登陆注册
5238900000046

第46章 CHAPTER XXII(1)

THEY GO FROM THE ISLE OF RANSOM AND COME TO CLEVELAND BY THE SEA

In the morning early Hallblithe arose from his bed, and when he came into the mid-hall, there was the Puny Fox and the Hostage with him;

Hallblithe kissed her and embraced her, and she him; yet not like lovers long sundered, but as a man and maid betrothed are wont to do, for there were folk coming and going about the hall. Then spake the Puny Fox: "The Erne is abiding us out in the meadow yonder; for now nought will serve him but he must needs go under the earth-collar with us. How sayest thou, is he enough thy friend?"

Said Hallblithe, smiling on the Hostage: "What hast thou to say to it, beloved?"

"Nought at all," she said, "if thou art friend to any of these men.

I may deem that I have somewhat against the chieftain, whereof belike this big man may tell thee hereafter; but even so much meseemeth I have against this man himself, who is now become thy friend and scholar; for he also strove for my beguilement, and that not for himself, but for another."

"True it is," said the Fox, "that I did it for another; even as yesterday I took thy mate Hallblithe out of the trap whereinto he had strayed, and compassed his deliverance by means of the unfaithful battle; and even as I would have stolen thee for him, O Rose-maiden, if need had been; yea, even if I must have smitten into ruin the roof-tree of the Ravagers. And how could I tell that the Erne would give thee up unstolen? Yea, thou sayeth sooth, O noble and spotless maiden; all my deeds, both good and ill, have I done for others; and so I deem it shall be while my life lasteth."

Then Hallblithe laughed and said: "Art thou nettled, fellow-in-arms, at the word of a woman who knoweth thee not? She shall yet be thy friend, O Fox. But tell me, beloved, I deemed that thou hadst not seen Fox before; how then can he have helped the Erne against thee?"

"Yet she sayeth sooth," said Fox, "this was of my sleight: for when I had to come before her, I changed my skin, as I well know how; there are others in this land who can do so much as that. But what sayest thou concerning the brotherhood with the Erne?"

"Let it be so," said Hallblithe, "he is manly and true, though masterful, and is meet for this land of his. I shall not fall out with him; for seldom meseemeth shall I see the Isle of Ransom."

"And I never again," said the Puny Fox.

"Dost thou loathe it, then," said the Hostage, "because of the evil thou hast done therein?"

"Nay," said he, "what is the evil, when henceforth I shall do but good? Nay, I love the land. Belike thou deemest it but dreary with its black rocks and black sand, and treeless wind-swept dales; but I know it in summer and winter, and sun and shade, in storm and calm.

And I know where the fathers dwelt and the sons of their sons' sons have long lain in the earth. I have sailed its windiest firths, and climbed its steepest crags; and ye may well wot that it hath a friendly face to me; and the land-wights of the mountains will be sorry for my departure."

So he spake, and Hallblithe would have answered him, but by now were they come to a grassy hollow amidst the dale, where the Erne had already made the earth-yoke ready. To wit, he had loosened a strip of turf all save the two ends, and had propped it up with two ancient dwarf-wrought spears, so that amidmost there was a lintel to go under.

So when he saw those others coming, he gave them the sele of the day, and said to Hallblithe: "What is it to be? shall I be less than thy brother-in-arms henceforward?"

Said Hallblithe: "Not a whit less. It is good to have brothers in other lands than one."

So they made no delay, but clad in all their war-gear, they went under the earth-yoke one after the other; thereafter they stood together, and each let blood in his arm, so that the blood of all three mingled together fell down on the grass of the ancient earth; and they swore friendship and brotherhood each to each.

But when all was done the Erne spake: "Brother Hallblithe, as I lay awake in bed this morning I deemed that I would take ship with thee to Cleveland by the Sea, that I might dwell there a while. But when I came out of the hall, and saw the dale lying green betwixt hill- side and hill-side, and the glittering river running down amidmost, and the sheep and kine and horses feeding up and down on either side the water: and I looked up at the fells and saw how deep blue they stood up against the snowy peaks, and I thought of all our deeds on the deep sea, and the merry nights, in yonder abode of men: then I thought that I would not leave the kindred, were it but for a while, unless war and lifting called me. So now I will ride with thee to the ship, and then farewell to thee."

"It is good," said Hallblithe, "though not as good as it might be.

Glad had we been with thee in the hall of the Ravens."

As he spoke drew anigh the carles leading the horses, and with them came six of those damsels whom the Erne had given to Hallblithe the night before; two of whom asked to be brought to their kindred over sea; but the other four were fain to go with Hallblithe and the Hostage, and become their sisters at Cleveland by the Sea.

So then they got to horse and rode down the dale toward the haven, and the carles rode with them, so that of weaponed men they were a score in company. But when they were half-way to the haven they saw where hard by three knolls on the way-side were men standing with their weapons and war-gear glittering in the sun. So the Erne laughed and said: "Shall we have a word with War-brand then?"

But they rode steadily on their way, and when they came up to the knolls they saw that it was War-brand indeed with a score of men at his back; but they stirred not when they saw Erne's company that it was great. Then Erne laughed aloud and cried out in a big voice, "What, lads! ye ride early this morning; are there foemen abroad in the Isle?"

They shrank back before him, but a carle of those who was hindermost cried out: "Art thou coming back to us, Erne, or have thy new friends bought thee to lead them in battle?"

