It was past middle night when the council brake up, and Corund sought his chamber in the eastern gallery above the inner court. He found his lady sitting yet at the window, watching the false dawn over Pixyland. Dismissing his lamp-bearers that lighted him to bed, he bolted and barred the great iron-studded door. The breadth of his shoulders when he turned filled the shadowy doorway; his head well nigh touched the lintel. It was hard to read his countenance in the uncertain gloom where he stood beyond the bright region made by the candle-light, but Prezmyra’s eyes could mark how care sat on his brow, and there was in the carriage of his ponderous frame kingliness and the strength of some strong determination.
She stood up, looking up at him as on a mate to whom she could be true and be true to her own self. “Well?” she said.
“The tables are set,” said he, without moving. “The King hath named me his captain general in Carcë.”
“Is it come to that?” said Prezmyra.
“They have hewn a limb from us,” answered he. “They have wit to know the next stroke should be at the heart.”
“Is it truly so?” said she. “Eight thousand men? twice thine army’s strength that won Impland for us? all drowned?”
“’Twas the devilish seamanship of these accursed Demons,” said Corund. “It appeareth Laxus held the Straits where they must go if ever they should win home again, meaning to fight ’em in the narrows and so crush ’em with the weight of’s ships as easy as kill flies, having by a great odds the bigger strength both in ships and men. They o’ their part kept the sea without, trying their best to ’tice him forth so they might do their sailor tricks i’ the open. A week or more he withstood it, till o’ the ninth day (the devil curse him for a fool, wherefore could a not have had patience?) o’ the ninth morning, weary of inaction and having wind and tide something in his favour”; the Lord Corund groaned and snapped his fingers contemptuously. “O I’ll tell thee the tale to-morrow, madam. I’m surfeited with it to-night. The sum is, Laxus drownded and all that were with him, and Juss with his whole great armament northward bound for Witchland.”
“And the wide seas his. And we expect him, any day?”
“The wind hangeth easterly. Any day,” said Corund.
Prezmyra said, “That was well done to rest the command in thee. But what of our qualified young gentleman who had that office aforetime. Will he play o’ these terms?”