The Roots of the Mountains

  CHAPTER LIV. TIDINGS OF DALLACH: A FOLK-MOTE IN SILVER-DALE.

  THREE days thereafter came two swift runners from Rose-dale with tidingsof Dallach. In all wise had he thriven, and had slain many of therunaways, and had come happily to Rose-dale: therein by the mere shakingof their swords had they all their will; for there were but a few of theDusky Warriors in the Dale, since the more part had fared to theslaughter in Silver-stead. Now therefore had Dallach been made Aldermanof Rose-dale; and the Burgdalers who had gone with him should abide thecoming thither of the rest of the Burgdale Host, and meantime of theircoming should uphold the new Alderman in Rose-dale. Howbeit Dallach sentword that it was not to be doubted but that many of the Dusky Men hadescaped to the woods, and should yet be the death of many a mother’s son,unless it were well looked to.

  And now the more part of the Burgdale men and the Shepherds began to looktoward home, albeit some amongst them had not been ill-pleased to abidethere yet a while; for life was exceeding soft to them there, though theyhelped the poor folk gladly in their husbandry. For especially the womenof the Dale, of whom many were very goodly, hankered after the fair-facedtall Burgdalers, and were as kind to them as might be. Forsooth not afew, both carles and queens, of the old thrall-folk prayed them ofBurgdale to take them home thither, that they might see new things andforget their old torments once for all, yea, even in dreams. TheBurgdalers would not gainsay them, and there was no one else to hinder;so that there went with the Burgdale men at their departure hard on fivescore of the Silver-dale folk who were not of the kindreds.

  And now was a great Folk-mote holden in Silver-dale, whereto the Burgdalemen and the Shepherds were bidden; and thereat the War-leader gave outthe morrow of the morrow for the day of the departure of the Host. Therealso were the matters of Silver-dale duly ordered: the Men of the Wolfwould have had the Woodlanders dwell with them in the fair-builded stead,and take to them of the goodly stone houses there what they would; butthis they naysaid, choosing rather to dwell in scattered houses, whichthey built for themselves at the utmost limit of the tillage.

  Indeed, the most abode not even there a long while; for they loved thewood and its deeds. So they went forth into the wood, and cleared themspace to dwell in, and builded them halls such as they loved, and fell totheir old woodland crafts of charcoal-burning and hunting, wherein theythrove well. And good for Silver-dale was their abiding there, sincethey became a sure defence and stout outpost against all foemen. For therest, wheresoever they dwelt, they were guest-cherishing and blithe, andwere well beloved by all people; and they wedded with the other Houses ofthe Children of the Wolf.

  As to the other matters whereof they took rede at this Folk-mote, theyhad mostly to do with the warding of the Dale, and the learning of thedelivered thralls to handle weapons duly. For men deemed it most likethat they would have to meet other men of the kindred of the Felons;which indeed fell out as the years wore.

  Moreover, Folk-might (by the rede of Stone-face) sent messengers to thePlain and the Cities, unto men whom he knew there, doing them to wit ofthe tidings of Silver-dale, and how that a peaceful and guest-lovingpeople, having good store of wares, now dwelt therein, so that chapmenmight have recourse thither.

  Lastly spake Folk-might and said:

  ‘Guests and brothers-in-arms, we have been looking about our new house,which was our old one, and therein we find great store of wares which weneed not, and which we can but use if ye use them. Of your kindnesstherefore we pray you to take of those things what ye can easily carry.And if ye say the way is long, as indeed it is, since ye are bent ongoing through the wood to Rose-dale, and so on to Burgdale, yet shall wefurnish you with beasts to bear your goods, and with such wains as maypass through the woodland ways.’

  Then rose up Fox of Upton and said: ‘O Folk-might, and ye men of theWolf, be it known unto you, that if we have done anything for your helpin the winning of Silver-dale, we have thus done that we might helpourselves also, so that we might live in peace henceforward, and that wemight have your friendship and fellowship therewithal, so that here inSilver-dale might wax a mighty folk who joined unto us should be strongenough to face the whole world. Such are the redes of wise men when theygo a-warring. But we have no will to go back home again made rich withyour wealth; this hath been far from our thought in this matter.’

  And there went up a murmur from all the Burgdalers yeasaying his word.

  But Folk-might took up the word again and spake:

  ‘Men of Burgdale and the Sheepcotes, what ye say is both manly andfriendly; yet, since we look to see a road made plain through thewoodland betwixt Burgdale and Silver-dale, and that often ye shall faceus in the feast-hall, and whiles stand beside us in the fray, we mustneeds pray you not to shame us by departing empty-handed; for how thenmay we look upon your faces again? Stone-face, my friend, thou art oldand wise; therefore I bid thee to help us herein, and speak for us to thykindred, that they naysay us not in this matter.’

  Then stood up Stone-face and said: ‘Forsooth, friends, Folk-might is inthe right herein; for he may look for anger from the wights that come andgo betwixt his kindred and the Gods, if they see us faring back giftlessthrough the woods. Moreover, now that ye have seen Silver-dale, ye maywot how rich a land it is of all good things, and able to bring forthenough and to spare. And now meseemeth the Gods love this Folk thatshall dwell here; and they shall become a mighty Folk, and a part of ourvery selves. Therefore let us take the gifts of our friends, and thankthem blithely. For surely, as saith Folk-might, henceforth the woodshall become a road betwixt us, and the thicket a halting-place forfriends bearing goodwill in their hands.’

  When he had spoken, men yeasaid his words and forbore the gifts nolonger; and the Folk-mote sundered in all loving-kindness.