Adventure Magazine Cover — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Son of Strife from the courtyard to the wide double doors that gave entrance to the great hall; but near the top he halted. “Hath the lookout reported aught?” “No, lord. Why? Did you see——” “T rode toward Jordan,” returned Sir Gui. “I saw naught save sand and rocks and half-starved peasants. Are all our company within gates?”’ “All but Ali Ma’akwaa.”’ “The captain of the bowmen! And he?” “Nay, lord, I can not say. You gave orders he was to ride forth at pleasure. He left before you did, and is not yet re- turned.” Sir Gui nodded slowly, and drew off his heavy hawking gauntlets. ‘“°Tis a shrewd knave,” he commented, “and knows the country well. ’I'was he tracked me the wolf I slew in Whitsuntide week. Give him free rein.” “Aye, lord. And what other commands?” “None, unless it be that you join us at the board.” A Poulani serving-knave, one of the half-breeds of Syrian and Frankish ances- try, threw open the doors of the great hall before Sir Gui. Inside, the spacious cham- ber was blurred with shadows, but at the upper end a blaze of oil lamps and rush- lights illumined the dais where two figures sat at a long table athwartwise of the room. Both raised their heads as Sir Gui entered. “Ha, Gui de Taberie!”’ cried a slender man with clean-shaven cheeks. ‘Well met! I began to fear the Saracens had taken you.” “On my own lands? Nay, ’tis not so bad vet, John. I greet you well, Messer Renier,”’ he added stiffly, turning to the second occupant of the high table, a man full as large as himself, with a ruddy, arro- gant face. ‘We do not meet often, although our lands march together.”’ “Vou are always welcome at Mardan, Messer Gui,” replied de Chappes—but there was no cordiality in the invitation. ‘““Aye, the king himself hath sent me to endeavor that there shall be cooperation betwixt you twain,” spoke up John the Englishman. “Hearing that I was about setting forth upon a visit to the court of Antioch, he bade me tarry on my way and carry this message to the lords of Nerak and Mardan. For, says Amalric, you are the two wardens of the Eastern march upon whom falls the brunt of guarding the heart of the kingdom, and he would have you 51 brethren in earnest as well as in purpose.” “Why, as to that there can be no ques- tion,” returned Sir Gui coldly. ‘ ’Tis in the interest of both of us to keep the Sara- cens out. When we fail—or perchance when one of us fails—then let the king read us at fault.” “No Saracen foray shall pass the gates of Mardan,” declared de Chappes. “Then will you perform greater deeds than the greatest lord of the land,” sneered Sir Gui. “TI and my forefathers have held Nerak since the Crosses came into Outremer, and none has called us delinquent—and lived—yet many a foray has passed these gates.” | “Messer Renier spoke by the book,” in- terrupted John the Englishman, anxious to keep the peace. “But in truth, Gui, there is more to the king’s message.” Sir Gui yawned elaborately. “Let be with statescraft, I pray you,” he begged. “I have ridden since morning and am weary. Ho, varlets! Wine! None of your muddy Syrian brew, but a flask of the Cyprian.” “Drink, by all means,” said John the Englishman, laughing. “But list to the king. He wots well the love you bear for him, and weighty is the trust he imposes in you, knowing, so he saith, that you place always the good of the land before that of your fief.” “The king deceives himself,’ protested Sir Gui, pouring the ruddy wine from a gold- en flagon a squire presented on bended knee. “TY care naught for this dry, hard fief of mine. Had I other resort I would flee it tomorrow. But we barons of Outremer arc reared to the one end. We have no gold to purchase richer manors at home. ’Tis this or nothing. And so I ride as pleases me, John, to hunt, to hawk, to war upon my enemies. But as for the villeins who farm my wretched fields, I care not whether they hunger or thirst, so be they deliver me my rents.” The lord of Mardan shook his head. “You do not honor yourself by so speak- ing, Messer Gui,” he said. “TI do not say it with intent to offend, but 4 Sir Gui laughed, and withdrew his nose from the ebbing cup. | “Honor? What is honor?” quoth he. ‘An I read the signs aright, ’tis no other than power, win it as you may. I am short- ly returned from a visit to Constantinople, GO 1INOO S C@