He knitted his brow as he spake, for carefulness of soul; but LordRichard smiled upon him, though as one somewhat troubled, andanswered: "Lord Marshal, I thank thee for visiting this poor house; and Ishall tell thee first that the lad lives, and hath thriven marvellously, thoughhe be somewhat unruly, and will abide no correction now these last sixyears. Sooth to say, there is now no story of his being anywise akin toour late Lord King; though true it is that the folk in this faraway corner ofthe land call him King Christopher, but only in a manner of jesting. Butit is no jest wherein they say that they will gainsay him nought, and thatespecially the young women. Yet I will say of him that he is wise, andasketh not overmuch; the more is the sorrow of many of the maidens. Afell woodsman he is, and exceeding stark, and as yet heedeth more ofvaliance than of the love of woman."
The Marshal looked no less troubled than before at these words; hesaid: "I would see this young man speedily."
"So shall it be, Lord," said Lord Richard. Therewith he called to hima squire, and said: "Go thou down into the thorpe, and bring hitherChristopher, for that a great lord is here who would set him to do a deed of woodcraft, such as is more than the wont of men."
So the squire went his ways, and was gone a little while, and meantimedrew nigh to the hall a sound of triumphing songs and shouts, and right upto the hall doors; then entered the squire, and by his side came a tall youngman, clad but in a white linen shirt and deerskin brogues, his headcrowned with a garland of flowers: him the squire brought up to thelords on the dais, and louted to them, and said: "My lords, I bring youChristopher, and he not overwilling, for now hath he been but justcrowned king of the games down yonder; but when the carles and queansthere said that they would come with him and bear him company to thehall doors, then, forsooth, he yea-said the coming. It were not unmeetthat some shame were done him."
"Peace, man!" said Lord Richard, "what hath this to do with thee?Seest thou not the Lord Marshal here?" The Lord Rolf sat and gazed onthe lad, and scowled on him; but Christopher saw therein nought but theface of a great lord burdened with many cares; so when he had made hisobeisance he stood up fearlessly and merrily before them.
Sooth to say, he was full fair to look on: for all his strength, which,as ye shall hear, was mighty, all the fashion of his limbs and his body waslight and clean done, and beauteous; and though his skin, where it showednaked, was all tanned with the summer, it was fine and sleek and kindly,every deal thereof: bright-eyed and round-cheeked he was, with full lipsand carven chin, and his hair golden brown of hue, and curling crisp aboutthe blossoms of his garland.