Now soothly to say it, this was even what Ralph had feared would be, and he could scarce doubt Redhead’s word. So he sat there pondering the matter a good while, and at last he said: “My friend, I will trust thee with another thing; I have a mind to flee to the wildwood, and yet come to Utterbol for the damsel’s deliverance.” “Yea,” said Redhead, “and how wilt thou work in the matter?” Said Ralph; “How would it be if I came hither in other guise than mine own, so that I should not be known either by the damsel or her tyrants?”
Said Redhead: “There were peril in that; yet hope also. Yea, and in one way thou mightest do it; to wit, if thou wert to find that Sage, and tell him thy tale: if he be of good will to thee, he might then change not thy gear only, but thy skin also; for he hath exceeding great lore.”
“Well,” said Ralph, “Thou mayst look upon it as certain that on that aforesaid night, I will do my best to shake off this company of tyrant and thralls, unless I hear fresh tidings, so that I must needs change my purpose. But I will ask thee to give me some token that all holds together some little time beforehand.” Quoth Redhead: “Even so shall it be; thou shalt see me at latest on the eve of the night of thy departure; but on the night before that if it be anywise possible.”
“Now will I go away from thee,” said Ralph, “and I thank thee heartily for thine help, and deem thee my friend. And if thou think better of fleeing with me, thou wilt gladden me the more.” Redhead shook his head but spake not, and Ralph went his ways down the dale.
XXXIX
The Lord of Utterbol Makes Ralph a Free Man
He went to and fro that day and the next, and none meddled with him; with Redhead he spake not again those days, but had talk with Otter and David, who were blithe enough with him. Agatha he saw not at all; nor the Lady, and still deemed that the white-skinned woman whom he had seen sitting by the Lord after the tilting was the Queen.
As for the Lady she abode in her pavilion, and whiles lay in a heap on the floor weeping, or dull and blind with grief; whiles she walked up and down mad wroth with whomsoever came in her way, even to the dealing out of stripes and blows to her women.
But on the eve before the day of departure Agatha came into her, and chid her, and bade her be merry: “I have seen the Lord and told him what I would, and found it no hard matter to get him to yeasay our plot, which were hard to carry out without his goodwill. Withal the seed that I have sowed two days or more ago is bearing fruit; so that thou mayst look to it that whatsoever plight we may be in, we shall find a deliverer.”
“I wot not thy meaning,” quoth the Lady, “but I deem thou wilt now tell me what thou art planning, and give me some hope, lest I lay hands on myself.”
Then Agatha told her without tarrying what she was about doing for her, the tale of which will be seen hereafter; and when she had done, the Lady mended her cheer, and bade bring meat and drink, and was once more like a great and proud Lady.
On the morn of departure, when Ralph arose, David came to him and said: “My Lord is astir already, and would see thee for thy good.” So Ralph went with David, who brought him to the Tower, and there they found the Lord sitting in a window, and Otter stood before him, and some others of his highest folk. But beside him sat Joyce, and it seemed that he thought it naught but good to hold her hand and play with the fingers thereof, though all those great men were by; and Ralph had no thought of her but that she was the Queen.
So Ralph made obeisance to the Lord and stood awaiting his word; and the Lord said: “We have been thinking of thee, young man, and have deemed thy lot to be somewhat of the hardest, if thou must needs be a thrall, since thou art both young and wellborn, and so good a man of thine hands. Now, wilt thou be our man at Utterbol?”
Ralph delayed his answer a space and looked at Otter, who seemed to him to frame a Yea with his lips, as who should say, take it. So he said: “Lord, thou art good to me, yet mayst thou be better if thou wilt.”
“Yea, man!” said the Lord knitting his brows; “What shall it be? say thy say, and be done with it.”
“Lord,” said Ralph, “I pray thee to give me my choice, whether I shall go with thee to Utterbol or forbear going?”
“Why, lo you!” said the Lord testily, and somewhat sourly; “thou hast the choice. Have I not told thee that thou art free?” Then Ralph knelt before him, and said: “Lord, I thank thee from a full heart, in that thou wilt suffer me to depart on mine errand, for it is a great one.” The scowl deepened on the Lord’s face, and he turned away from Ralph, and said presently: “Otter, take the Knight away and let him have all his armour and weapons and a right good horse; and then let him do as he will, either ride with us, or depart if he will, and whither he will. And if he must needs ride into the desert, and cast himself away in the mountains, so
