They watched him all three in silence, till the silence was broken
by many men moving swiftly through covert, and the green bowmen
appeared.
When seven or eight were there he turned and looked at them. "When
have I broken my word?" he said to his men.
And they all answered him, "Never!"
More broke into sight through the bushes.
"Ask them" he said. And Rodriguez did not speak.
"Ask them," he said again, "when I have broken my word."
Still Rodriguez and Alderon said nothing. And the bowmen answered
them. "He has never broken his word," every bowman said.
"You promised me a castle," said Rodriguez, seeing that man's
fierce eyes upon him still.
"Then do as I bid you," answered the King of Shadow Valley; and he
turned round and touched the lock of the gates with some key that
he had. The gates moved open and the King went through.
Don Alderon ran forward after him, and caught up with him as he
strode away, and spoke to him, and the King answered. Rodriguez
did not hear what they said, and never afterwards knew. These
words he heard only, from the King of Shadow Valley as he and Don
Alderon parted: ".... and therefore, senor, it were better for
some holy man to do his blessed work before we come." And the King
of Shadow Valley passed into the deeps of the wood.
As the great gates were slowly swinging to, Don Alderon came back
thoughtfully. The gates clanged, clicked, and were shut again.
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