In sudden reaction of anger Carse said, “A fine welcome! All of us brushed aside for a look at Ywain and then your sister faints at sight of me!”
“By the gods!” Ronald groaned. “Your pardon—we had not meant it so. As for my sister, she is too much with the Halflings and given as they are to dreams of the mind.”
He raised his voice. “Ho, there, Ironbeard! Let us redeem our manners!”
The largest of the Sea Kings, a grizzled giant with a laugh like the north wind, came forward and before Carse realized their intention they had tossed him onto their shoulders and marched with him up the quay where everyone could see him.
“Hark, you!” Rold bellowed. “ Hark!”
The crowd quieted at his voice.
“Here is Carse, the barbarian. He took the galley—he captured Ywain—he slew the Serpent! How do you greet him?”
Their greeting nearly brought down the cliffs. The two big men bore Carse up the steps and would not put him down. The people of Khondor streamed after them, accepting the men of his crew as their brothers. Carse caught a glimpse of Boghaz, his face one vast porcine smile, holding a giggling girl in each arm.
Ywain walked alone in the center of a guard of the Sea Kings. The scarred man watched her with a brooding madness in his unwinking eyes.
Rold and Ironbeard dumped Carse to his feet at the summit, panting.