"Fear it nought," quoth Erne, "I shall be back before the shepherd's noon."

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 文艺时代

    文艺时代

    他曾在一个小县城中看到一个名叫小武的小偷,也曾在苏州河边见识过一条金发的美人鱼,更是在一个小村子里看过一个汉子在被砍头前学驴叫……本书很墨迹~——————————新书发布了《顾道长生》
  • 修仙命路

    修仙命路

    平凡的世界,平凡的名字,但我一定不平凡,前世是某派合体期修士因为渡劫失败重入轮回千年后,继承使命再次修仙
  • 杀戮帝主

    杀戮帝主

    脚下伏尸百万血流成河,都想杀我,我永恒不朽!
  • 喋血宫闱谋:煞妃惊华

    喋血宫闱谋:煞妃惊华

    她是二十一世纪的王牌杀手,意外的穿越到了身患奇疾的丞相之女身上。一朝归来,昔日的荣华竟全数化为一片灰烬。冷血无情如她,背叛她者,都必死。心狠手辣如她,挡她者,都必杀。她嚣张狂妄,行天下人之不违,当着天下人的面威胁他,纤细的五指缠上他的脖颈:“昏君,娶我为后。”他笑:“罪臣之女,有何资格跟朕如此说话。”在复仇之路上,她一路披荆带棘,遇神杀神,遇佛弑佛。她一路步履维艰,争后位,夺权势,却始终逃不过他的钳制。机关算尽的后宫,究竟是她一生的囚笼?还是她命运的最终归宿?
  • 等待黎明

    等待黎明

    世界末日,一起等待黎明,叶晓琪同朋友去金鼎大厦用餐,却因此卷入到危险的末日危机中,陌生的环境,丧尸开始出现,世界变得无序混乱起来,叶晓琪一方面努力保护自己,另一方面她又在不断努力的帮助着身边的人,渐渐的她身边集聚起了那些善良友好的人,大家都在努力的改变着朝不保夕的现状,在黑暗中,大家一起等待着黎明的到来。
  • 罪孽神路

    罪孽神路

    绝世强者,征讨天下,骁勇无敌,却突然发现,自己认贼作父,他效忠的王朝就是自己的敌人。偿还罪孽,血洗宗门,六亲不认,成就一世杀神!妻儿兄妹,都成了陌路!经过不同世界的傲游畅快,让他内心的仁慈押过了仇恨!当末日来临,吞噬罪孽,净化人间,成就一代情神……
  • 我的莲花盛开的村庄

    我的莲花盛开的村庄

    《我的莲花盛开的村庄》写了一个名叫奚奎义的喇叭王的悲苦一生,因他的喇叭吹得好,所以获得了青莲姑娘的爱慕,结婚的时候,奚奎义发现嫁给自己的却是长得很丑的青莲的姐姐青菊,从此,奚奎义的苦难生活拉开了大幕,青菊和奚奎义的嫂子黄光英之间矛盾不断,最后青菊将侄女推入水中离家出走,杳无音信。解放后青莲才嫁给奚奎义。当奚奎义经历了解放前的当长工、解放初的斗地主、五八年的“大跃进”、“文革”、改革开放之后,“奚奎义一分钟一分钟地度过了一生中的七十年,像一坨泥巴被一双粗糙的手随意塑成,又随意扔在一边,七十年的风和雨尽数打在上面,被抚摸,也被剥蚀,最后终于说不出一点儿可以区别于他者的模样……”
  • 都市强无敌外挂系统

    都市强无敌外挂系统

    本身是个挂逼的白亦剑原本一心准备当个家里蹲,苟在家里躺着就成为无敌强者。谁知道狗血的突然冒出个未婚妻,而以为对方是来退婚的他刚欣然应下才发现自己搞错了,然后闪婚得到了大美女老婆。接着就在他为了突然出现的老婆头疼时,又冒出一个地下城职业的系统外挂,一时间他的平静生活被打乱了。这是一个超级挂逼行走各界的故事。书友群‘298859630’喜欢本书的朋友可以进来一起和我讨论剧情。
  • 家庭常见病饮食疗法小处方

    家庭常见病饮食疗法小处方

    在《家庭常见病饮食疗法小处方》一书中,编者搜集整理了百余种日常生活常见病症的滋补、治疗小方剂,以便于读者使用。这些方法大都是从传统医药典籍中间摘选出来的,其中也有一部分为中医临床常用药方,对一些常见病和慢性病有不错的疗效,而且无毒副作用。在摘选这些药方的过程中,虽然我们尽量避免有把握不准的地方,但还是请读者在实际使用时,最好能征求一下医师的意见。另外,还应特别强调的是,对急重病症,这种方法不可能收到立竿见影的效果,只能在医师指导下作为辅助疗法,所以此类患者必须及时到正规医院就医,以免贻误治病良机。
  • 妥协的力量

    妥协的力量

    在成长中,妥协是等待与忍耐,是一种以退为进的策略;在爱情中,妥协是理解与牺牲,是此处无声胜有声的温暖;在交往中,妥协是宽容与谦逊,是相逢一笑泯恩仇的洒脱;在对抗中,妥协是和谐与从容,是一种无招胜有招的境界。本书通过一个个小故事,让你在故事中体悟,你什么时候需要妥协,如何妥协。