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
  • 银色女经

    银色女经

    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。
  • 包孝肃奏议

    包孝肃奏议

    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。
  • 投瓮随笔

    投瓮随笔

    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。
  • 金箓十回度人晚朝转经仪

    金箓十回度人晚朝转经仪

    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。
  • 道诗精华录

    道诗精华录

    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
  • 穿越:嗜血邪王的鬼妃

    穿越:嗜血邪王的鬼妃

    一朝穿越,她莫名成为了替身皇妃,自从在棺材里爬出来后,她便成为岚月王朝传说中的鬼妃。成为下堂妃是吧?好,正如她意!什么?她的夫君居然是个嗜血的皇子?而且放/荡/无/比?更可怕的是他日为人,夜为妖?据说,他妻妾无数,却总是在圆房后香消玉殒-----死因不明。据闻,他曾独自一人,一夜之间灭敌十万。偶然机会,她意外发现自己竟然是他解开封印的钥匙?若解开封印,他便不再是凡人,而是掌控魔界与阴府?OMG?为了小命,她逃逃逃,只为了躲开这一劫。可谁曾想,原来这只是一个开始……牡丹建群了,亲们请入群107358226亲们请支持牡丹的VIP文http://m.wkkk.net/a/250631/1:《穿越:邪恶王爷别惹我》文/紫牡丹akhe2http://m.wkkk.net/a/288823/《致命邂逅:总裁的专属女人》文/忆雪泪痕
  • 幸福的活法

    幸福的活法

    本书是一本关于幸福的读物,教你如何懂得放下、宽心、淡定、宽恕、舍得、感恩、珍惜等,为焦虑的人生寻找幸福的活法。
  • 狂神之巅

    狂神之巅

    神界,流传着这样一句话:神帝之下,芸芸众生皆蝼蚁,与天争命,终活不过两个衍记。神帝成,得永生,掌命运!神界一源天仙袁啸琨为了替报父仇,不惜自废修为,下到凡人界重新修炼。枫寮星、芷岚仙界、一路修炼,袁啸琨高调的带着众多红颜知己回到神界,迎娶青梅竹马的潇潇……封仙下界、神界封锁、一路追杀,看袁啸琨如何绝处逢生、机遇连连,最终斩杀神王穹贽,踏上神之巅峰……老书【乾坤缔天】115万字,曾上过【完结畅销榜】,欢迎大家订阅!!!!
  • 三生茶华曦篇

    三生茶华曦篇

    【完结】腹黑女主,强大绝色,仙逆天下!她是将军府嫡女,天生废柴,一朝惨死,眼眸再次睁开,她是21世纪的王牌武器代号L!神魔同体,天地不容?不怕,她有大boss做相公,还有神兽当小弟。当腹黑轻狂的她,遇到风华绝代的他,弑神之刃,挑开他衣服,轻薄放肆,没想到却惹了一只天底下最尊贵的无耻之徒……
  • 明伦汇编家范典姑侄部

    明伦汇编家范典姑侄部

    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。
  • 王的试炼

    王的试炼

    懒惰,悲伤,嫉妒,色欲,傲慢,贪婪,暴食,以及无。八位王的候选人已经到齐,谁会成为王?世界又将被他们如何的玩弄?男主角陈幻:“啊嘞?为什么我只是打手?为什么我不是龙傲天?”L:“龙傲天?那是你队友啊。”陈幻:“what?”
  • 放开那个女巫

    放开那个女巫

    程岩原以为穿越到了欧洲中世纪,成为了一位光荣的王子。但这世界似乎跟自己想的不太一样?女巫真实存在,而且还真具有魔力?女巫种田文,将种田进行到底。
  • GULLIVER'  S TRAVELS

    GULLIVER' S TRAVELS

    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。
  • 若不是荒野,我不会活下去:一个背包客自我疗愈之旅

    若不是荒野,我不会活下去:一个背包客自我疗愈之旅

    知名的旅游作家崔西·罗斯在书中展开了一场寻找与疗愈自我之旅。她以一贯充满视觉张力的笔触,在一篇篇状似自然旅记的行文间,带我们进入她最私密的人生故事,在一步步揭开继父对她造成的不可告人的伤害,及那一路走来斑斑伤痕的往事的同时,令人屏息的荒野美景仿若一副副缓冲剂,让游走毁灭边缘的心灵有了缓解与安慰。这是一本充满自然风情的疗愈系小说,崔西在荒野中找到救赎、止痛、重生的解药,跟随她的脚步前往荒野,或许你也会从中获得大自然的力量与感动,并发现属于自己人生的答案。
  • 凌空星月

    凌空星月

    冷面男神亦希带着护姐鲜肉澈宇,打破时空限制,救赎他们人生中最重要的人。当澈宇穿越时空见到第一世的姐姐,满眼写满了不相信,姐姐什么时候,变成如今这个傻乎乎的模样了?而亦希眼中的木希灵,温柔可爱,举手投足之间都透露迷人的气息。当澈宇见到第二世的姐姐,有些害怕,这嚣张跋扈的女子,应该是他认错了,怎么可能是他的好姐姐呢?而亦希眼中的木希灵,活泼开朗,举手投足之间都透露着迷人的气息。澈宇:“……呵,男人……”“我会护你平安,哪怕以命相抵。”——亦希“对不起,让你久等了,以后我不会再让你独自一人了。”——木希灵“我存在的意义就是,吃狗粮,近距离的吃狗粮,还不能反抗……”——澈宇