hy words, Richard; yet gather not
force: there may stout men be culled on the road; and if thou runnest
or ridest about the town, we may yet be stayed by Blaise and his men.
Wherefore now send for thine horse and arms, and bid the host here open
his gates with little noise when we be ready; and we will presently
ride out by the clear of the moon. But thou, beloved, shalt don thine
armour no more, but shalt ride henceforth in thy woman's raiment, for
the wild and the waste is well nigh over, and the way is but short
after all these months of wandering; and I say that now shall all
friends drift toward us, and they that shall rejoice to strike a stroke
for my father's son, and the peaceful years of the Friend of the Well."

To those others, and chiefly to Ursula, it seemed that now he spoke
strongly and joyously, like to a king and a captain of men. Richard
did his bidding, and was swift in dealing with the messengers. But the
Sage said: "Ralph, my son, since ye have lost one man-at-arms, and
have gotten but this golden angel in his stead, I may better that. I
prithee bid thy man Richard find me armour and weapons that I may amend
the shard in thy company. Thou shalt find me no feeble man when we
come to push of staves."

Ralph laughed, and bade Richard see to it; so he dealt with the host,
and bought good war-gear of him, and a trenchant sword, and an axe
withal; and when the Sage was armed he looked as doughty a warrior as
need be. By this time was Richard's horse and war-gear come, and he
armed him speedily and gave money to the host, and they rode therewith
all four out of the hostel, and found the street empty and still, for
the night was wearing. So rode they without tarrying into Westgate and
came to the Bar, and speedily was the gate opened to them; and anon
were they on the moonlit road outside of Whitwall.

CHAPTER 14

They Ride Away From Whitwall

But when they were well on the way, and riding a good pace by the clear
of the moon, Richard spake to Ralph, and said: "Wither ride we now?"
said Ralph: "Wither, save to Upmeads?" "Yea, yea," said Richard, "but
by what road? shall we ride down to the ford of the Swelling Flood, and
ride the beaten way, or take to the downland and the forest, and so
again by the forest and downland and the forest once more, till we come
to the Burg of the Four Friths?"

"Which way is the shorter?" said Ralph. "Forsooth," said Richard, "by
the wildwood ye may ride