The other laughed, and the laugh sounded merry and sweet, and the voice said: “Hast thou no flint and fire-steel?” “No,” said Ralph. “But I have,” said the voice, “and I am fain to see thee, for thy voice soundeth pleasant to me. Abide till I grope about for a stick or two.”
Ralph laughed in turn, as he heard the newcomer moving about; then he heard the click of the steel on the flint, and saw the sparks showering down, so that a little piece of the wood grew green again to his eyes. Then a little clear flame sprang up, and therewith he saw the tree-stems clearly, and some twenty yards from him a horse, and a man stooping down over the fire, who sprang up now and cried out: “It is a knight-at-arms! Come hither, fellow of the waste; it is five days since I have spoken to a child of Adam; so come nigh and speak to me, and as a reward of thy speech thou shalt have both meat and firelight.”
“That will be well paid,” said Ralph laughing, and he stepped forward leading his horse, for now the wood was light all about, as the fire waxed and burned clear; so that Ralph could see that the newcomer was clad in quaintly-fashioned armour after the fashion of that land, with a bright steel sallet on the head, and a long green surcoat over the body armour. Slender of make was the newcomer, not big nor tall of stature.
Ralph went up to him hastily, and merrily put his hand on his shoulder, and kissed him, saying: “The kiss of peace in the wilderness to thee!” And he found him smooth-faced and sweet-breathed.
But the newcomer took his hand and led him to where the firelight was brightest and looked on him silently a while; and Ralph gave back the look. The strange-wrought sallet hid but little of the newcomer’s face, and as Ralph looked thereon a sudden joy came into his heart, and he cried out: “O, but I have kissed thy face before! O, my friend, my friend!”
Then spake the newcomer and said: “Yea, I am a woman, and I was thy friend for a little while at Bourton Abbas, and at the want-ways of the Wood Perilous.”
Then Ralph cast his arms about her and kissed her again; but she withdrew her from him, and said: “Help me, my friend, that we may gather sticks to feed our fire, lest it die and the dark come again so that we see not each other’s faces, and think that we have but met in a dream.”
Then she busied herself with gathering the kindling; but presently she looked up at him, and said: “Let us make the wood shine wide about, for this is a feastful night.”
So they gathered a heap of wood and made the fire great; and then Ralph did off his helm and hauberk and the damsel did the like, so that he could see the shapeliness of her uncovered head. Then they sat down before the fire, and the damsel drew meat and drink from her saddlebags, and gave thereof to Ralph, who took it of her and her hand withal, and smiled on her and said: “Shall we be friends together as we were at Bourton Abbas and the want-ways of the Wood Perilous?” She shook her head and said: “If it might be! but it may not be. Not many days have worn since then; but they have brought about changed days.” He looked on her wistfully and said: “But thou wert dear to me then.”
“Yea,” she said, “and thou to me; but other things have befallen, and there is change betwixt.”
“Nay, what change?” said Ralph.
Even by the firelight he saw that she reddened as she answered: “I was a free woman then; now am I but a runaway thrall.” Then Ralph laughed merrily, and said, “Then are we brought the nigher together, for I also am a runaway thrall.”
She smiled and looked down: then she said: “Wilt thou tell me how that befell?”
“Yea,” said he, “but I will ask thee first a question or two.” She nodded a yeasay, and looked on him soberly, as a child waiting to say its task.
Said Ralph: “When we parted at the want-ways of the Wood Perilous thou saidst that thou wert minded for the Well at the World’s End, and to try it for life or death. But thou hadst not then the necklace, which now I see thee bear, and which, seest thou! is like to that about my neck. Wilt thou tell me whence thou hadst it?”
She said: “Yea; it was given unto me by a lady, mighty as I deem, and certainly most lovely, who delivered me from an evil plight, and a peril past words, but whereof I will tell thee afterwards. And she it was who told me of the way to the Well at the World’s End, and many matters concerning them that seek it, whereof thou shalt wot soon.”
Said Ralph: “As to how thou wert made a thrall thou needest not to tell me; for I have learned that of those that had to do with taking thee to Utterbol. But tell me; here are met we two in the pathless wilds, as if it were on the deep sea, and we two seeking the same thing. Didst thou deem that we should meet, or that I should seek thee?”
Now was the fire burning somewhat low, but he saw that she looked on
