Then the new-comer drew nigh to the Alderman and said:
'Hail to the Gate and the men of the Gate! Hail to the kindred of
the children of the Gods!'
But the Alderman stood up and spake: 'And hail to thee, tall man!
Fair greeting to thee and thy company! Wilt thou name thyself with
thine own name, or shall I call thee nought save Guest? Welcome art
thou, by whatsoever name thou wilt be called. Here may'st thou and
thy folk abide as long as ye will.'
Said the new-comer: 'Thanks have thou for thy greeting and for thy
bidding! And that bidding shall we take, whatsoever may come of it;
for we are minded to abide with thee for a while. But know thou, O
Alderman of the Dalesmen, that I am not sackless toward thee and
thine. My name is Folk-might of the Children of the Wolf, and this
woman is the Sun-beam, my sister, and these behind me are of my
kindred, and are well beloved and trusty. We are no evil men or
wrong-doers; yet have we been driven into sore straits, wherein men
must needs at whiles do deeds that make their friends few and their
foes many. So it may be that I am thy foeman. Yet, if thou doubtest
of me that I shall be a baneful guest, thou shalt have our weapons of
us, and then mayest thou do thy will upon us without dread; and here
first of all is my sword!'
Therewith he cast down the flowering branch he was bearing, and
pulled his sword from out his sheath, and took it by the point, and
held out the hilt to Iron-face.
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