Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 18, 2025
'Father, quoth Face-of-god, 'I deem that when thou hast heard my tale thou wilt think no less of it than that there are valiant folk to be holpen, poor folk to be delivered, and evil folk to be swept from off the face of the earth. 'It is well, son, said Iron-face. 'I see that thy tale is long; let it alone for to-night.
For indeed this was their father, and the master of the House. His name was Iron-face, for he was the deftest of weapon-smiths, and he was the Alderman of the Dalesmen, and well-beloved of them; his kindred was deemed the noblest of the Dale, and long had they dwelt in the House of the Face.
And when they were all sat down, and the meat was on the board, Iron-face turned to his son Face-of-god and took his hand, and said in a loud voice, so that many might hear him: 'Son Face-of-god, son Gold-mane, thou bearest with thee both ill luck and good.
'Kinsman, said Iron-face, 'look at these two dead men, and tell me, if thou hast seen any such besides those two murder-carles who were slain at Carlstead; or if thou knowest aught of their folk? Said Face-of-god: 'Yesterday I saw six others like to these both in array and of body, and three of them I slew, for we were in battle with them early in the morning.
'Good is that, said Iron-face. 'Neighbours, will ye have it so? This also they yeasaid without delay, and the Alderman declared Stone-face and Hall-face the helpers of Face-of-god in this business. Then he said: 'If any hath aught to say concerning what is best to be done at once, it were good that he said it now before all and not to murmur and grudge hereafter.
I see thee now; it is thou that hast done this, and not the maiden; and now thou hast made her bear a double burden, and set her on to speak for thee, whilst thou standest by saying nought, and wilt take no scruple's weight of her shame upon thee! But his son spake never a word, and Iron-face cried: 'Out on thee! I know thee now, and why thou wouldest not to the West-land last winter.
Face-of-god sat between his father and Stone-face; and he looked up and down the tables and the hall and saw not the Bride, and his heart misgave him because she was not there, and he wondered what had befallen and if she were sick of sorrow. But Iron-face beheld him how he gazed about, and he laughed; for he was exceeding merry that night and fared as a young man.
But his mother, who was hight the Jewel, and had been a very fair woman, was dead now, and Iron-face lacked a wife. Face-of-god was well-beloved of his kindred and of all the Folk of the Dale, and he had gotten a to-name, and was called Gold-mane because of the abundance and fairness of his hair.
Now stand forth Hall-face my son, and answer to my questions in a loud voice, so that all may hear thee. So Hall-face stood forth, clad in gleaming war-gear, with an axe over his shoulder, and seemed a doughty warrior. And Iron-face said to him: 'Tell me, son, those whom ye met in the wood, and of whom ye brought home two captives, how much like were they to the murder-carles at Wood-grey's?
But on the other side of Iron-face went the Sun- beam, whose hand he held, and after these came Face-of-god, leading in the rest of the New-comers, who yet held the flowery branches in their hands.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking