The Red Axe

by S. R. Crockett

  CHAPTER XXII

  HELENE HATES ME

  However, when the provision came to the outer port, we three sat downabout it, and then, by my troth, there was little to marvel at in thetardiness of our eating. For the rabbits seemed to come alive andpositively leaped down our throats, the partridges almost flew at us outof the pot, the pigeons fairly rejoiced to be eaten. The broth and thegravy ebbed lower and lower in the pan and left all dry. But as soon aswe had picked the bones roughly, for there was no time for fine work lestthe others should get all the best, we threw the bones out to the hungrycrew that watched us sitting round the stalls, their very jowls pendulouswith envy.

  So after a while we came to the end, and then I went to the entrance ofthe chamber where were bestowed the Little Playmate and the LadyYsolinde. For I began to be anxious how Helene would be able to comportherself in the company of one so dainty and full of devices andconvenances as the lady of the Weiss Thor.

  But, by my faith, I need not have troubled about our little lass. For ifthere were any embarrassed, that one was certainly not Helene. And if anyof us lacked reposefulness of manners, that one was certainly a staringjackanapes, who did not know which foot to stand upon, nor yet how to sitdown on the oaken settle when a seat was offered him, nor, last of all,when nor how to take his departure when he had once sat down. And as tothe identity of that jackass, there needs no further particularity.

  Nevertheless, I talked pleasantly enough with both of them, and I mighthave been an acquaintance of the day for all the notice that the LittlePlaymate took of me, oven when the Lady Ysolinde told her, evidently notfor the first time, of my standing sentry by the door and blowing uponthe match at my girdle.

  From without we heard presently the clapping of hands and loud deray ofmerrymaking, so I went to find out what it might be that was causing suchan uproar.

  There I found Jorian and Boris giving a kind of exhibition of their skillin military exercises. It might be, also, that they desired to teach alesson for the benefit of the wild robber border folk and the yet moreruffianly kempers who foregathered in this strange inn of Erdberg on theborders of the Mark.

  I summoned the maids that they might look on. For I wot the scene was acurious and pleasing one, and I could see that the eyes of the LadyYsolinde glittered. But our little maid, being used to all these thingsfrom her youth, cared nothing for it, though the thing was indeedmarvellous in itself.

  When I went out our two men-at-arms had each of them in hand his straightWendish Tolleknife, made heavy at the end of the Swedish blade, but lightas to the handle, and hafted with cork from Spain.

  Ten yards apart, shoulder to shoulder they stood, and, first of all, eachof them poising the knife in the hollow of his hand with a peculiardancing movement, set it writhing across the room at a marked circle on aboard. The two knives sped simultaneously with a vicious whir, and stoodquivering, with their blades touching each other, in the centre of thewhite. At the next trial, so exactly had they been aimed that the pointof the one hit upon the haft of the other and stripped the cork almostto the blade. But Jorian, to whom the knife belonged, mended it with apiece of string, telling the company philosophically that it was no badthing to have a string hanging loose to a Tolleknife, for when it wentinto any one the string would always hang down from the wound in order topull it out by.

  Then they got their knives again and played a more dangerous game. Jorianstood on guard with his knife, waving the blade slowly before him in theshape of a long-bodied letter S. Boris poised his weapon in the hollow ofhis hand, and sent it whirring straight at Jorian's heart. As it camebuzzing like an angry bee, almost too quick for the eye to follow, Jorianflicked it deftly up into the air at exactly the right moment, and,without even taking his eye off it, he caught the knife by the handle asit fell. Thereafter he bowed and gave it back to the throwerceremoniously. Then Boris guarded, and Jorian in his turn threw, with alike result, though, perhaps, a little less featly done on Boris's part.

  All the while there was a clamant and manifold astonishment in thekitchen of the inn, together with prodigal and much-whispering wonder.

  Then ensued other plays. Boris stood with his elbow crooked and his lefthand on his hip, with his back also turned to Jorian. _Buzz!_ went theknife! It flashed like level lightning under the arch of Jorian's armpit,and lo! it was caught in his right hand, which dropped upon it like ahawk upon a rabbit, as it sped through his elbow port.

  Then came shooting with the cross-bow, and I regretted much that I hadonly learned the six-foot yew, and that there was not one in the company,nor indeed room to display it if there had been. For I longed to dosomething to show that I also was no milksop.

