"
"On which, friend, we vowed that we should settle the point when
next we came together. Hast thy sword, I see, and the moon
throws glimmer enough for such old night-birds as we. On guard,
mon gar.! I have not heard clink of steel this month or more."
"Out from the shadow then," said the other, drawing his sword.
"A vow is a vow, and not lightly to be broken."
"A vow to the saints," cried Alleyne, "is indeed not to be set
aside; but this is a devil's vow, and, simple clerk as I am, I am
yet the mouthpiece of the true church when I say that it were
mortal sin to fight on such a quarrel. What! shall two grown men
carry malice for years, and fly like snarling curs at each
other's throats?"
"No malice, my young clerk, no malice," quoth Black Simon, "I
have not a bitter drop in my heart for mine old comrade; but the
quarrel, as he hath told you, is still open and unsettled. Fall
on, Aylward!"
"Not whilst I can stand between you," cried Alleyne, springing
before the bowman. "It is shame and sin to see two Christian
Englishmen turn swords against each other like the frenzied
bloodthirsty paynim.
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