登陆注册
5253600000211

第211章

A Change of Days in the Burg of the Four Friths There is naught to tell of their ways till they came out of the thicket into the fields about the Burg of the Four Friths; and even there was a look of a bettering of men's lives; though forsooth the husbandmen there were much the same as had abided in the fields aforetime, whereas they were not for the most part freemen of the Burg, but aliens who did service in war and otherwise thereto. But, it being eventide, there were men and women and children, who had come out of gates, walking about and disporting themselves in the loveliness of early summer, and that in far merrier guise than they had durst do in the bygone days.

Moreover, there was scarce a sword or spear to be seen amongst them, whereat Roger grudged somewhat, and Richard said: "Meseems this folk trusts the peace of the Burg overmuch since, when all is told, unpeace is not so far from their borders."

But as they drew a little nigher Ralph pointed out to his fellows the gleam of helms and weapons on the walls, and they saw a watchman on each of the high towers of the south gate; and then quoth Roger:

"Nay, the Burg will not be won so easily; and if a few fools get themselves slain outside it is no great matter."

Folk nowise let them come up to the gate unheeded, but gathered about them to look at the newcomers, but not so as to hinder them, and they could see that these summerers were goodly folk enough, and demeaned them as though they had but few troubles weighing on them. But the wayfarers were not unchallenged at the gate, for a stout man-at-arms stayed them and said:

"Ye ride somewhat late, friends. What are ye?" Quoth Ralph:

"We be peaceful wayfarers save to them that would fall on us, and we seek toward Upmeads." "Yea?" said the man, "belike ye shall find something less than peace betwixt here and Upmeads, for rumour goes that there are alien riders come into the lands of Higham, and for aught I know the said unpeace may spread further on.

Well if ye will go to the Flower de Luce and abide there this night, ye shall have a let-pass to-morn betimes."

Then Ralph spake a word in Roger's ear, and Roger nodded his head, and, throwing his cowl aback, went up to the man-at-arms and said:

"Stephen a-Hurst, hast thou time for a word with an old friend?"

"Yea, Roger," said the man "is it verily thou? I deemed that thou hadst fled away from all of us to live in the wilds."

"So it was, lad," said Roger, "but times change from good to bad and back again; and now am I of this good lord's company; and I shall tell thee, Stephen, that though he rideth but few to-day, yet merry shall he be that rideth with him to-morrow if unpeace be in the land.

Lo you, Stephen, this is the Child of Upmeads, whom belike thou hast heard of; and if thou wilt take me into the chamber of thy tower, I will tell thee things of him that thou wottest not."

Stephen turned to Ralph and made obeisance to him and said:

"Fair Sir, there are tales going about concerning thee, some whereof are strange enow, but none of them ill; and I deem by the look of thee that thou shalt be both a stark champion and a good lord; and I deem that it shall be my good luck, if I see more of thee, and much more. Now if thou wilt, pass on with thine other fellows to the Flower de Luce, and leave this my old fellow-in-arms with me, and he shall tell me of thy mind; for I see that thou wouldest have somewhat of us; and since, I doubt not by the looks of thee, that thou wilt not bid us aught unknightly, when we know thy will, we shall try to pleasure thee."

"Yea, Lord Ralph," said Roger, "thou mayest leave all the business with me, and I will come to thee not later than betimes to-morrow, and let thee wot how matters have sped.

And methinks ye may hope to wend out-a-gates this time otherwise than thou didest before."

