And the talk of men it was that the breaking of the troth-plight
between those twain was ill; for they loved Face-of-god, and as for
the Bride they deemed her the Dearest of the kindreds and the Jewel
of the Folk, and as if she were the fairest and the kindest of all
the Gods. Neither did the wrath of Iron-face mislike any; but they
said he had done well and manly both to be wroth and to let his wrath
run off him. As to the war which was to come, they kept a good heart
about it, and deemed it as a game to be played, wherein they might
show themselves deft and valiant, and so get back to their merry life
again.
So wore the day through afternoon to even and night.
CHAPTER XXVII. FACE-OF-GOD LEADETH A BAND THROUGH THE WOOD
Next morning tryst was held faithfully, and an hundred and a half
were gathered together on Wildlake's Way; and Face-of-god ordered
them into three companies. He made Hall-face leader over the first
one, and bade him hold on his way northward, and then to make for
Boars-bait and see if he should meet with anything thereabout where
the battle had been. Red-coat of Waterless he made captain of the
second band; and he had it in charge to wend eastward along the edge
of the Dale, and not to go deep into the wood, but to go as far as he
might within the time appointed, toward the Mountains.
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