But
meanwhile Birdalone had run to Viridis, who had fallen a dead weight
aside of her horse, and lay half hanging by the bonds of her ankles.
Birdalone swiftly cut the cords both of her feet and her hands, and
drew her off her horse as best she might, and laid her down on the
grass; and then ran to Arthur sword aloft, just as his new battle was
at point to begin.
But as she ran it came into her mind in a twinkling that her sword
would be but weak, and the horn hung about her neck. Then she stayed
her feet, and set the horn to her lips and blew; and the oliphant
gave forth a long singing note which was strange to hear. But while
it was yet at her lips one of the caitiffs was upon her, and he cried
out: Hah the witch, the accursed green witch! and fetched her a
great stroke from his saddle, and smote her on the helm; and though
his sword bit not on that good head-burg, she fell to the ground
unwitting.
Yet was not the wood-wife's promise unavailing, for even while the
voice of the horn was in the air, the way and thickets were alive
with men-at-arms, green-clad as those twain, who straightway fell on
the caitiffs, and with Arthur to help, left not one of them alive.
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