The Sword and the Stallion - 06 Read Free Page B

traveling up and down its length. "It is right," he said.
    Hisak, too, inspected the white-hot metal, nodding. ’ 'It is right.''
    Goffanon's smile was almost ecstatic and he half turned, seeing Corum. "Aha, Prince Corum. You come at the perfect moment. See!" He lifted the strip of metal high. Now it glowed red hot, the color of fresh blood. "See, Corum! What do you see?"
    "I see a sword blade."
    "You see the finest sword blade made in Mabden lands. It has taken us a week to achieve this. Between us, Hisak and I have made it. It is a symbol of the old alliance between Mabden and Sidhi. Is it not fine?"
    "It is very fine."
    Goffanon swept the red sword back and forth through the air and the metal hummed. "It has yet to be fully tempered, but it is almost ready. It has yet to be given a name, but that will be left to you."
    "To me?"
    ‘ 'Of course!" Goffanon laughed in delight. ‘ 'Of course! It is your sword, Corum. It is the sword you will use when you lead the Mabden into battle."
    "Mine?" Corum was taken aback.
    ' 'Our gift to you. Tonight, after the feast, we will return here and the sword will be ready for you. It will be a good friend to you, this sword, but only after you have named it will it be able to give you all its strength."
    "I am honored, Goffanon," said Corum. "I had not guessed ..."
    The great dwarf tossed the blade into a trough of water and steam hissed. "Half of Sidhi manufacture, half of Mabden. The right sword for you, Corum."
    "Indeed." Corum agreed. He was deeply moved by Goffanon's revelation. "Indeed, you are right, Goffanon." He turned to look shyly at the grinning Hisak. "I thank you, Hisak. I thank you both."
    And then Goffanon said quietly and somewhat mysteriously: "It is not for nothing that Hisak is nicknamed the Sunthief. But still there is a song to be sung and a sign to be placed."
    Respecting the rituals, but privately believing that they had no real significance, Corum nodded his head, convinced that an important honor had been done to him, but unable to define the exact nature of that honor.
    ' I thank you again,'' he said sincerely. ‘ "There are no words, for language is a poor thing which does no justice to the emotions I should like to express."
    ' 'Let there be no further words on this matter until the time comes for the sword-naming," said Hisak, speaking for the first time, his voice gruff and understanding.
    "I had come to consult you upon another matter," said Corum. "Ilbrec spoke of possible allies earlier. I wondered if this meant anything to you."
    Goffanon shrugged. "I have already said that I can think of none."
    "Then we will let the subject pass until Ilbrec has had time to speak to you himself," said Medhbh?> touching Corum's sleeve. "We will see you tonight at the feast, my friends. Now we go to rest."
    And she led a thoughtful Corum back toward the walls of Caer Mahlod.
     
     
    THE THIRD CHAPTER
    AT THE FEAST
     
     
    Now the great Hall of Caer Mahlod was filled. A stranger entering would not have guessed that the folk here prepared themselves for a final desperate war against an almost invincible foe; indeed the gathering seemed to have the spirit of a celebration. Four long oaken tables formed a hollow square in the center of which sat, not altogether comfortably, a golden-haired giant, Ilbrec, with his own beaker, plate and spoon set out before him. At the tables, facing inward, sat all the nobles of the Mabden, with the High King, slender, ascetic Amergin, in the place of greatest prominence, wearing his robe of silver thread and his crown of oak and holly leaves; Corum, with his embroidered eye-patch and his silver hand, was seated directly opposite the High King. On both sides of Amergin sat kings and beside the kings sat queens and princes and beside the princes sat princesses and great knights with their ladies. Corum had Medhbh on his right and Goffanon on his left, and beside Medhbh sat Jhary-a-Conel and beside Goffanon sat Hisak Sunthief the smith who