体的时候,又以江河湖海多种形式出现。
  • 公主驾到

    公主驾到

    21世纪的学生妹陆小鹿意外穿越到古代的荒原大陆,获得了一个倒霉的身份——肩负血海深仇的公主。她即将面临艰难的抉择以及令人惆怅的各种尴尬。陆小鹿麈本想偷偷消失,但温柔月光下兄长洛莲夏和腹黑占卜男仙律的出现,燃起了她战斗下去的信念。乱世之中,公主的复国之路走得奇异又艰辛。“女王变身山大王”“穿越女遇见穿越女”“洛莲夏死而复生”“仙律生死未明”等等状况接连发生,陆小鹿从未走出“旁观者欢乐、当局者幽怨”的窘境,也从未改变过自己坚强乐观却又带着一点儿脆弱和一点儿感伤的少女心。每经过一重历练,她就变得更加智慧和洒脱。
  • 黑月亮

    黑月亮

    利刃行动鱼鳞状的云朵铺满了天空,云朵的缝隙中漏出暗淡的蓝色天空,月亮在云层间穿行,明亮皎洁——这是我们面前的一块屏幕显示的情境,是从地球上拍摄的月球实况。但其实,我们此刻正在月亮的地层中穿行,从身边掠过的是无边无际的黑暗。我们乘坐的“利刃”号是目前最先进的月球地质探测飞船。飞船整体呈梭状,船身通体由纳米材料建造而成,可以抵抗地底的高温、高压和腐蚀。
  • 重生之绝世幻师

    重生之绝世幻师

    燕京右相有女,一日回归,流言四起。传言这位大小姐是修炼废物,天生无灵根。传言这位大小姐是恬不知耻,日夜醉青楼。传言这位大小姐是无才无德,惨遭未婚夫婿退婚。传言这位大小姐是蛇蝎心肠,欺辱打骂庶母庶妹。传言……传言这些传言皆是屁!预知传言究竟如何?请看以下无相关的小剧透。【一】传言这位大小姐还最爱仗势欺人“蜀染,你这无灵根的废物,不过就是仗着背后有将军府给你撑腰,不然你能嘚瑟个什么呀!本少爷一根手指头就能废了你!”锦衣华服的少年大声嚷嚷着。蜀染冷淡地瞥了他一眼,看向身边的少年,“表弟,他说我仗势欺人,你怎么看?”“打他一顿,不就成事实了。”“嗯,言之有理。”【二】传言这位大小姐还有一位风华绝代的狮虎“不过一株九千年的佛影参,她看不上。”“一叠钱卡,她向来视金钱如粪土,你当她土鳖?”“奇珍异宝,她自个有不少,别拿去丢人现眼。“七品岐宝丹,八品丹药她都给小七吃。”“天阶幻兽,这太丑了,她看脸。”一众侍从静静地看着眼前万般挑剔的自家主子,一人终是忍不住出声问道,“那爷你究竟想要送什么礼?”男人愣住,斟酌半晌,“罢了,这次她生辰就把我送给她吧!”“……”这才是你的目的吧!
  • 田园贵女

    田园贵女

    一朝穿越,看着陌生的山脉,破败的村子,摇摇欲坠的房子,安然额角青筋颤抖,咬牙切齿的想着,还好,还有一群热情好客的村民。所谓滴水之恩当涌泉相报,可要报恩,得先致富。种地?抱歉,她长这么大连农具都没碰过。进城务工?那些没技术含量工资又差的工作怎么配得上她?她还不信了,自己堂堂高级白领会混不下去,小小的一个举动,钱就进了口袋,嘴巴动动,就改变了世世代代贫穷的村民们的命运,只是,这位仁兄,我只是报答一下初来贵地时你们的招待之情,怎么反倒成你的恩人了,你这一副‘大恩大德无以为报唯有以身相许’的表情给谁看呢?“易唯安,你此生最大的梦想是什么?”“娶你。”“……你有没有听过一句话叫癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉?”她暗讽。“所以你现在是同意让我吃了吗?”某人眨巴眼睛无辜看着她。“……”说好的矜持呢,说好的老实忠厚呢,安然抚额,这货啥时候脸皮这么厚了,她绝逼不认识他。
  • 年少无悔的青春

    年少无悔的青春

    青春也许会带来满身伤痕,也许未来都是不可能,还会把我们变成最讨厌的那些大人,也许还会发展到你意想不到的境地。但是这个青春我不悔。因为,这个青春有你,足矣。
  • 早安总裁老公

    早安总裁老公

    他是偏执狂痴情总裁,权倾北欧的财阀!具有强大的占有欲,多看一眼他的女人便会炸毛!三年前,他一见钟情一夜缠绵要了她,三年后她逃走再没有回来。小包子:“你是谁,不许碰我麻麻!”宫湛微微勾起嘴角,大步流星走过去一把把小包子提到一边:“你是我儿子她是我女人,你说我是谁?我是你爸爸,你爸爸永远是你爸爸。”傲娇总裁VS妖艳美女,痴情逐爱,深情回归!
  • 海游记

    海游记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 浪花

    浪花

    写一位拥有澎湃生命力的女画家和一位拥有成功事业、贤惠太太和优秀儿女的上流社会的男人,她洒脱、自信,她勇敢、独立,她令人不忍逼视,但她也令人不忍掉眸而去,他们之间会发生怎样的故事、会有一个怎样的结局?
  • 欲壑难填

    欲壑难填

    《欲壑难填》是著名法制作家丁一鹤的又一力作,是中国第一部年鉴式大案纪实文本,是“解密中国大案”系列图书的第三部,通过对一系列大案要案幕后真相的解密,给社会以警示。《欲壑难填》由最高人民法院新闻发言人倪寿明、北京市高级人民法院副院长王明、茅盾文学奖得主、《历史的天空》作者徐贵祥、解放军文艺奖得主、《激情燃烧的岁月》作者石钟山联合鼎力推荐。