The Well at the World's End: A Tale

le Turris. Redhea

-armed in steel, but himseemed that he knew his face under his sallet, and presently saw that it was Redhead. He was glad thereof, and clad himself hastily, and went out a-doors, and went up to him and hailed him, and Redhead leapt off his horse, and cast his arms about Ralph, and made much of him, and

be content. For the rest, little need is there to ask if

ad; I mean with Otter and me. As for thee, Redhead, if aught of ill befall this King's Son under thy way-leading, look to it

er. There they sat down all to meat together; and when they were done with their victual, Bull spake, and said to Ralph: "Fair King's Son, is this then the last sight of thee? wilt thou never come over the mountains again?" Said Ralph: "Who knoweth? I am young yet, and have drunk of the Water of the Well." Bul

erbol if I looked not to find thee living there." Bull smiled on him as though he

pmeads than from Upmeads to Utterbol." The Lord laughed and said: "Sooth is that; and were but my Bull here,

swore the oath; but the Sage of Swevenham said: "This oath thou shalt kee

an's helping." Then Bull stood up and called for his horse, and Otter also, and they all went forth and gat a-horseback and rode away from Vale Turris, and Redhead rode behind them humbly, till it was noon and they made stay fo

Ursula greeted him kindly, and they were merry one with another. And Ralph said to Redhead: "Friend captain, thou art excee

s. In any case, he hath his kin and long descent full often in his mouth, while I am but a gangrel body. Howbeit it is all one, whereas whatso he or Otter bid any man to do, he doeth it,

"Yea, fair sir," quoth Redhead. "No great gift, that seemeth to me, for thy valianc

th me not. For all that is come and gone she is true and valiant, and none may say that she is not fair and sweet e

t to fear, she hath no need for guile?" "Hail to thee for thy word, la

no harm, but I was wondering what had bef

tain, how was it that she escaped the uttermost of evil at the tyrant's hands? since from all that I have h

ich, sooth to say, I myself helped to spread, the Lord of Utterbol trowed in wholly, so cunningly was it told; so that, to make a long story short, he feared her, and feared her more dead than living. So that when he came home, and found thee gone, lady, he did indeed deem that thy flight was of Agatha's contrivance. And this the more because his nephew (he whom thou didst beguile; I

me home first, he sent for her, and his rage had so mastered his fear for a while that his best word was scourge and rack and faggot; but she was, outwardly, so calm and cold, smiling on him balefully, that he presently came to himself, a found that fear was in his belly, and that he might not do what he would with her; wherefore he looked to it that however she were used (which was ill enough, God wot!) she should keep the soul

, and of his ways withal. For he was a valiant man, and brisk, and one who forgat no benefit, and was trusty as steel; merry-