But when the twain drew near, the men clashed their spears on their shields, and cried out for joy of them, for they all knew what Face-of-god’s presence there betokened of fellowship with the kindreds; but Folk-might came forward and took Face-of-god’s hand and greeted him and said:
“Hail, son of the Alderman! Here hast thou come into the ancient abode of chieftains and warriors, and belike deeds await thee also.”
Yet his brow was knitted as he said these words, and he spake slowly, as one that constraineth himself; but presently his face cleared somewhat and he said:
“Dalesman, it behoveth thy people to bestir them if ye would live and see good days. Hath my sister told thee what is toward? Or what sayest thou?”
“Hail to thee, son of the Wolf!” said Face-of-god. “Thy sister hath told me all; and even if these Dusky Felons were not our foemen also, yet could I have my way, we should have given thee all help, and should have brought back peace and good days to thy folk.”
Then Folk-might flushed red and spake, as he cast out his hand towards the warriors and up and down toward the Dale:
“These be my folk, and these only: and as to peace, only those of us know of it who are old men. Yet is it well; and if we and ye together be strong enough to bring back good days to the feeble men whom the Dusky Ones torment in Silverdale it shall be better yet.”
Then he turned about to his sister, and looked keenly into her eyes till she reddened, and took her hand and looked at the wrist and said:
“O sister, see I not the mark on thy wrist of the Ring of the God of the Earth? Have not oaths been sworn since yesterday?”
“True it is,” she said, “that this man and I have plighted troth together at the altar of the Doom-ring.”
Said Folk-might: “Thou wilt have thy will, and I may not amend it.” Therewith he turned about to Face-of-god and said:
“Thou must look to it to keep this oath, whatever other one thou hast failed in.”
Said Face-of-god somewhat wrathfully: “I shall keep it, whether thou biddest me to keep it or break it.”
“That is well,” said Folk-might, “and then for all that hath gone before thou mayest in a manner pay, if thou art dauntless before the foe.”
“I look to be no blencher in the battle,” said Face-of-god; “that is not the fashion of our kindred, whosoever may be before us. Yea, and even were it thy blade, O mighty warrior of the Wolf, I would do my best to meet it in manly fashion.”
As he spake he half drew forth Dale-warden from his sheath, looking steadily into the eyes of Folk-might; and the Sun-beam looked upon him happily. But Folk-might laughed and said:
“Thy sword is good, and I deem that thine heart will not fail thee; but it is by my side and not in face of me that thou shalt redden the good blade: I see not the day when we twain shall hew at each other.”
Then in a while he spake again:
“Thou must pardon us if our words are rough; for we have stood in rough places, where we had to speak both short and loud, whereas there was much to do. But now will we twain talk of matters that concern chieftains who are going on a hard adventure. And ye women, do ye dight the Hall for the evening feast, which shall be the feast of the troth-plight for you twain. This indeed we owe thee, O guest; for little shall be thine heritage which thou shalt have with my sister, over and above that thy sword winneth for thee.”
But the Sun-beam said: “Hast thou any tonight?”
“Yea,” he said; “Spear-god, how many was it?”
There came forward a tall man bearing an axe in his right hand, and carrying over his shoulder by his left hand a bundle of silver arm-rings just such as Gold-mane had seen on the felons who were slain by Wood-grey’s house. The carle cast them on the ground and then knelt down and fell to telling them over; and then looked up and said: “Twelve yesterday in the wood where the battle was going on; and this morning seven by the tarn in the pinewood and six near this eastern edge of the wood: one score and five all told. But, Folk-might, they are coming nigh to Shadowy Vale.”
“Sooth is that,” said Folk-might; “but it shall be looked to. Come now apart with me, Face-of-god.”
So the others went their ways toward the Hall, while Folk-might led the Burgdaler to a sheltered nook under the sheer rocks, and there they sat down to talk, and Folk-might asked Gold-mane closely of the muster of the Dalesmen and the Shepherds and the Woodland Caries, and he was well pleased when Face-of-god told him of how many could march to a stricken field, and of their archery, and of their weapons and their goodness.
All this took some time in the telling, and now night was coming on apace, and Folk-might said:
“Now will it be time to go to the Hall; but keep in thy mind that these Dusky Men will overrun you unless ye deal with them betimes. These are of the kind that ye must cast fear into their hearts by falling on them; for if ye abide till they fall upon you, they are like the winter wolves that swarm on and on, how many soever ye slay. And this above all things shall help you, that we shall bring you whereas ye shall fall on them
