m friendly, and made what reverence he might to Christopher, and bade
him say what was his mind and his will. But Christopher bade them who
were his elders in battle to speak; and the Baron laughed outright and
said: "Meseemeth, Lord King, thou didst grow old yesterday at my costs;
but since thou wilt have me to speak, I will even do so. And to make
matters the shorter, I will say that I wot well what ye have to do; and
that is, to fall upon the Earl Marshal's folk ere they fall upon us. Now
some folk deem we should fare to Brimside and have a hosting there; but
I say nay; whereas it lieth out of the road to Oakenham, and thereby is
our road, meseemeth; and it is but some six days' riding hence, save, as
is most like, two of those days be days of battle But if we go straight
forward with banners displayed, each day's faring shall be a day of
hosting and gathering; for I tell thee, Lord King, the fame of thee has
by now gone far in this country-side. Wherefore I say no more, since
I wax weary, than this: to the road this morning, and get we so far as
Broadlees ere night-fall, for there we shall get both victual and folk."

There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: "Baron of
Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if these lords
and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk
in good order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye,
lords?"

None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering of
this or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside men
should fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside,
and that then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly
the folk of the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host
came upon foemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their
battles awhile till they might take their advantage.

So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and their mates
crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheer when
they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for a while,
so did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; and happy
were they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some so lucky
and so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a very
tall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss her
cheek, and she did not gainsay him, and there