“Because?”
“I serve one whose pride is as a new-forged sword.”
Her eyes flashed at him, and grew full of tremulous, strange light.
“If I desire and am desired, yet can I honour the man who is lord of his own love.”
“Isoult——”
“Dear heart, I know what I know.”
She freed her hands, took his sword, drew it out of the scabbard, and touched the blade with her lips.
“Good sword, no shame shall ever come to thee. I—Isoult—swear it.”
He took the sword from her, and held it pommel upwards.
“On the Cross I answer to that! Isoult—to the death!”