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Updated: June 1, 2025
And he desired some death, but that the Queen might know it was in finding her; then would death come easily. So he left Carhaix secretly, telling no man, neither his kindred nor even Kaherdin, his brother in arms. He found in a haven a great ship ready, the sail was up and the anchor-chain short at the bow. God save you, my lords, he said, and send you a good journey.
They welcomed him with honour, and Kaherdin showed him the wall and the dungeon keep with all their devices, and from the battlements he showed the plain where far away gleamed the tents of Duke Riol. And when they were down in the castle again he said to Tristan: Friend, let us go to the hall where my mother and sister sit.
And Tristan bowed to them, and they to him. Then Kaherdin, showing the work his mother did, said: See, friend Tristan, what a work-woman is here, and how marvellously she adorns stoles and chasubles for the poor minsters, and how my sisters hands run thread of gold upon this cloth. Of right, good sister, are you called, Iseult of the White Hands.
Dolorous and alone, he mourned and sighed in restlessness: he was near death from desire. At last the wind freshened and the white sail showed. Then it was that Iseult of the White Hands took her vengeance. She came to where Tristan lay, and she said: Friend, Kaherdin is here. I have seen his ship upon the sea. She comes up hardly yet I know her; may he bring that which shall heal thee, friend.
And as he halted beneath the fast high walls, he saw a little company of men behind the battlements, and he asked if the Duke were there with his son Kaherdin. Now Hod was among them; and when he cried yes, Tristan called up to him and said: I am that Tristan, King of Lyonesse, and Mark of Cornwall is my uncle. I have heard that your vassals do you a wrong, and I have come to offer you my arms.
And sprang from ambush and captured a waggon of Count Riols food; and from that day, by escapade and ruse they would carry tents and convoys and kill off men, nor ever come back without some booty; so that Tristan and Kaherdin began to be brothers in arms, and kept faith and tenderness, as history tells.
And knights and burgesses armed, and ran to the walls, and saw helmets shining on the plain, and pennons streaming crimson, like flames, and all the host of Riol in its array. Then the Duke and Kaherdin deployed their horsemen before the gates, and from a bow-length off they stooped, and spurred and charged, and they put their lances down together and the arrows fell on them like April rain.
And as they cursed and drave him, the fool went leaping on his way. When he was come back to Brittany, to Carhaix, it happened that Tristan, riding to the aid of Kaherdin his brother in arms, fell into ambush and was wounded by a poisoned spear; and many doctors came, but none could cure him of the ill. And Tristan weakened and paled, and his bones showed.
And thus the Queen complained so long as the storm endured; but after five days it died down. Kaherdin hoisted the sail, the white sail, right up to the very masthead with great joy; the white sail, that Tristan might know its colour from afar: and already Kaherdin saw Britanny far off like a cloud. Hardly were these things seen and done when a calm came, and the sea lay even and untroubled.
He called Kaherdin secretly to tell him his pain, for they loved each other with a loyal love; and as he would have no one in the room save Kaherdin, nor even in the neighbouring rooms, Iseult of the White Hands began to wonder. She was afraid and wished to hear, and she came back and listened at the wall by Tristans bed; and as she listened one of her maids kept watch for her.
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