Rewards and Fairies | Page 9

as we say. I'll show you some, some time. It pleased
him for the while, and it didn't hurt any one in particular except a few
men coming home late from the taverns. But I knew what it was a sign
of, and I followed him like a weasel follows a rabbit. As good a boy as
ever lived! I've seen him with Sir Huon and the Lady Esclairmonde
stepping just as they stepped to avoid the track of Cold Iron in a furrow,
or walking wide of some old ash-tot because a man had left his
swop-hook or spade there; and all his heart aching to go straightforward
among folk in housen all the time. Oh, a good boy! They always
intended a fine fortune for him - but they could never find it in their
heart to let him begin. I've heard that many warned them, but they
wouldn't be warned. So it happened as it happened.
'One hot night I saw the Boy roving about here wrapped in his flaming
discontents. There was flash on flash against the clouds, and rush on
rush of shadows down the valley till the shaws were full of his hounds
giving tongue, and the woodways were packed with his knights in
armour riding down into the water-mists - all his own Magic, of course.
Behind them you could see great castles lifting slow and splendid on
arches of moonshine, with maidens waving their hands at the windows,
which all turned into roaring rivers; and then would come the darkness

of his own young heart wiping out the whole slateful. But boy's Magic
doesn't trouble me - or Merlin's either for that matter. I followed the
Boy by the flashes and the whirling wildfire of his discontent, and oh,
but I grieved for him! Oh, but I grieved for him! He pounded back and
forth like a bullock in a strange pasture - sometimes alone - sometimes
waist-deep among his shadow- hounds - sometimes leading his
shadow-knights on a hawk- winged horse to rescue his shadow-girls. I
never guessed he had such Magic at his command; but it's often that
way with boys.
'Just when the owl comes home for the second time, I saw Sir Huon
and the Lady ride down my Hill, where there's not much Magic
allowed except mine. They were very pleased at the Boy's Magic - the
valley flared with it - and I heard them settling his splendid fortune
when they should find it in their hearts to let him go to act and
influence among folk in housen. Sir Huon was for making him a great
King somewhere or other, and the Lady was for making him a
marvellous wise man whom all should praise for his skill and kindness.
She was very kind-hearted.
'Of a sudden we saw the flashes of his discontents turned back on the
clouds, and his shadow-hounds stopped baying.
'"There's Magic fighting Magic over yonder," the Lady Esclairmonde
cried, reigning up. "Who is against him?"
'I could have told her, but I did not count it any of my business to speak
of Asa Thor's comings and goings.
'How did you know?'said Una.
'A slow North-East wind blew up, sawing and fretting through the oaks
in a way I remembered. The wildfire roared up, one last time in one
sheet, and snuffed out like a rushlight, and a bucketful of stinging hail
fell. We heard the Boy walking in the Long Slip - where I first met you.
'"Here, oh, come here!" said the Lady Esclairmonde, and stretched out
her arms in the dark.
'He was coming slowly, but he stumbled in the footpath, being, of
course, mortal man.
'"Why, what's this?" he said to himself. We three heard him.
'"Hold, lad, hold! 'Ware Cold Iron!" said Sir Huon, and they two swept
down like nightjars, crying as they rode.
'I ran at their stirrups, but it was too late. We felt that the Boy had

touched Cold Iron somewhere in the dark, for the Horses of the Hill
shied off, and whipped round, snorting.
'Then I judged it was time for me to show myself in my own shape; so I
did.
'"Whatever it is," I said, "he has taken hold of it. Now we must find out
whatever it is that he has taken hold of, for that will be his fortune."
'"Come here, Robin," the Boy shouted, as soon as he heard my voice. "I
don't know what I've hold of."
'"It is in your hands," I called back. "Tell us if it is hard and cold, with
jewels atop. For that will be a King's Sceptre. "
'"Not by a furrow-long," he said, and stooped and tugged in the dark.
We heard him. '"Has it a handle and