Hesitating, the Etheling went from red to white. Then, with a swift motion, he
unsheathed his sword and stretched it out, point-foremost.
"King Edmund," he said, "in no other way does my hand go forth toward a
traitor."
This time there was no sound of breaths drawn in; it was as though the whole
world had ceased breathing. The sternness that had underlain the King's manner
rose slowly and spread over the whole surface of his person, as he drew
himself up in towering offence.
"Lord of Ivarsdale, bethink yourself to whom you speak!"
He was royally imposing in his displeasure; the Etheling flushed like a boy
before his master; but he had his answer ready, and his head was steadily
erect as he gave it.
"King of the Angles, the right of open speech has belonged to my race as long
as the right to the crown has belonged to yours. So my father's fathers spoke
to yours under the council-tree, and so I shall speak to you while I live."
Back in the shadow, each yeoman laid one hand upon his weapon, and with the
other, thrust an exulting thumb into his neighbor's ribs. But they did not
turn to look at each other; every eye was fastened upon the two by the fire.
Freeman and his leader, or feudal lord and his dependant? For the moment they
stood forth as representatives of a mighty conflict, and every breath hung
upon their motions.
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