For pleasure and a fair
life have become so strange to them, that they scarce know what to do
with them, or how to live; and unless all is to go awry, I must needs
command and forbid; and though belike they love me, yet they fear me
not; so that when my commandment pleaseth them, they do as I bid, and
when it pleaseth them not, they do contrary to my bidding; for it
hath got into their minds that I shall in no case lift a hand against
them, which indeed is the very sooth. But your folk they fear as
warriors of the world, who have slain the Dusky Men in the Market-
place of Silver-stead; and they are of alien blood to them, men who
will do as their friend biddeth (think our folk) against them who are
neither friends or foes. With such help I shall be well holpen.'
In such wise spake Dallach; and Face-of-god and the chiefs said that
so it should be, if men could be found willing to abide in Rose-dale
for a while. And when the matter was put abroad, there was no lack
of such men amongst the younger warriors, who had noted that the dale
was fair amongst dales and its women fairer yet amongst women.
So two score and ten of the Burgdale men abode in Rose-dale, no one
of whom was of more than twenty and five winters.
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