The Wood Beyond the World
Page 33
CHAPTER XXXIII: CONCERNING THE FASHION OF KING-MAKING IN STARK-WALL
Meanwhile the King spake to the elder, and said: "Now tell me whereof Iam become king, and what is the fashion and cause of the king-making; forwondrous it is to me, whereas I am but an alien amidst of mighty men."
"Lord," said the old man, "thou art become king of a mighty city, whichhath under it many other cities and wide lands, and havens by the sea-side, and which lacketh no wealth which men desire. Many wise men dwelltherein, and of fools not more than in other lands. A valiant host shallfollow thee to battle when needs must thou wend afield; an host not to bewithstood, save by the ancient God-folk, if any of them were left uponthe earth, as belike none are. And as to the name of our said city, ithight the City of the Stark-wall, or more shortly, Stark-wall. Now as tothe fashion of our king-making: If our king dieth and leaveth an heirmale, begotten of his body, then is he king after him; but if he die andleave no heir, then send we out a great lord, with knights and sergeants,to that pass of the mountain whereto ye came yesterday; and the first manthat cometh unto them, they take and lead to the city, as they did withthee, lord. For we believe and trow that of old time our forefatherscame down from the mountains by that same pass, poor and rude, but fullof valiancy, before they conquered these lands, and builded the Stark-wall. But now furthermore, when we have gotten the said wanderer, andbrought him home to our city, we behold him mother-naked, all the greatmen of us, both sages and warriors; then if we find him ill-fashioned andcounterfeit of his body, we roll him in a great carpet till he dies; orwhiles, if he be but a simple man, and without guile, we deliver him forthrall to some artificer amongst us, as a shoemaker, a wright, or whatnot, and so forget him. But in either case we make as if no such man hadcome to us, and we send again the lord and his knights to watch the pass;for we say that such an one the Fathers of old time have not sent us. Butagain, when we have seen to the new-comer that he is well-fashioned ofhis body, all is not done; for we deem that never would the Fathers sendus a dolt or a craven to be our king. Therefore we bid the naked onetake to him which he will of these raiments, either the ancient armour,which now thou bearest, lord, or this golden raiment here; and if he takethe war-gear, as thou takedst it, King, it is well; but if he take theraiment of peace, then hath he the choice either to be thrall of somegoodman of the city, or to be proven how wise he may be, and so fare thenarrow edge betwixt death and kingship; for if he fall short of hiswisdom, then shall he die the death. Thus is thy question answered,King, and praise be to the Fathers that they have sent us one whom nonemay doubt, either for wisdom or valiancy."