So as they went along Hall-face did verily ask him whence he came:
'For was it not so,' said he, 'that thou didst enter into the wood
seeking some adventure early in the morning the day before
yesterday?'
'Sooth is that,' said Face-of-god, 'and I came to Shadowy Vale, and
thence am I come this morning.'
Said Hall-face: 'I know not Shadowy Vale, nor doth any of us. This
is a new word. How say ye, friends, doth any man here know of
Shadowy Vale?'
They all said, 'Nay.'
Then said Hall-face: 'Hast thou been amongst mere ghosts and
marvels, brother, or cometh this tale of thy minstrelsy?'
'For all your words,' said Gold-mane, 'to that Vale have I been; and,
to speak shortly (for I desire to have your tale, and am waiting for
it), I will tell thee that I found there no marvels or strange
wights, but a folk of valiant men; a folk small in numbers, but great
of heart; a folk come, as we be, from the Fathers and the Gods. And
this, moreover, is to be said of them, that they are the foes of
these felons of whom ye were chasing these twain. And these same
Dusky Men of Silver-dale would slay them every man if they might; and
if we look not to it they will soon be doing the same by us; for they
are many, and as venomous as adders, as fierce as bears, and as foul
as swine.
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