同类推荐
  • 帝鉴图说

    帝鉴图说

    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。
  • 从政遗规

    从政遗规

    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。
  • 须颂篇

    须颂篇

    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。
  • 自序

    自序

    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。
  • 太清真人络命诀

    太清真人络命诀

    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
  • 网游之斩首死神

    网游之斩首死神

    伍月,三大家族的少爷~~却因为自身太为优秀,从而使得自己的家庭遭到破坏……父母之仇不共戴天。看主角如何在现实世界与游戏世界之间梦幻式的历练~获得力量……将仇人手刃~~~~
  • 陆游文集4

    陆游文集4

    一个受时代陶熔而又努力陶熔时代的人,通过诗词发出声声战斗的呐喊,永远激励着千秋万代的中华儿女奋勇向前,读一代爱国诗人的经典文章,品官宦诗人的一生坎坷。
  • 及格的幸福:缘分天定

    及格的幸福:缘分天定

    “是否这样的伤害才是你给我的全部?”“留不下你的心,我也要霸道的留下你的人!”……“幸福如果可以用一百分来算的话,你给我的却只够及格成绩!”“我无法给予你满分的幸福,却依旧要你留在我的身边,因为我给你的是满分的爱!”……“爱情没有对错,而你却强行的加入对错,那么谁对谁错呢?”“为何你的世界变成了黑色,为何我走不进你的世界,到底哪里出了错?”
  • 吸血鬼国王(吸血鬼系列)

    吸血鬼国王(吸血鬼系列)

    本书写于1870年,系英国小说家理查德·伯顿根据印度民间神话整理、撰写而成。故事围绕着印度历史上赫赫有名的威克拉姆国王的历险展开。威克拉姆的父亲在位时曾经激怒了居住在森林里的一位魔法师,为了报复,他滥杀无辜,以最恶毒的咒语诅咒所有的人,企图让万物都匍匐在他的魔咒和魔杖之下。
  • 吞天魂帝

    吞天魂帝

    “天地不仁,以万物为刍狗!”“诸神无道,视苍生如蝼蚁!”三千年前,一代妖孽叶开被圣庭围杀,身死道消,就连挚爱之人也为救他而死……三千年后,一个少年流着血泪从青铜棺椁中爬出!这一世,叶开誓要逆乱这苍天,杀上那圣庭,以心中怒火,手中长剑,焚天戮神!
  • 白痴女的恶魔男友

    白痴女的恶魔男友

    沉迷二次元生活的少女夏如雪,因某次无意间遇到了一只白猫,从此她的人生改写了。误打误撞的她又获得了一本魔道之书,是命运还是偶然?看似平淡悠闲的生活,背后充满了许多未知之谜。当恶魔肆意作乱时,随之出现的就是驱魔者。当所谓的平凡被打破的时候,随之而来的就是世界的变迁。恶魔魔女驱魔师死神人类~跨越种族指责,他们之间究竟会发生怎样荡气回肠的爱情故事?
  • 二律悖反

    二律悖反

    为解决能源危机,人类设计方舟;为争取能源配额,方艾开赴南极。生命舱、全感VR、Point排名,这是一个用代码构筑的虚拟世界:六段传奇、六片大海,六芒星七岛锁住时代。天启、巫师、驭力、体术,方舟之内暗流涌动,五位主神纷至沓来!蓝血人、吸血鬼、食影魔、大海盗,生存于种种势力的夹缝之中,方艾又该如何周旋?0和1、机械与魔法、无限与有限,悖反的二律,二律悖反。
  • 中医外科学

    中医外科学

    本书内容能够反映中医外科传统的诊疗技术及当代中医外科临床治疗水平,适合中医专业本科及硕士、博士研究生阅读参考。
  • 绝代冥妃:冥王小傲娇

    绝代冥妃:冥王小傲娇

    无赖的冥王死缠烂打,神王的深情款款,她上辈子是拯救了世界吗?“我缠着你,永生,永世,哼。”某无赖色眯眯的双眸,直勾勾地盯着她,嘴角略带笑意。一旁的神王,眉头紧皱,醋意十足。被夹在中间的她,弱小无助,看着这俩人瑟瑟发抖。
  • 娱乐之永不再见

    娱乐之永不再见

    俯卧在树荫下哭泣,望着那个素不相识的自己,乐器为逝去的人弹奏,流星因不归之人而陨落(HY平行世界,不喜勿入)