is there, where it runs
through this forest which is called the Masterless Wood, a mighty
great river, whereon are barges and cutters and seagoing dromonds
even, so that it sunders nought, but joins rather. Now besides my
house of Longshaw, which is as it were the knop and ouch of my manors,
I have other houses and strongholds, some of which be in the very
forest itself, and none of them more than a little way thence. For,
sooth to say, the said forest is a shield and a refuge to me, and I
had been overcome long ago save for its warding. I must tell thee
further, that the southernmost skirts of the said forest come down
within a score of miles of the great city by the sea which men call
the City of the Sundering Flood; and that the city-folk love the
forest little, save they might master it and make it their own,
wherein they have failed hitherto, praise be to Allhallows! For then
were I their very outlaw; whereas now there be others of the
knighthood who dwell anigh me who deem that I have the right of it in
warding my lands and theirs from these king-ruled chapmen. More by
token that the day may come when the folk of their own town, as the
gilds of the Lesser Crafts and the husbandmen and simple mariners, may
rise against them, deeming them, as the truth is, hard masters and
tyrants; wherefore, despite all their mastership, when I will and have
occasion thereto, I may ride their streets in safety, for they wot
that if they laid a hand on me or mine, it would be Bills and bows!
bills and bows! up one street and down another. Wherefore they meddle
not with me themselves, but set two or three of the barons who hold of
them on the east side of the Wood Masterless to harry me from time to
time. Lo thou, lad, now thou knowest not only whereabouts thou mayest
go to serve me, but also some deal of the quarrel wherein thou shalt
draw sword, if it come to that. How sayest thou?"

"Wait a while, Sir Knight," said Osberne, "and tell me first: if the
King of the city overcome thee, will he take from thee that which is
thine own of right, or that which thou hast taken from some other?"

"He will take nothing more than my life," said Sir Godrick; "but ye
may add thereto some small matter of the remnants of houses and land
which erst my fathers owned, well-beloved of all folk. Forsooth here
and there I hold some tower or strength which I have taken from my
foemen, who dared me thereto."

"Good is that," said Osberne; "now would I