What sayest thou hereon? Since,
young as thou mayst be, thou art our War-leader, and doubtless shalt
so be after the Folk-mote hath been holden.'
Face-of-god answered not hastily: indeed, as he sat thinking for a
minute or two, the fair spring day seemed to darken about them or to
glare into the light of flames amidst the night-tide; and the joyous
clamour without doors seemed to grow hoarse and fearful as the sound
of wailing and shrieking. But he spake firmly and simply in a clear
voice, and said:
'There can be no two words concerning what we have to aim at; these
Dusky Men we must slay everyone, though we be fewer than they be.'
Folk-might smiled and nodded his head; but the others sat staring
down the hall or into the hangings.
Then spake Folk-might: 'Thou wert a boy methought when I cast my
spear at thee last autumn, Face-of-god, but now hast thou grown into
a man. Now tell me, what deemest thou we must do to slay them all?'
Said Face-of-god: 'Once again it is clear that we must fall upon
them at home in Rose-dale and Silver-dale.'
Again Folk-might nodded: but Iron-face said:
'Needeth this? May we not ward the Dale and send many bands into the
wood to fall upon them when we meet them? Yea, and so doing these
our guests have already slain many, as this valiant man hath told me
e'en now.
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