So with downcast head he sat empty and hopeless, and the little camp was silent.

In this mournful atmosphere while no one spoke, and no one seemed to watch, stood, when at last Rodriguez raised his head, with folded arms before the gate to nowhere, the King of Shadow Valley.  His face was surly, as though the face of a ghost, called from important work among asteroids needing his care, by the trivial legerdemain of some foolish novice.  Rodriguez, looking into those angry eyes, wholly forgot it was he that had a grievance.  The silence continued.  And then the King of Shadow Valley spoke.

“When have I broken my word?” he said.

Rodriguez did not know.  The man was still looking at him, still standing there with folded arms before the great gate, confronting him, demanding some kind of answer:  and Rodriguez had nothing to say.

“I came because you promised me the castle,” he said at last.

“I did not bid you come here,” the man with the folded arms answered.

“I went where you bade me,” said Rodriguez, “and you were not there.”

“In four weeks, I said,” answered the King angrily.

And then Alderon spoke.  “Have you any castle for my friend?” he said.

“No,” said the King of Shadow Valley.

“You promised him one,” said Don Alderon.

The King of Shadow Valley raised with his left hand a horn that hung below his elbow by a green cord round his body.  He made no answer to Don Alderon, but put the horn against his lips and blew.  They watched him all three in silence, till the silence was broken by many men moving swiftly through covert, and the green bowmen appeared.

When seven or eight were there he turned and looked at them.  “When have I broken my word?” he said to his men.

And they all answered him, “Never!”

More broke into sight through the bushes.

“Ask them” he said.  And Rodriguez did not speak.

“Ask them,” he said again, “when I have broken my word.”

Still Rodriguez and Alderon said nothing.  And the bowmen answered them.  “He has never broken his word,” every bowman said.

“You promised me a castle,” said Rodriguez, seeing that man’s fierce eyes upon him still.

“Then do as I bid you,” answered the King of Shadow Valley; and he turned round and touched the lock of the gates with some key that he had.  The gates moved open and the King went through.

Don Alderon ran forward after him, and caught up with him as he strode away, and spoke to him, and the King answered.  Rodriguez did not hear what they said, and never afterwards knew.  These words he heard only, from the King of Shadow Valley as he and Don Alderon parted:  “.... and therefore, senor, it were better for some holy man to do his blessed work before we come.”  And the King of Shadow Valley passed into the deeps of the wood.

As the great gates were slowly swinging to, Don Alderon came back thoughtfully.  The gates clanged, clicked, and were shut again.  The King of Shadow Valley and all his bowmen were gone.