"Well, Jack," said the big Lord, grinning, "arede me the riddle, andthen we shall see what is to be done, as thou sayest."
"Lord," said Jack, "dost thou see this young man standing by me?"
"Yea," said the other, "he is big enough that I may see him better thanthy banner: if he but make old bones, as is scarce like, since he is of thyflock, he shall one day make a pretty man; he is a gay rider now. Whatelse is he?"
Quoth Jack of the Tofts: "He is my King and thy King, and the all-folk's King, and the King of Oakenrealm: and now, hearken mine errand:it is to make all folk name him King."
Said the Lord: "This minstrel's tale goes with the song the bird sangto me this morning; and therefore am I here thronging--to win thy head,rank reiver, and this young man's head, since it may not better be, and let the others go free for this time. Hah! what sayest thou? and thou,youngling? 'Tis but the stroke of a sword, since thou hast fallen into myhands, and not into the hangman's or the King's."
"Thou must win them first, Lord," said Jack of the Tofts. "Therefore,what sayest thou? Where shall we cast down the white shield and uprearthe red?"
"Hot art thou, head, heart, and hand, rank reiver," said the Lord; "bidea while." So he sat silent a little; then he said: "Thou seest, Jack of theTofts, that now thou hast thrust the torch into the tow; if I go back to KingRolf without the heads of you twain, I am like to pay for it with mine own.Therefore hearken. If we buckle together in fight presently, it is mostlike that I shall come to my above, but thou art so wily and stout that it isnot unlike that thou, and perchance this luckless youngling, may slipthrough my fingers into the wood; and then it will avail me little with theKing that I have slain a few score nameless wolf-heads. So, look you!here is a fair field hazelled by God; let us two use it to-day, and fight to thedeath here; and then if thou win me, smite off my head, and let my menfight it out afterwards, as best they may without me, and 'tis like they willbe beaten then. But if I win thee, then I win this youngling withal, andbear back both heads to my Lord King, after I have scattered thy wolf-heads and slain as many as I will; which shall surely befall, if thou be slainfirst."
Then cried out Jack of the Tofts: "Hail to thy word, stout-heart! thisis well offered, and I take it for myself and my Lord King here." And allthat stood by and heard gave a glad sound with their voices, and theirarmour rattled and rang as man turned to man to praise their captains.
But now spake Christopher: "Lord of Brimside, it is noughtwondrous though thou set me aside as of no account, whereas thoudeemest me no king or king's kindred; but thou, Lord Earl, who wert onceJack of the Tofts, I marvel at thee, that thou hast forgotten thy King sosoon. Ye twain shall now wot that this is my quarrel, and that none but Ishall take this battle upon him.
"Thou servant of Rolf, the traitor and murderer, hearken! I say that Iam King of Oakenrealm, and the very son of King Christopher the Old; and that will I maintain with my body against every gainsayer. ThouLord of Brimside, wilt thou gainsay it? Then I say thou liest, and lo here,my glove!" And he cast it down before the Lord.