There was good cheer made at his word, so Christopher spake: "Baronof Brimside, thou hast spoken my very mind and will; and but if theselords and captains gainsay it, let us tarry no longer, but array all our folk ingood order and take tale of them, and so for Broadlees. What say ye,lords?"
None nay-said it, so there was no more talk save as to the ordering ofthis or the other company. And it was so areded that the Brimside menshould fare first at the head of the host with the banner of Brimside, andthat then should go the mingled folk of the country-side, and lastly the folkof the Tofts with the banner of Oakenrealm; so that if the host came uponfoemen, they might be for a cloud to hide the intent of their battles awhiletill they might take their advantage.
So went the captains to their companies, and the Tofters and theirmates crossed the river to the men of Brimside, who gave them good cheerwhen they came amongst them; and it was hard to order the host for awhile, so did the upland folk throng about the King and the Queen; andhappy were they who had a full look on Goldilind; and yet were some solucky and so bold that they kissed a hand of her; and one there was, a verytall young man, and a goodly, who stood there and craved to kiss hercheek, and she did not gainsay him, and thereafter nought was good to himsave an occasion to die for her.
As for Christopher, he spake to many, and said to them thatwheresoever his banner was, he at least should be at the forefront whensothey came upon unpeace; and so soon as they gat to the road, he went fromcompany to company, speaking to many, and that so sweetly and friendlythat all praised him, and said that here forsooth was a king who was allgood and nothing bad, whereas hitherto men had deemed them luckyindeed if their king were half good and half bad.