e lights; so that the board was
brought and the hall was speedily astir. These men, while supper was
being dight, fell to talking to Ralph and Roger, and asking them
questions of whence and whither, but nowise uncourteously: to whom
Roger answered with the tale which he had told Ralph, and Ralph told
what he would, and that was but little.

But when the board was dight they bade them sit down with them and eat.
Ralph sat down at once, and Roger would have served him, but Ralph bade
him do it not, and constrained him to sit by his side, and they two sat
a little apart from the townsmen.

So when they had eaten their fill, and wine was brought, and men were
drinking kindly, Ralph began to ask Roger concerning those women whom
he had seen in the street, and the captives whom he had seen brought in
by the host, and if they were of one kindred, and generally how it was
with them: and he spake somewhat softly as if he would not break into
the talk of the townsmen: but Roger answered him in a loud voice so
that all could hear:

"Yea, lord, I will tell thee the tale of them, which setteth forth well
both the wise policy and the great mercy of the folk of the Burg and
their rulers."

Said Ralph: "Are these women also of the Dry Tree? For I perceive
them to be born of the foes of the Burg."

Now the townsmen had let their talk drop a while to listen to the talk
of the aliens; and Roger answered still in a loud voice: "Nay, nay, it
is not so. These queens are indeed war-taken thralls, but not from
them of the Dry Tree, or they would have been slain at once, like as
the carles of those accursed ones. But these are of the folk of the
Wheat-wearers, even as those whom thou sawest brought to-day amidst the
other spoil. And to this folk the Burg showeth mercy, and whenso the
host goeth against them and over-cometh (and that is well-nigh whenever
they meet) these worthy lords slay no woman of them, but the men only,
whether they be old or young or youngest. As for their women they are
brought hither and sold at the market-cross to the highest bidder. And
this honour they have, that such of them as be fair, and that is the
more part of the younger ones, fetch no ill penny. Yet for my part I
were loth to cheapen such wares: for they make but evil servants,
being proud, and not abiding stripes lightly, or toiling the harder for
them; and they be somewhat too handy with the knife if they deem
themselves put upon. Speak I