United States or British Indian Ocean Territory ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Ha, Beltane Pentavalon!" Then did Sir Benedict, laughing loud and joyous, haste to re-form his swaying ranks, the bloody gap in his column closed up and Sir Pertolepe's knights, hemmed in thus, smote and were smitten and but scant few were they that won them free.
"He hath reinforced Belsaye garrison and all the coast towns and castles of the Marches, and lieth at Pentavalon, gathering his powers to attack Thrasfordham, so men say, and hath sworn to burn it within the year, and all therein save only Sir Benedict him will he hang; 'tis so proclaimed far and wide." "And do men yet come in to Sir Benedict?" "Not so, master.
"Dogs," quoth he, "go to your master and say Helen, Duchess of Mortain bringeth a wedding gift to Ivo, called the Black. Behold here he that slew twenty within the green, that burned down Black Ivo's goodly gallows, that broke the dungeons of Belsaye and bore Red Pertolepe into the green, behold him ye seek Beltane, son of Beltane the Strong, heretofore Duke of Pentavalon!"
See ha, see now how fast he driveth them and southward southward on Pentavalon town!" "So do I thank God, but see how many O how many do lie fallen by the way!" "Why, in battle, most gentle lady, in battle men must needs fall or wherefore should battles be? Much have I seen of wars, lady, but ne'er saw eyes sterner fray than this "
Thus have I fought both for and against Black Ivo throughout the length and breadth of his Duchy of Pentavalon. If ye be minded to sell that long sword o' thine, to none better market could ye come, for there be ever work for such about Black Ivo." BELTANE. "Aye, 'tis so I hear."
"My lord of Bourne," said he, "dear my friend, to thy care I give this lady Abbess, Duchess of Pentavalon my well-beloved and noble mother. O Benedict, no prouder son than I in all the world, methinks nor one so humble! God send we meet again anon, but now fare ye well!"
"Helen!" he cried, "O Helen, 'tis true that I who am Beltane the Smith, am likewise son of Beltane, Duke of Pentavalon. Behold, the sword I bear is the sword of the Duke my father, nor must I lay it by until wrong is vanquished and oppression driven hence. Thus, see you, I may not stay to love, within my life it must not be yet-a-while," and speaking, Beltane groaned and bowed his head.
Aye, verily thou'rt Duke! The which mindeth me that, being Duke, it behoveth thee " "And yet, Benedict, I do tell thee that all things must wait awhile, methinks, or better do you attend them for me " "Nay I am no Duke!" quoth Sir Benedict hastily. "Yet thou art my chiefest counsellor and lord Seneschal of Pentavalon. So to thy wise judgment I do entrust all matters soever "
"And yet," sighed Beltane, with wrinkled brow, "within the garden of Pentavalon my father " "Thy father was a sick man, faint with wounds and spent with hardship. All that day, as we rode unto Pentavalon City, he and I, his mind oft wandered and he held wild talk in his fever.
And this do I ask for his sake and his lady's sake and for the sake of Pentavalon Duchy not forgetting poor Roger that doth plague thee thus for love of him. Amen!"
Word Of The Day