The Hollow Land | Page 4

which they did fast
enough, not knowing our numbers, and our men sent a few flights of
arrows among them that they might not be undeceived.
Then the one or two prisoners that we had left, told us, when we had
crossed our axes over their heads, that the people of the good town
would not willingly fight us, in that they hated the queen; that she was
guarded at the palace by some fifty knights, and that beside, there were
no others to oppose us in the town; so we set out for the palace, spear in
hand.

We had not gone far, before we heard some knights coming, and soon,
in a turn of the long street, we saw them riding towards us; when they
caught sight of us they seemed astonished, drew rein, and stood in
some confusion.
We did not slacken our pace for an instant, but rode right at them with a
yell, to which I lent myself with all my heart.
After all they did not run away, but waited for us with their spears held
out; I missed the man I had marked, or hit him rather just on the top of
the helm; he bent back, and the spear slipped over his head, but my
horse still kept on, and I felt presently such a crash that I reeled in my
saddle, and felt mad. He had lashed out at me with his sword as I came
on, hitting me in the ribs (for my arm was raised), but only flatlings.
I was quite wild with rage, I turned, almost fell upon him, caught him
by the neck with both hands, and threw him under the horse-hoofs,
sighing with fury: I heard Arnald's voice close to me, "Well fought,
Florian": and I saw his great stern face bare among the iron, for he had
made a vow in remembrance of that blow always to fight unhelmed; I
saw his great sword swinging, in wide gyres, and hissing as it started
up, just as if it were alive and liked it.
So joy filled all my soul, and I fought with my heart, till the big axe I
swung felt like 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