But now I will tell thee, Gold-
mane, that my soul is sick of these comings and goings for the
slaughter of a few wretches; and I long for the Great Day of Battle,
when it will be seen whether we shall live or die; and though I laugh
and jest, yet doth the wearing of the days wear me.'
He looked kindly on her and said: 'I am War-leader of this Folk, and
trust me that the waiting-tide shall not be long; wherefore now,
sister, be merry to-day, for that is but meet and right; and cast
aside thy care, for presently shalt thou behold many new friends.
But now meseemeth overlong have ye been standing before our Gate, and
it is time that ye should see the inside of our Burg and the inside
of our House.'
Indeed by this time so many men had come out of the street that the
place before the Gate was all thronged, and from where he stood Face-
of-god could scarce see his father, or Folk-might and the Sun-beam
and the chieftains.
So he took Wood-father by the hand, and close behind him came Wood-
wise and Bow-may, and he cried out for way that he might speak with
the Alderman, and men gave way to them, and he led those new-comers
close up to the gate-seats of the Elders, and as he clove the press
smiling and bright-eyed and happy, all gazed on him; but the Sun-
beam, who was sitting between Iron-face and the Westland Chapman, and
who heretofore had been agaze with eyes beholding little, past whose
ears the words went unheard, and whose mind wandered into thoughts of
things unfashioned yet, when she beheld him close to her again, then,
taken unawares, her eyes caressed him, and she turned as red as a
rose, as she felt all the sweetness of desire go forth from her to
meet him.
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