Short was the time that had worn since that day in Shadowy Vale, for
it was but eight days since then; yet so many things had befallen in
that time, and, to speak shortly, the outlook for the Burgdalers had
changed so much, that the time seemed long to all the three, and
especially to Face-of-god.
It was yet twenty days till the Great Folk-mote should beholden, and
to Hall-face the time seemed long enough to do somewhat, and he
deemed it were good to gather force and fall on the Dusky Men in
Rose-dale, since now they had gotten men who could lead them the
nighest way and by the safest passes, and who knew all the ways of
the foemen. But to Stone-face this rede seemed not so good; for they
would have to go and come back, and fight and conquer, in less time
than twenty days, or be belated of the Folk-mote, and meanwhile much
might happen.
'For,' said Stone-face, 'we may deem the fighting-men of Rose-dale to
be little less than one thousand, and however we fall on them, even
if it be unawares at first, they shall fight stubbornly; so that we
may not send against them many less than they be, and that shall
strip Burgdale of its fighting-men, so that whatever befalls, we that
be left shall have to bide at home.
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