“As you will; so be it,” adding, “Give
these envoys food and drink before they go.”
But their spokesman answered: “We partake
not of the bread and salt of murderers, lest we should
become of their fellowship. Al-je-bal, we depart,
but within a week we appear again in the company of
ten thousand spears, and on one of them shall your
head be set. Your safe-conduct guards us till
the sunset. After that, do your worst, as we
do ours. High Princess, our counsel to you is
that you slay yourself and so gain immortal honour.”
Then, bowing to her one by one, they turned and marched
down the terrace followed by their servants.
Now Sinan waved his hand and the court broke up, Rosamund
leaving it first, accompanied by Masouda and escorted
by guards, after which the brethren were commanded
to depart also.
So they went, talking earnestly of all these things,
but save in God finding no hope at all.
“Saladin will come,” said Wulf the hopeful,
and from the high place where they stood he pointed
to the plain beneath, across which a band of horsemen
moved at full gallop. “Look; yonder goes
his embassy.”
“Ay,” answered Godwin, “he will
come, but, I fear me, too late.”
“Yes, brother, unless we go to meet him.
Masouda has promised.”
“Masouda,” sighed Godwin. “Ah!
to think that so much should hang upon the faithfulness
of one woman.”
“It does not hang on her,” said Wulf;
“it hangs on Fate, who writes with her finger.
Come, let us ride.”
So, followed by their escort, they rode in the gardens,
taking note, without seeming to do so, of the position
of the tall rock, and of how it could be approached
from every side. Then they went in again and
waited for some sign or word of Rosamund, but in vain.
That night there was no feast, and their meal was brought
to them in the guest-house. While they sat at
it Masouda appeared for a moment to tell them that
they had leave to ride the bridge in the moonlight,
and that their escort would await them at a certain
hour.
The brethren asked if their sister Rosamund was not
coming to dine with them. Masouda answered that
as the queen-elect of the Al-je-bal it was not lawful
that she should eat with any other men, even her brothers.
Then as she passed out, stumbling as though by accident,
she brushed against Godwin, and muttered:
“Remember, to-night,” and was gone.
When the moon had been up an hour the officer of their
escort appeared, and led them to their horses, which
were waiting, and they rode away to the castle bridge.
As they approached it they saw Lozelle departing on
his great black stallion, which was in a lather of
foam. It seemed that he also had made trial of
that perilous path, for the people, of whom there
were many gathered there, clapped their hands and
shouted, “Well ridden, Frank! well ridden!”
