Before dawn the next day, Hal's army was roused and ready. They eagerly took their positions behind the slight rise Hal had ridden the night before. The enemy could have no knowledge of the fresh men who had come with the previous twilight. When the lords' armies crossed the river after their apparently fleeing quarry, they would find themselves trapped between water and Hal's war-

Laueroc 261

Hal rode with Rosemary until the army was in place.

Then he sent her well to the rear of the lines, with Robin and some others to guard her. "Now, as you love me,"

he charged her earnestly, "keep yourself far from the battle, for this day will come to no good for me if I must be worrying about you. Promise me."

She silently agreed, with a kiss for good luck.

"Robin, stay by her, and if I fare badly, take her to- ward the guards at Nemeton. But I do not doubt that I shall see you both later. Take care."

So it was that Robin was not with Hal when Hal needed him most.

Arundel was not with him either; he was also with Robin. The horse had been wounded several times, and was too stiff to defend himself properly. But Rafe would not see Hal mounted on anything less than the best steed available. So Rafe rode a hack, and Hal took the black charger. Night Storm.

Hal's men waited, bright-eyed with anticipation, until the signal; then they topped the rise and struck. The slope of the land favored them, and the momentum of the battle was theirs from the start. First the archers showered the enemy with a deadly rain of arrows; then the mounted men charged, hewing like woodcutters. In their wake followed a swarm of foot soldiers and variously armed peasants, chopping like butchers. Within min- utes the ranks of the enemy were decimated and forced back toward the river. But then- scattered horsemen rallied, banding together at the center of their line.

Into this group Hal plunged, for it was essential that they be split apart.

In a moment he was at the vortex of a seething, tum- bling caldron of men and horses. Behind him and to the sides, Hal saw, his men were picking off the enemy warriors that had turned their attention his way. Still, he always faced several foes, and Night Storm turned to each threat, scarcely needing Hal's guidance. ".Bee wilndas." Hal murmured to him. "Good friendl" Though surrounded on all sides, they were hardly scratched, and through their concentration and teamwork they had stalled an enemy charge.

But suddenly Night Storm reared so high that Hal was catapulted off the steed. Dazed, Hal realized that an up- raised enemy sword had an instant before been aimed at

262.

THE SILVER SUN.

his own neck. Stormy feinted at the wielder with light- ning forehooves. But the blade sank into the horse's throat, and Stormy crashed to the ground.

Not the first time he has saved my life, Hal thought hazily. I'm sorry, Rafe. . . . But there was no time for grief; hooves were bearing down on him from all direc- tions. Hal struggled to his feet and looked wildly about him for some refuge. In this extremity Robin should have come to him; but it was Derek who appeared by his side.

"Your back to mine, my King," Derek urged, and Hal obeyed him gratefully.

Derek stood almost a head taller than Hal, and pro- tected him admirably. But Derek was not skilled with the sword; he had spent most of his life working with even grimmer implements. Hal was able to fend off his oppo- nents with his long reach, to pink them in the belly or the thigh. But he was painfully aware that, behind his back, Derek was taking hard blows. He told him what nothing had ever made him say before.

"Kill the horses under them, Derek!" Hal shouted.

Derek scarcely heard the words, lost in the battle din around him. A red curtain swam in front of his eyes;

he dimly realized that it was his own blood. He swung his sword at random. He cared little for his own life, but ur- gency pounded in him like a pulse: "My King-my King -my King-" Then pain pierced him to the vitals, and blackness blotted out the blood-red tide.

Hal felt him fall, and bit his lip in helplessness. But at that moment, like a fog being swept away by the wind, the struggling mass of men and horses disappeared from around him. Panting, Hal found himself staring at Alan's anxious face.

"Are you burti" Alan demanded.

"Hardly a scratch. Alan, finish it for me, pray. , . ." As Alan cantered off, Hal sank to his knees beside Derek, feeling for life. The mangled form stirred under his hands,

and Derek opened his eyes, whispering, "Good my lord, you are well?"

Hal nodded, scarcely able to speak. He forced words out against the tightness of his chest. "Derek, the debt is paid in full, and over- For my life I thank you."

