Talbot Mundy

“ As for my father, if he could come from the dead, he would bid me attend to the task of living and leave comfortably dead men to the druids!"
"You are mad, Tros!" said Caswallon. "But I like you, though I did doubt you a while back. You are a fool; Northmen are poor laborers on land. I will give you instead as much land as you can stride the length of on your own feet from dawn to sunset. With Cæsar's gold you can buy mares and cattle. I will give you the gray stallion I bought a month ago from the Iceni. Helma to wife and a holding in Britain, what more do you want?" ”

“ Caswallon asked.
"We have all lived many lives and destiny plays with us like pieces on the board," Tros answered. "I know the truth when I hear it."
He drew Helma closer to him in the hollow of his left arm.
"Truth when a woman speaks?" Caswallon answered. "Phagh! I grow sick of these cross-purposes! This is but a trick again. Northmen are all liars! This is a plan to gather all the Northmen in one place. They would gain my confidence, then break for liberty. Cæsar's woman has had no time to learn Glendwyr's plans, suppose he has any. And who would trust Glendwyr against me? ”

“ Fflur interrupted. She went to Caswallon's side and held his hand, then burst into speech as if a ten-day dam were down, word galloping on word with sobs between:
"He is the best king Britain ever had! Bravest of them all! Generous—too just to every one except himself! They take advantage. Kindness is weakness in a king. He should rule, and he won't! I told him when to kill Skell, but he did not even hunt him out of Britain! Now Skell is back again. They say Caswallon's friends are hunting him. Orwic bade them——"
"I thought of that!" said Tros. ”

“ Tros let go of Helma, almost pushed her from him.
"Cast up the reckoning!" he said. "Let us strike one woman off against the other, trusting neither. But a third remains, How often have you told me, 'Fflur is always right!' I say, take Fflur's word for it, and look sharply to Glendwyr!"
Caswallon stood still, mid-length of the hall.
"It would suit me well to fight him!" he said.
And he looked the part.
"Then fight him now!" Tros answered. "Glendwyr thinks tonight's obsequies will hold you occupied. Is he mad enough to spare you while your back is turned? To me it looks simple enough." ”

“ Not more men than I can snap my fingers at."
He snapped his fingers, then flexed his muscles and threw his shoulders back.
"Give me one good excuse to burn Glendwyr's roost!" he exclaimed.
But Tros grinned. It was an aggravating grin, as he intended that it should be.
"I have heard you say, 'Fflur is always right!'" he answered. "Cæsar's woman has had five days. Cæsar, himself swifter than the wind to snatch advantage, doubtless picked her for her swiftness. Zeus! Have you and I not seen how swift she is! ”

“ And it may be that Cæsar knew beforehand of Glendwyr's plans.
"Cæsar has spies, and there are Britons who trade back and forth with Gaul, as for instance the Atrebates, who are not your friends, Caswallon. Why, they tell me that half of the Atrebates live in Gaul.
"Would it be wonderful if Cæsar should have learned about dissension in your realm? Rome's very life is staked on other folks' dissensions! So is Cæsar's! A dead dog smells the same whichever way the wind blows! If he can keep Rome by the ears, faction against faction, for his own advantage, will he not do it here?" ”

“ Then, when she had done my hair, she sat at my feet making a great show of humility, and cried a little, and then exclaimed how much better destiny had treated me than her, me, who am to be a great sea-captain's wife, and she but a slave. ”