CHAPTER VThe pretty daughter of the squire,
She came a-riding by;
Of sunlight was her fine long hair,
Of gray flint was her eye.
The Mink he takes her by the arm:
“Now you must come with me!
We’ll dwell a space in the wild wild woods
Beneath the great oak tree!”
—Ruck’s Ballad of the Mink
* * * *
Revel saw the lead horse, a piebald brute with hoofs like mallets, coming at him. The squire atop it was leaning down with the mane whipping his cheeks, smirking at Revel as he drove his steed forward.
He made the fastest decision of his life. He could roll and save himself, for he was quick as a lightning bolt; or he could keep hold of the wench and try to preserve them both.
He could never have told what prompted him to decide to save the Lady Nirea.
At any rate, he threw himself at
