ike nothing but a little hammer in my hand, except
for its bitterness: and as for the enemy, they went down like grass,
so that we destroyed them utterly, for those knights would neither
yield nor fly, but died as they stood, so that some fifteen of our men
also died there.

Then at last we came to the palace, where some grooms and such like
kept the gates armed, but some ran, and some we took prisoners, one of
whom died for sheer terror in our hands, being stricken by no wound;
for he thought we would eat him.

These prisoners we questioned concerning the queen, and so entered the
great hall. There Arnald sat down in the throne on the dais, and laid
his naked sword before him on the table: and on each side of him sat
such knights as there was room for, and the others stood round about,
while I took ten men, and went to look for Swanhilda.

I found her soon, sitting by herself in a gorgeous chamber. I almost
pitied her when I saw her looking so utterly desolate and despairing;
her beauty too had faded, deep lines cut through her face. But when I
entered she knew who I was, and her look of intense hatred was so
fiend-like, that it changed my pity into horror of her.

"Knight", she said "who are you, and what do you want, thus
discourteously entering my chamber?"

"I am Florian de Liliis, and I am to conduct you to judgment."

She sprang up, "Curse you and your whole house, you I hate worse than
any -- girl's face -- guards! guards!" and she stamped on the ground,
her veins on the forehead swelled, her eyes grew round and flamed out,
as she kept crying for her guards, stamping the while, for she seemed
quite mad.

Then at last she remembered that she was in the power of her enemies,
she sat down, and lay with her face between her hands, and wept
passionately.

"Witch," I said between my closed teeth, "will you come, or must we
carry you down to the great hall?"

Neither would she come, but sat there, clutching at her dress and
tearing her hair.

Then I said, "Bind her, and carry her down." And they did so.

I watched Arnald as we came in, there was no triumph on his stern
white face, but resolution enough, he had made up his mind.

They placed her on a seat in the midst of the hall over against the
dais. He said, "Unbind her, Florian." They did so, she raised her
face, and glared defiance at us all, as though she would die queenly
after all.

Then rose up Arnald and said, "Queen Swanhilda, we judge you gu