With these feasters were God-swain and Spear-fist of the
delivered thralls of Silver-dale as glad as glad might be; but Wolf-
stone their eldest was gone with Dallach to the Council in the Hall.
The men of Burgdale and the Shepherds feasted otherwhere in all
content, nor lacked folk of the Vale to serve them. Amongst the men
of the Face were the ten delivered thralls who had heart to meet
their masters in arms: seven of them were of Rose-dale and three of
Silver-dale.
The Bride was with her kindred of the Steer, with whom were many men
of Shadowy Vale, and she served her friends and fellows clad in her
war-gear, save helm and hauberk, bearing herself as one who is
serving dear guests. And men equalled her for her beauty to the Gods
of the High Place and the Choosers of the Slain; and they who had not
beheld her before marvelled at her, and her loveliness held all men's
hearts in a net of desire, so that they forebore their meat to gaze
upon her; and if perchance her hand touched some young man, or her
cheek or sweet-breathed mouth came nigh to his face, he became
bewildered and wist not where he was, nor what to do.
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