But Derek's eyes stared peaceful and unseeing at the blue sky. Hal closed the lids. Beyond him, the battle was

Laueroc 263

nearing an end. Hal rose and trudged heavily off to find Rate.

"The news travels across the land almost faster than mortals can convey it,'* Alan said. "It is as if there is a power in the air. Everyone in Isle knows that something wonderful is happening."

"The end of the Age is approaching," Hal quietly agreed, "and all things are spinning quickly to a close.

The people feel it, though perhaps they do not under- stand."

Hal and Alan, with Rosemary, Rafe and Craig, sat to- gether in council the day after the battle.

"The people of Welas understand," Alan replied. "Leg- ends have come to life for them, and they accept it with fierce joy. I believe fhere is not a man or boy of Welandais birth who has failed to turn his hand against the oppres- sors. The companies of Torre and Adaoun swept across the countryside like fire in a field of dry grass. Before I left Laueroc, I heard they were already in Welden. Folk told of a giant white horse, gold-winged, that flew above the armies, directing their movements to best advantage.

They spoke also of a tall, fair race of mountain warriors who struck terror into the hearts of their adversaries, and of their horses, lovelier than dreams, who fought as fiercely as their masters. And these things were said fear- lessly, with admiration and joy."

Rosemary was puzzled, for she knew nothing of the elves, but Rate's eyes sparkled.

Alaa continued more slowly. "Hal, I also heard that Torre and Galin both died at the taking of Welden."

Hal bowed his head in pain for a moment, and Rose- mary reached out to inquiringly touch his hand. "My grandfather," he explained, "and my uncle, my mother's only living brother. I had so wished to see them again...."

"Torre was ready," Alan said. "They say he was splen- did. They say he fought with greater force than strong young men, that his face shone as he struck down the foes that had dishonored him. He shouted your name as his battle cry, Hal, and his army took it up. He received his death blow in the heat of the struggle, but he lasted long enough to see the battle won. Somehow he knew that Galin had been killed, and he named you as his heir. You

264.

THE SILVER SUN.

are now the last of that line, Hal," Alan added gentiy, "and I know Galin would not begrudge you that crown."

Hal kept silence. After a pause Rafe inquired, "Any other news, Alan?"

"Pelys still had not taken Gaunt, when last I heard,"

he answered, "but it was said it must soon fall to him.

All of the peasants and half the soldiers had made away with arms and supplies, later to join with your father, my lady. I heard also that the warlords fight against Arrok as

one body, for a wonder. His doom will not be long in coming."

"Lord Roran has defeated Gar of Whitewater," said Rosemary softly, "and he will soon be here, and very glad, I am sure, to find Robin safe. And Ket had no dif- ficulty taking Lee, with Nabon's garrison weakened by his raid. Why, Hal, it sounds as if it is all settled. You have nothing to worry you anymore."

"Nay," said Hal somberly, "nothing to do but bury the dead."

Chapter Three.

Alan badly wanted to talk to Hal. But the time was never right. For days after the battle, Hat was silent and moody, taking shovel alongside his men to rid the battlefield of its grisly load. Only when he was with Rosemary did his face brighten, so Alan was careful to leave them alone.

By the time they departed for Nemeton, Hal was in better spirits- Swift messengers had come to him from all parts of Isle, each one bringing news of victory. Hal sent the couriers back to their masters with news of his con- quest, and other news of which Alan knew nothing. There was, a gleam in Hal's eye as he and Rosemary rode side by side into Nemeton.

The greeting he received there took away bis breath, and replaced the gleam with a tremble of wonder. The streets were lined ten deep with people smiling and call- ing his name, each bearing the bounty of summer's flowers. Rosemary wore only a borrowed frock, and Hal was tattered and stained with weeks in the field. But be- fore they reached the first crossroad they shone brighter than the gods of legend, laden with as many blossoms as they could carry. Wreath upon wreath decked the horses'

necks, and trumpet vines entwined their ears. Rosemary held a huge bundle of roses in her arms, and daisy crowns