“Lastly, I have none left to follow thee, Ralph, save Nicholas Longshanks; but though he hath more words than I have, yet hath he more wisdom, and is a man lettered and far-travelled, and loveth our house right well.

“How say ye, sons, is this to your liking?”

They all said “yea.”  Then quoth the king; “Nicholas, bring hither the straws ready dight, and I will give them my sons to draw.”

So each young man came up in turn and drew; and King Peter laid the straws together and looked at them, and said: 

“Thus it is, Hugh goeth north with Lancelot, Gregory westward with Clement.”  He stayed a moment and then said:  “Blaise fareth eastward and Richard with him.  As for thee, Ralph my dear son, thou shalt back with me and abide in my house and I shall see thee day by day; and thou shalt help me to live my last years happily in all honour; and thy love shall be my hope, and thy valiancy my stay.”

Therewith he arose and threw his arm about the young man’s neck; but he shrank away a little from his father, and his face grew troubled; and King Peter noted that, and his countenance fell, and he said: 

“Nay nay, my son; grudge not thy brethren the chances of the road, and the ill-hap of the battle.  Here at least for thee is the bounteous board and the full cup, and the love of kindred and well-willers, and the fellowship of the folk.  O well is thee, my son, and happy shalt thou be!”

But the young man knit his brows and said no word in answer.

Then came forward those three brethren who were to fare at all adventure, and they stood before the old man saying nought.  Then he laughed and said:  “O ho, my sons!  Here in Upmeads have ye all ye need without money, but when ye fare in the outlands ye need money; is it not a lack of yours that your pouches be bare?  Abide, for I have seen to it.”

Therewith he drew out of his pouch three little bags, and said; “Take ye each one of these; for therein is all that my treasury may shed as now.  In each of these is there coined money, both white and red, and some deal of gold uncoined, and of rings and brooches a few, and by estimation there is in each bag the same value reckoned in lawful silver of Upmeads and the Wolds and the Overhill-Countries.  Take up each what there is, and do the best ye may therewith.”

Then each took his bag, and kissed and embraced his father; and they kissed Ralph and each other, and so got to horse and departed with their squires, going softly because of the hot sun.  But Nicholas slowly mounted his hackney and led Ralph’s war-horse with him home again to King Peter’s House.

CHAPTER 2

Ralph Goeth Back Home to the High House