And therewith she told
him of the Sending Boat, and how she would have to speed it on the
way.
He looked on her a little and then turned away, and saw her sword
lying on the grass; so he went to it and picked it up and brought it
to her, and said: Thou mayst yet need this keen friend. So she took
it and thrust it back into the scabbard, quaking somewhat because of
him; so feeble and frail as she felt before him. Then he said: If
thou deemest thou hast somewhat to reward me for, I have a boon to
ask of thee, and granting that, we shall be quits again. Yea, she
said faintly, and what is the boon? He said: Art thou pressed to
depart now, this minute? Nay, said Birdalone, not for an hour if
there be no peril here from other men, and . . . and . . . And if I
be true to thee and will let thee go? said he, laughing; hah! is that
not thy word? fear not, I swear by thine eyes that thou shalt depart
whenso thou wilt. Now then, the boon I crave is, that thou wilt sit
down here beside me and tell me the tale of thy life that has been.
Said she: It wearies me to think thereof; yet hast thou a right to
crave somewhat of me, and this is not hard to grant.
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