  Now it chanced that there was in one corner a yearling calf that hadbeen killed that day, and hung up with a bar between its thighs. I saw anaxe leaning in the corner--an axe with a broad, cutting edge--and Ibethought me that perhaps, after all, I knew something which even Jorianand Boris were ignorant of. So, mindful of my father's teaching, I tookthe axe, and, before any one was aware of my intent, I swept thelong-handled axe round my head, and, getting the poise and distance forthe slow drawing cut which does not stop for bone nor muscle, I dividedthe neck through at one blow so that the head dropped on the ground.

  Then there was much applause and wonder. Men ran to lift the calf's head,and the owner of the axe came up to examine the edge of his weapon. Ilooked about. The eyes of the Lady Ysolinde were aflame with pleasure,but, on the other hand, the Little Playmate was crimson with shame. Tearsstood in her beautiful eyes.

  She marched straight up to meet me, and, clinching her hands, she said;"Oh, I hate you !"

  And so went within to her chamber, and I saw her no more that night. NowI take all to witness what strange things are the mind and temper of eventhe best of women. And why Helene thus spoke to me I know not--nay, evento this day I can hazard no right guess. But as I have often said, Godnever made anything straight that He made beautiful, except only the linewhere the sea meets the sky.

  And of all the pretty, crooked, tangled things that He has made, womenare the prettiest, the crookedest--and the most distractingly tangled.

  Which is perhaps why they are so everlastingly interesting, and why weblundering, ram-stam, homely favored men love them so.

  But the best entertainment must at long and last come to an end. And theone in the inn of Erdberg lasted not so long as the telling of it--forthe matter, being more comfortable than that which came after, I have,perhaps, not hurried so much as I might.

  When at last both supper and entertainment were finished, and theearthenware platters huddled away into the hall without, there arose amighty clamor, so that Jorian went to the door and cried out to thelandlord to know what was the matter. The old brick-dusty knave camehulking forward, and, with greatly increased respect, he addressed themen-at-arms.

  "What is your will, noble sirs?"

  "I asked," said Jorian, "what was the reason of this so ill-favorednoise. If your guests cannot be quiet, I will come among them withsomething that will settle the quarrels of certain of them inperpetuity."

  So with sulky recurrent murmurs the fray finally settled itself, and forthat time at least there was no more trouble. I went to the door of theLady Ysolinde and the Little Playmate and cried in to them a courteousgood-night. For I had been sorry to have Helene's "I hate you!" for herlast word. And the Lady Ysolinde came to the door in a light robe of silkand gave me her hand to kiss. But though I said: "A sweet sleep and apleasant, Helene!" no voice replied. Which I took very ill, seeing that Ihad done naught amiss that I knew of.

  Then Jorian, Boris, and I made us comfortable for the night, and, beinginstructed by Boris, I set my straw, with the foot of my bundle to thedoor, which opened inward upon us. Then, putting my sword by my side andmy other weapons convenient to my hand, I laid me down and braced my feetfirmly against the door, thus locking it safely.

  Jorian and Boris did the same at the other entrances, and before theformer went to sle
ep he arranged a tall candle that had been placedunlighted before a little shrine of the Virgin (for, in name at least,the folk were not wholly pagan) and lighted it, so that it shed a faintillumination down the long passage in which we were bestowed, and on theinner door of the ladies' apartment.

  And though I was far from being in love, yet the thought of the wanderingdamsels, both so fair and so far from home, moved me deeply. And I was inact to waft a kiss towards the door when Jorian caught me.

  "What now?" he said; "art at thy prayers, lad ?"

  "Aye, that am I," said I, "towards the shrine of the Saints' Rest."

  Now this was irreverent, and mayhap afterwards we were all soundlypunished for it. But at least it was on the level of their soldiers'wit--though I own, at the most, no great matter to cackle of.

  "Ho! ho! Good!" chuckled Boris, under his breath. "One of them isdoubtless a saint. But as to the other--well, let us ask the Prince. 'Hehath a Princess, and she is oft upon her travels?' Ho! ho! ho!"

  And the lout shook among his straw to such an extent that I bade him forGod's dear sake to bide still, otherwise we might as lief lie in a barnamong questing rattons.

  "And the saints of your Saints' Rest defend us from lying among anyworse!" said he, and betook him to sleep.