Now stood Face-of-god under the two banners of the Wolf in the
Market-place of Silver-stead, and scarce had he time to be high-
hearted, for needs must he ponder in his mind what thing were best to
do. For on the left hand he deemed the foe was the strongest and
best ordered; but there also were the kindreds the doughtiest, and it
was little like that the felons should overcome the spear-casters of
the Face and the glaive-bearers of the Sickle, and the bowmen of the
Vine: there also were the wisest leaders, as the stark elder Stone-
face, and the tall Hall-face, and his father of the unshaken heart,
and above all Folk-might, fierce in his wrath, but his anger burning
steady and clear, like the oaken butt on the hearth of the hall.
Then as his mind pictured him amongst the foe, it made therewith
another picture of the slender warrior Sun-beam caught in the tangle
of battle, and longing for him and calling for him amidst the hard
hand-play. And thereat his face flushed, and all his body waxed hot,
and he was on the very point of leading the onset against the foe on
the left. But therewith he bethought him of the bold men of the
Steer and the Bridge and the Bull weary with much fighting; and he
remembered also that the Bride was amongst them and fighting, it
might be, amidst the foremost, and if she were slain how should he
ever hold up his head again.
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