And since I am War-leader, and have
the right hereto, I will first choose them whom I will lead into the
House of the Face. And lo you! will I have this man (and he laid his
hand on Dallach),who is he whom I first came across, and who found us
all these others, and next I will have yonder tall carles, the three
of them, because I perceive them to be men meet to be with a War-
leader, and to follow him in battle.'
Therewith he drew the three Men of the Wolf towards him, but Dallach
already was standing beside him. And folk rejoiced in Face-of-god.
But the Bride came forward next, and spake to him meekly and simply:
'War-leader, let me have of the women those who need me most, that I
may bring them to the House of the Steer, and try if there be not
some good days yet to be found for them, wherein they shall but
remember the past grief as an ugly dream.'
Then Face-of-god looked on her, and him-seemed he had never seen her
so fair; and all the shame wherewith he had beheld her of late was
gone from him, and his heart ran over with friendly love towards her
as she looked into his face with kindly eyes; and he said:
'Kinswoman, take thy choice as thy kindness biddeth, and happy shall
they be whom thou choosest.
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