'
Then Gold-mane constrained himself to answer the old carle softly;
and he thanked him kindly for his offer, and said that so it should
be before long. So the talk between them fell, and Stone-face went
away somewhat well-pleased.
And now was Face-of-god become wary; and he would not draw men's eyes
and speech on him; so he went afield with Hall-face to deal with the
lambs and the ewes, and did like other men. No less wary was he in
the hall that even, and neither spake much nor little; and when his
father spake to him concerning the Bride, and made game of him as a
somewhat sluggish groom, he did not change countenance, but answered
lightly what came to hand.
On the morrow ere the earliest dawn he was afoot, and he clad himself
and did on his hauberk, his father's work, which was fine-wrought and
a stout defence, and reached down to his knees; and over that he did
on a goodly green kirtle well embroidered: he girt his war-sword to
his side, and it was the work of his father's father, and a very good
sword: its name was Dale-warden. He did a good helm on his head,
and slung a targe at his back, and took two spears in his hand, short
but strong-shafted and well-steeled.
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