Therewith she presented them unto Arthur and Hugh
and the three ladies of the Quest, and all they greeted
them kindly and in all honour; and the Gerardsons
loved and worshipped them, and especially the lovely
ladies, the she-friends of their lady.
And whiles they were about this, in cometh old Gerard
himself, and when Birdalone saw him at the door, she
arose and ran to meet him, and cast her arms about
him as if she were his own daughter; and most joyful
was the meeting betwixt them.
Now when seven days were worn, the mayor made a great
feast at his house, and thither were bidden all the
men of the porte and other worthies, and great merchants
who had come into their town; and the said feast was
given in honour of these new-comers, and that day they
sat on the dais, and all the guests worshipped them
and wondered at their beauty; and nought was spoken
of for many days save the glory and hope that there
was in this lovely folk.
But the next day after the feast were they brought
to their house in all triumph; and it was as fair
as might be thought of, and there they dwelt a while
in rest and peace, and great recourse there was there
of Gerard and his sons.
But ere the winter was over, were Hugh and Arthur
and Gerard and his sons taken to the freedom of Utterhay;
and thereafter spake the chief men of the porte and
the masters of the crafts unto the two knights by
the mouth of the mayor; and he told them, what already
they partly knew, that the good town had of late gotten
many enemies, whereas it was wealthy and not very
strong, and that now two such warriors having come
amongst them, they were minded to strengthen themselves,
if only they two would of their gentleness and meekness
become their war-dukes to lead them against the foemen.
But the two friends answered that it was well their
will to dwell there neighbourly, and do them all the
help they might, and that they would not gainsay the
worship they offered them nor the work that should
go with it.
With that answer were all men well content and more:
and then the mayor said that the mind of the porte
it was to strengthen the walls and the gates, and
to build a good and fair castle, meet for any earl,
joining on to the wall by the face that looked west,
that is to say, on to Evilshaw; and that liked the
war-dukes well.
So when spring came it was set about, but it was five
years adoing, and before it was all finished the war-dukes
entered into it, and dwelt there with their wives
and their friends in all honour. And a little
thereafter, whether they would or no, the men of Utterhay
had to handle weapons and fare afield to meet the
foe with the valiant men of the crafts, and what of
waged men they might get. And well and valiantly
were they led by their dukes, and they came to their
above, and gained both wealth and honour thereby; and
from that time forward began the increase of Utterhay
under those two captains, who were unto them as in
old time the consuls had been unto the Roman folk,
save that they changed them not year by year as the
Romans were wont.
