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to where dwelt the King's Daughter； and otherwhere in the land and
everywhere； quartering the realm of the Glittering Plain as the heron
quarters the flooded meadow when the waters draw aback into the
river。 So that now all people knew him when he came； and they
wondered at him； but when he came to any house for the third or
fourth time； they wearied of him； and were glad when he departed。
Ever it was one of two answers that he had： either folk said to him；
〃There is no such woman； this land is happy； and nought but happy
people dwell herein；〃 or else they told him of the woman who lived in
sorrow； and was ever looking on a book； that she might bring to her
the man whom she desired。
Whiles he wearied and longed for death； but would not die until there
was no corner of the land unsearched。 Whiles he shook off weariness；
and went about his quest as a craftsman sets about his work in the
morning。 Whiles it irked him to see the soft and merry folk of the
land； who had no skill to help him； and he longed for the house of
his fathers and the men of the spear and the plough； and thought；
〃Oh； if I might but get me back； if it were but for an hour and to
die there； to the meadows of the Raven； and the acres beneath the
mountains of Cleveland by the Sea。 Then at least should I learn some
tale of what is or what hath been； howsoever evil the tidings were；
and not be bandied about by lies for ever。〃
CHAPTER XV： YET HALLBLITHE SPEAKETH WITH THE KING
So wore the days and the moons； and now were some six moons worn
since first he came to the Glittering Plain； and he was come to Wood…
end again； and heard and knew that the King was sitting once more in
the door of his pavilion to hearken to the words of his people； and
he said to himself： 〃I will speak yet again to this man； if indeed
he be a man； yea； though he turn me into stone。〃
And he went up toward the pavilion； and on the way it came into his
mind what the men of the kindred were doing that morning； and he had
a vision of them as it were； and saw them yoking the oxen to the
plough； and slowly going down the acres； as the shining iron drew the
long furrow down the stubble…land； and the light haze hung about the
elm…trees in the calm morning； and the smoke rose straight into the
air from the roof of the kindred。 And he said： 〃What is this？ am I
death…doomed this morning that this sight cometh so clearly upon me
amidst the falseness of this unchanging land？〃
Thus he came to the pavilion； and folk fell back before him to the
right and the left； and he stood before the King； and said to him：
〃I cannot find her； she is not in thy land。〃
Then spake the King； smiling upon him； as erst： 〃What wilt thou
then？ Is it not time to rest？〃
He said： 〃Yea； O King； but not in this land。〃
Said the King： 〃Where else than in this land wilt thou find rest？
Without is battle and famine； longing unsatisfied； and heart…burning
and fear； within it is plenty and peace and good will and pleasure
without cease。 Thy word hath no meaning to me。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Give me leave to depart； and I will bless thee。〃
〃Is there nought else to do？〃 said the King。
〃Nought else；〃 said Hallblithe。
Therewith he felt that the King's face changed though he still smiled
on him； and again he felt his heart grow cold before the King。
But the King spake and said： 〃I hinder not thy departure； nor will
any of my folk。 No hand will be raised against thee； there is no
weapon in all the land； save the deedless sword by my side and the
weapons which thou bearest。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Dost thou not owe me a joy in return for my
beguiling？〃
〃Yea；〃 said the King； 〃reach out thine hand to take it。〃
〃One thing only may I take of thee；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃my troth…
plight maiden or else the speeding of my departure。〃
Then said the King； and his voice was terrible though yet he smiled：
〃I will not hinder； I will not help。 Depart in peace！〃
Then Hallblithe turned away dizzy and half fainting； and strayed down
the field； scarce knowing where he was； and as he went he felt his
sleeve plucked at； and turned about； and lo！ he was face to face with
the Sea…eagle； no less joyous than aforetime。 He took Hallblithe in
his arms and embraced him and kissed him； and said： 〃Well met；
faring…fellow！ Whither away？〃
〃Away out of this land of lies；〃 said Hallblithe。
The Sea…eagle shook his head； and quoth he： 〃Art thou still seeking
a dream？ And thou so fair that thou puttest all other men to shame。〃
〃I seek no dream；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but rather the end of dreams。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Sea…eagle； 〃we will not wrangle about it。 But
hearken。 Hard by in a pleasant nook of the meadows have I set up my
tent； and although it be not as big as the King's pavilion； yet is it
fair enough。 Wilt thou not come thither with me and rest thee to…
night； and to…morrow we will talk of this matter？〃
Now Hallblithe was weary and confused； and downhearted beyond his
wont； and the friendly words of the Sea…eagle softened his heart； and
he smiled on him and said： 〃I give thee thanks； I will come with
thee： thou art kind； and hast done nought to me save good from the
time when I first saw thee lying in thy bed in the Hall of the
Ravagers。 Dost thou remember the day？〃
The Sea…eagle knitted his brow as one striving with a troublous
memory； and said： 〃But dimly； friend； as if it had passed in an ugly
dream： meseemeth my friendship with thee began when I came to thee
from out of the wood； and saw thee standing with those three damsels；
that I remember full well ye were fair to look on。〃
Hallblithe wondered at his words； but said no more about it； and they
went together to a flowery nook nigh a stream of clear water where
stood a silken tent； green like the grass which it stood on； and
flecked with gold and goodly colours。 Nigh it on the grass lay the
Sea…eagle's damsel； ruddy…cheeked and sweet…lipped； as fair as
aforetime。 She turned about when she heard men coming； and when she
saw Hallblithe a smile came into her face like the sun breaking out
on a fair but clouded morning； and she went up to him and took him by
the hands and kissed his cheek； and said： 〃Welcome； Spearman！
welcome back！ We have heard of thee in many places； and have been
sorry that thou wert not glad； and now are we fain of thy returning。
Shall not sweet life begin for thee from henceforward？〃
Again was Hallblithe moved by her kind welcome； but he shook his head
and spake： 〃Thou art kind； sister； yet if thou wouldst be kinder
thou wilt show me a way whereby I may escape from this land。 For
abiding here has become irksome to me； and meseemeth that hope is yet
alive without the Glittering Plain。〃
Her face fell as she answered： 〃Yea； and fear also； and worse； if
aught be worse。 But come； let us eat and drink in this fair place；
and gather for the