such a doughty
champion to his fellow farer; so Osberne asked leave of his lord, who
would not gainsay him since nought was stirring, but bade him take
three good men of his friends with him. So they went, and crossed the
Flood a few days before Candlemass; and when they were on the other
side they fell to asking questions at the houses of religion and of
the chapmen whom they met there. Also they gat them into castles and
great houses where many servants are wont to be, and not a few bought
at a price; and there they used both tongue and eyes. Thus fared they
a twenty days' journey up the water, keeping ever somewhat nigh; but
woe worth, if they gat them no great scathe (though they had some
rough passages forsooth, which time suffereth us not to tell of), yet
also they gat no good, and were no nearer to hearing a true word of
Elfhild than ever.

So back comes Osberne, cast down and somewhat moody, but straightway
finds tidings that drive all other things out of his head for a while.
It was a little after Marymass that he comes home to Longshaw, and
hears tell how war, and big war, has arisen. For the Barons who lay
mostly to the east and north of Longshaw (though some help they had
from the west and the south) both hated Sir Godrick sorely because he
withheld them from the worst deeds of tyranny, and also, though they
owed not service to the King of the Great City or the Porte thereof,
yet were they somewhat under their power; at least each one of them
was. These then had met together and made a great league, and had
sworn the undoing of Sir Godrick and the House of Longshaw for ever.
And all the world knew that they were but the catspaw of the King and
the City and the tyrannous Porte, though neither of them would let
themselves be seen therein.

Now Godrick sends for Osberne, and talks long with him, and the end of
that talk is that he sends him on the errand to go seek the hosting of
them of the Barons' League who dwelt furthest north, and to fall on
them as fast and fierce as he may, so as to break up the said hosting,
so that he may not have these men on his flank when he marches against
the main host, which he will do with all speed. All of which he deems
may be done, because he wotteth that the Barons deem of him that he
will abide their coming to Longshaw, and that when they have shut him
up there, they shall then have the open help of all the strength of
the King and the Porte.

Now Osberne heard and und