“But lord, these be very wild men, obedient to no law save their own, and will follow none but their own; lawless men forsooth, governed only by the sword and made desperate by wrong and fear of the rope—­”

“Then ’tis time one learned them other ways, Walkyn.  So now I command thee, bring me to them—­’tis said thou wert great among them once.”

Hereupon Walkyn rose and taking up his mighty axe twirled it lightly in his hand.  “Behold, lord,” said he, “by virtue of this good axe am I free of the wild-wood; for, long since, when certain lords of Black Ivo burned our manor, and our mother and sister and father therein, my twin brother and I had fashioned two axes such as few men might wield—­this and another—­and thus armed, took to the green where other wronged men joined us till we counted many a score tall fellows, lusty fighters all.  And many of Ivo’s rogues we slew until of those knights and men-at-arms that burned our home there none remained save Red Pertolepe and Gui of Allerdale.  But in the green—­love came—­even to me—­so I laid by mine axe and vengeance likewise and came to know happiness until—­upon a day—­they hanged my brother, and thereafter they slew—­her—­my wife and child—­e’en as ye saw.  Then would I have joined the outlaws again.  But in my place they had set up one Tostig, a sturdy rogue and foul, who ruleth by might of arm and liveth but for plunder—­and worse.  Him I would have fought, but upon that night I fell in with thee.  Thus, see you, though I am free of the wild, power with these outlaws have I none.  So, an I should bring thee into their secret lurking-place, Tostig would assuredly give thee to swift death, nor could I save thee—­”

“Yet must I go,” said Beltane, “since, while I live, vowed am I to free Pentavalon.  And what, think you, is Pentavalon?  ’Tis not her hills and valleys, her towns and cities, but the folk that dwell therein; they, each one, man and woman and child, the rich and poor, the high and low, the evil and the good, aye, all those that live in outlawry—­these are Pentavalon.  So now will I go unto these wild men, and once they follow my call, ne’er will I rest until they be free men every one.  Each blow they strike, the wounds they suffer, shall win them back to honourable life, to hearth and home—­and thus shall they be free indeed.  So, Walkyn, bring me to the outlaws!”

Then stood Walkyn and looked upon Beltane ’neath heavy brows, nothing speaking, and turned him of a sudden and, striding forth of the cave, came back bearing another great axe.

“Lord,” said he, “thy long sword is missing, methinks.  Take now this axe in place of it—­’twas my brother’s once.  See, I have kept it bright, for I loved him.  He was a man.  Yet man art thou also, worthy, methinks, and able to wield it.  Take it therefore, lord Duke that art my brother-in-arms; mayhap it shall aid thee to bring order in the wild-wood and win Pentavalon to freedom.  Howbeit, wheresoe’er thou dost go, e’en though it be to shame and failure, I am with thee!”