The order of the Departure of the Host was this:
The Woodlanders went first into the pass, and with them were two
score of the ripe Warriors of the Wolf. Then came of the kindreds of
Burgdale, the Men of the Steer, the Bridge, and the Bull; then the
Men of the Vine and the Sickle; then the Shepherd-folk; and lastly,
the Men of the Face led by Stone-face and Hall-face. With these went
another two score of the dwellers in Shadowy Vale, and the rest were
scattered up and down the bands of the Host to guide them into the
best paths and to make the way easier to them. Face-of-god was
sundered from his kindred, and went along with Folk-might in the
forefront of the Host, while his father the Alderman went as a simple
man-at-arms with his House in the rearward. The Sun-beam followed
her brother and Face-of-god amidst the Warriors of the Wolf, and with
her were Bow-may clad in the Alderman's gift, and Wood-father and his
children. Bow-may had caused her to doff her hauberk for that day,
whereon they looked to fall in with no foeman. As for the Bride, she
went with her kindred in all her war-gear; and the morning sun shone
in the gems of her apparel, and her jewelled feet fell like flowers
upon the deep grass of the upper Vale, and shone strange and bright
amongst the black stones of the pass.
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