Page:Celtic Stories by Edward Thomas.djvu/116

 North Wales towards the Ford of the Cross. As he rode he heard a noise such as he had never heard before, and turning round he saw a fierce youth of gigantic stature with curled yellow hair, riding on a chestnut horse. He was carrying a golden-hilted sword; his coat and scarf were of yellow satin sewn with green silk. The horse was caparisoned in the same colours; the green like that of the larch tree in April, the yellow like broom-flower. Fear overcame their admiration of this horse and horseman and the three began to fly, but in vain; for though the horse's breath drove them far away on its current it drew them back again right to his chest. They asked for mercy and the youth gave it, and they continued their journey in his company. Rhonabwy asked his name. He told them that he was Iddawc, who had stirred up strife between Arthur and his nephew Mordred, in mere youthful love of battles; and for that reason he was called Iddawc the Hammer of Britain. So Rhonabwy and his companions and Iddawc reached the ford together.

There Rhonabwy saw a city of tents and heard the cries of an innumerable army. On a flat islet in the Severn below the ford, Arthur the emperor was sitting between Bedwini the bishop and Gwarthegyd; and a tall youth with auburn hair and jet-black eyebrows stood before him, bearing a sheathed sword and wearing a coat and cap of jet-black satin. Riding a little into the shallows Iddawc and Rhonabwy and the other saluted those four upon the islet, and Arthur spoke:—

'Iddawc,' he asked, 'where didst thou find these little men?'

'Yonder, lord, upon the road,' replied Iddawc, and Arthur smiled.

'Why dost thou laugh?' said Iddawc.