He had just delivered it and the king was still in his rage when De
Skirlaw and De Kellaw arrived. "Admit them," he gave order. "I will
hear what hath come to pass there. Mayhap the castle hath stolen away,
even as this prisoner hath done."
As De Skirlaw and De Kellaw entered, the king, scanning their faces,
read that they bore him no welcome news, and his rage broke out afresh.
"What land is this that I be king of?" he exclaimed. "A land of rebels
and disobedience. A land of dull skies and duller fortunes. What saw ye
that ye come before me with glum faces and serious looks? Speak, if ye
can. Is the castle gone?"
"Nay, Your Majesty," said De Skirlaw. "The castle we found, but--"
"Ye mean that the prisoner spake true," burst out the king, "and that
the young lord is escaped?"
"Yea," answered De Skirlaw. "No human being inhabiteth the castle. And
in the moat at the rear kites and eagles have fed."
"What mean ye? What hath chanced there?"
"Your Majesty, no man knoweth," was the answer.
"But there be only bones and armor in the dry moat, and no living thing
in the castle.
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