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"So noill I guide thee back to thine own fair duchy, gentle mistress, for I do tell thee here in Pentavalon shall be woeful days anon Even as I came, with these two eyes did I behold the black ruin of Duke Ivo's goodly gallows--a woeful sight! And divers tales have I heard of this gallows-burner, how that he did, unaided and alone, seize and bear off upon his shoulders one Sir Pertolepe--called the 'Red'-- Lord Warden of the Marches So hath Duke Ivo put a price upon his head and decreed that he shall forthright be hunted down, and thereto hath sent runners far and near with his exact description, the which have I heard and can hed the Duchess, a little wearily

"As thus, lady Item: calleth himself Beltane, son of Beltane, Duke of Pentavalon that was: Item--"

"Beltane!" said the Duchess, and started

"Ite Item: hath yellow hair--"

"Yellow hair!" said the Duchess, and turned to look upon Beltane

"Iteold and silver Iteend-- lady, dost thou attend?--Ha! Saint Martin aid us!" cried Godric, for now, following the Duchess's glance, he beheld Beltane leaning upon his long sword Then, while Godric stared open-ht in her eyes and with hands tight clasped, while Beltane looking upon her sighed amain

"Helen!" he cried, "O Helen, 'tis true that I who am Beltane the Smith, am likewise son of Beltane, Duke of Pentavalon Behold, the sword I bear is the sword of the Dukeis vanquished and oppression driven hence Thus, see you, I may not stay to love, within roaned and bowed his head So ca, yet touched him not

"Dear my lord," said she, tender-voiced, "thou should'st make a noble duke, entle Beltane the Shty man-at-arms, my lord, and terrible in war, oodly duke indeed!"

"Mayhap," he answered heavily, "h But now must I leave thee--"

"Aye, but wherefore?"

"Thou hast heard--I aoeth death--"

"So will I go also," she murmured, "ever and always beside thee"