roper to test those who are our comrades in arms."
"i would draw out if it may honorably be done," murmured norbury
in alleyne's ear. "the man is a noted swordsman and far above
your strength."
edricson came, however, of that sturdy saxon blood which is very
slowly heated, but once up not easily to be cooled. the hint of
danger which norbury threw out was the one thing needed to harden
his resolution.
"i came here at the back of my master," he said, "and i looked on
every man here as an englishman and a friend. this gentleman
hath shown me a rough welcome, and if i have answered him in the
same spirit he has but himself to thank. i will pick the glove
up; but, certes, i shall abide what i have done unless he first
crave my pardon for what he hath said and done."
tranter shrugged his shoulders. "you have done what you could to
save him, harcomb," said he. "we had best settle at once."
"so say i," cried alleyne.
"the council will not break up until the banquet," remarked a
gray-haired squire. "you have a clear two hours."
"and the place?"
"the tilting-yard is empty at this hour."
"nay; it must not be within the grounds of the court, or it may
go hard with all concerned if it come to the ears of the prince."
"but there is a quiet spot near the river," said one youth. "we
have but to pass through the abbey grounds, along the armory
wall, past the church of st. remi, and so down the rue des
apotres."
"en avant, then!" cried tranter shortly, and the whole assembly
flocked out into the open air, save only those whom the special
orders of their masters held to their posts. these unfortunates
crowded to the small casements, and craned their necks after the
throng as far as they could catch a glimpse of them.
close to the banks of the garonne there lay a little tract of
green sward, with the high wall of a prior's garden upon one side
and an orchard with a thick bristle of leafless apple-trees upon
the other. the river ran deep and swift up to the steep bank;
but there were few boats upon it, and the ships were moored far
out in the centre of the stream. here the two combatants drew
their swords and threw off their doublets, for neither had any
defensive armor. the duello with its stately etiquette had not
yet come into vogue, but rough and sudden encounters were as
common as they must ever be when hot-headed youth goes abroad
with a weapon strapped to its waist. in such combats, as well as
in the more formal sports of the tilting-yard, tranter had won a
name for strength and dexterity which had caused norbury to utter
his well-meant warning. on the other hand, alleyne had used his
weapons in constant exercise and practice for every day for many
months, and being by nature quick of eye and prompt of hand, he
might pass now as no mean swordsman. a strangely opposed pair
they appeared as they approached each other: tranter dark and
stout and stiff, with hairy chest and corded arms, alleyne a
model of comeliness and grace, with his golden hair and his skin
as fair as a woman's. an unequal fight it seemed to most; but
there were a few, and they the most experienced, who saw
something in the youth's steady gray eye and wary step which left
the issue open to doubt.
"hold, sirs, hold!" cried norbury, ere a blow had been struck.
"this gentleman hath a two-handed sword, a good foot longer than
that of our friend."
"take mine, alleyne," said ford.
"nay, friends," he answered, "i understand the weight and balance
of mine own. to work, sir, for our lord may need us at the
abbey!"
tranter's great sword was indeed a mighty vantage in his favor.
he stood with his feet close together, his knees bent outwards,
ready for a dash inwards or a spring out. the weapon he held
straight up in front of him with blade erect, so that he might
either bring it down with a swinging blow, or by a turn of the
heavy blade he might guard his own head and body. a further
protection lay in the broad and powerful guard which crossed the
hilt, and which was furnished with a deep and narrow notch, in
which an expert swordsman might catch his foeman's blade, and by
a quick turn of his wrist might snap it across. alleyne, on the
other hand, must trust for his defence to his quick eye and
active foot--for his sword, though keen as a whetstone could
make it, was of a light and graceful build with a narrow, sloping
pommel and a tapering steel.
tranter well knew his advantage and lost no time in putting it to
use. as his opponent walked towards him he suddenly bounded
forward and sent in a whistling cut which would have severed the
other in twain had he not sprung lightly back from it. so close
was it that the point ripped a gash in the jutting edge of his
linen cyclas. quick as a panther, alleyne sprang in with a
thrust, but
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