But when the last of those ten days was wearing to an end and thosefive were sitting happy in the hall (albeit David sat somewhat pensive,now staring at Goldilind's beauty, now rising from his seat to pace thefloor restlessly), Gilbert spake and said: "Brethren, and thou, QueenGoldilind, it may be that the time is drawing near for other deeds thandrowned it utterly, but for the wilfulness which hardened her heart against letting fly a few shafts at the dun deer, and eating our meat, and singingold songs as we lie at our ladies' feet; for though we be at peace here in thewild-wood, forgetting all things save those that are worthy to beremembered, yet in the cities and the courts of kings guile is not forgotten,and pride is alive, and tyranny, and the sword is whetted for innocent lives,and the feud is eked by the destruction of those who be sackless of itsupheaving. Wherefore it behoveth to defend us by the ready hand and thebold heart and the wise head. So, I say, let us loiter here no longer, butgo our ways to-morrow to the Tofts, and take the rede of our elders. Howsay ye, brethren?"
Quoth Christopher: "Time was, brother, when what thou sayestwould have been as a riddle to me, and I would have said: Here are wemerry, though we be few; and if ye lack more company, let me ride to theTofts and come back with a half score of lads and lasses, and thus let useke our mirth; and maybe they will tell us whitherward to ride. But nowthere is a change, since I have gained a gift over-great for me, and I knowthat they shall be some of the great ones who would be eager to take itfrom me; and who knows what guile may be about the weaving even now,as on the day when thou first sawest this hall, beloved."