"Thou art she," answered Flame, "the soul of my soul."
"And what of thee?" whispered Roseheart. "What hast thou learned of life in thy far countries?"
Whereupon he answered, as the Voice of Vision had told him, "I have looked upon death for right's sake, and seen therein the life greater than mine own life; and I have The Feast is Spreadlooked upon the life which is sin and have seen therein the death of the spirit. I have much to tell thee, for that there must be nought but truth between us."
Then did King Telwyn himself draw the curtains of the tent and look within, smiling. "Flame, son of Lokus, the feast is spread for thee, though well I wot thou knowest not if thou art hungry. But time and enough will there be for talk with thy speech-friend and troth-plight maiden, when thou hast eaten thy meat, and refreshed thee from thy journey. Wherefore come now, the both of you, and shew yourselves unto the people, that all may rejoice."
Feasting and Laughter Thereupon did Flame, son of Lokus, lead forth his troth-plight maiden Roseheart, to a great table that had been spread under the trees, with a silken cloth, and great dishes of silver and gold, whereon were roast flesh, and new bread, and green things steaming and savoury, and fruits of divers sorts, good to the taste and beautiful. And there were flagons of wine, crimson, and of the colour of corn, and of brown like the leaves of autumn.
Then was there feasting and laughter, and Flame, son of Flame Speaketh ModestlyLokus, told many tales of far countries—of strange customs, and cunning of husbandry and handicraft; of wars and the courts of Kings; of mightily mountains, of great seas and the storms thereof, wherein he himself had laboured mightily with the men of the ship that they should not perish all.
And for that all he spake on these matters was shrewd and well taken, and modest withal, King Telwyn, listening, marked with gladness the manhood that had come to this youth of the isle of sea-surge and fire-bloom. And he was right well pleased, also, that the troth-plight of his daughter was returned The Queen Taketh Notewith clear eyes and noble bearing, and courtesy and readiness for all that made speech with him.
And Queen Ellaline, in the wont of elder women, had eyes to the way of Flame with his wine, the which he took gladly, as becomes a man, but not overmuch; and she was content. Roseheart, sitting beside her mother, the Queen, had thought for none but her troth-plight lord whom she loved; yet marked with pride his thought and courtesy for all that sat at meat with them. There was that in her which remembered with joy and tenderness how that he had thought aforetime only of themselves Roseheart Hath Pride and their love; but now was she proud that her lord was become a man among men, for well she knew that with all he said and did in any wise, there ran always the music of his joy in her, and the love of his soul for hers.