ye wot that not unseldom do women use the custom of
going arrayed like men, when they would journey with
hidden head; and ye may happen upon such gear as hath
been made for such a woman rather than any man; but
thou shalt get me also a short bow and a quiver of
arrows, for verily these be my proper weapons that
I can deal with deftly. Now my last command
is that, when all is done, maybe to-morrow, or maybe
the next day, ye bring me out of the city and the
frank of the Five Crafts, and bring me somewhat on
my way over the downs, for loth am I to part from
you ere needs must. Then they knelt before her
and kissed her hands, and they were full of grief;
but they saw that so it had to be.
Thereafter Gerard spake with his sons apart, and in
a while came to Birdalone, and said: Our lady,
we will do your will in all wise; but we shall tell
thee, that the Five Crafts will look but strange to
us when thou art gone, and that we have a mind to
betake us to Utterhay and the land of our kindred.
Wherefore we pray thee to give this house that hath
been so dear to us unto thy workwoman and her mates;
for we need it not, nor the hire thereof, but shall
do well enough with what money or good thou mayst
give us. Is this according to thy will, or have
I spoken rashly?
She said: Ye are good and ungreedy, and I bless
you for it; be it as ye will; and this the more, as
I were fain that ye go to Utterhay; for whiles I have
deemed that I myself am drawn thitherward, wherefore
it may be that we shall meet again in that place.
And when she had so spoken, she might not refrain
her tears; and the Gerardsons turned away, for they
were ashamed, both that they should see her weep,
or she them. But at last she called to them and
said: Now make we the speediest end we may of
this, for sorry work is the tarrying of farewell;
so I pray you, my friends, to go about the work I
have bidden you.
So all was done as she would, and the day after the
morrow was Birdalone abiding the coming of Gerard
and his sons with the horses; and despite of the sundering
of friends and the perils that belike lay before her,
the world seemed fair to her, and life beginning anew.
And she made no doubt that she would soon be at the
Castle of the Quest, and there find all things much
as she had left them; and there at least would be
the welcome of her dear friend Viridis.
Presently were the horses come with Gerard and his
sons, and Birdalone gat to horse amongst them.
She was armed in a light hauberk, and over it a long
and loose surcoat that came down beneath the knee
of her; and a sallet she had upon her head, wide but
light, so that not very much of her face was to be
seen. She had made up her mind to this tale
upon the road, when she was among folk, that she was
under a vow not to do off her helm for a seven days’
