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Le morte d'oolong Book 5: how they strove them wit the Temple of Death
I Of the manor of Marshal Barr, and the fellowship that went thence.
It so happed that in that time there was a manor that height the manor of Marshal Barr. And it so happed that this Marshal Barr was an holy man, and a right good man of his hands and that he had striven long time 'gainst those most disworshipful enchanters that were called the Temple of Death. And it so happed that this Marshal had died, and the manor was held by his son, but he was of little worship and so leave we him and speak we of Marshal Iron, that assummoned many warriors and goodly enchanters and bade them go forth, for that manor was haunted by many strange marvels.
And in charge of this fellowship was Paladin Glamoria Carpenter that was a goodly warrior and passing holy, and with them was a goodly scout that height Kadija and also there was Eorith, that was a goodly leech, and Thyrian Fireheart the good enchanter, and Theron Hawkwood that was aforetime in the fellowship of Baron Van Heusen, but now held he with the Towers of magic. Also there was one that height Guardian Kane and pyromancer Náriel, the good enchanter, and there too was oolong that was a good warrior, and these were all noble warriors or else goodly enchanters.
And so this fellowship went aways to the manor, and there met them with servants, that spake of divers signs by which they bethought them haunted, but was Kadja ware of an apparition that was invisible to all others, and it spake not but let her know by signs that it was the ghost of Marshal Barr, and when everych of that fellowship was spoken with the servants or yet the son then parted them and Kadja suffered the apparition to have speech though her.
II Of the speech of Marshal Barr
And then this ghost bade them go forth to the village for it was invested of miscreatures that were the warriors of his old enemies, that he had struck down, but the which now rose again as creatures of mal-engine and most foul enchantment, and by their means they had Marshal Barr's spirit in thrall, but that he had 'scaped them. So gathered they and went to the village.
III Of the journey to that village
And so went they aways, and met them with warriors and miscreatures of the Temple of Death, that held against them, but they did them such deeds of arms, and the goodly enchanters put forth their power so that they took little hurt, but that Eorith was struck astonied, and an enchanter of the temple struck oolong by a subtle working so that he was greatly afeared, so that he might not move, but then he bethought him that in that in that wise he should win but little worship, and so he strove with them again and put them to the worse and struck them down. And so hie them to the village.
And the whiles they traversed, oolong and Theron spoke a little, of quests that they had enchieved, and of what fellowships they had been, for Theron knew not that Baron Scara'Fould was a most disworshipful lord and that he used ill customs. And hast thou been infellowship with that warrior that height Lorgar? said Theron, for I have oft been put to the worse the whiles I have been in fellowship with him, for it is his custom to never hold together, but to rush and traverse that in no ways might he defend me, and so it oft haps that he requireth rescue. That is not warriorly done, said oolong, but it is oft a goodly custom of damsels that they be prisoned and so some good warrior may rescue them and win worship.
IV of the village
Now turn we to the village that was sore pressed with foul creatures, and so invested that them they might not stir without. But that town was passing strong, for they had fortified them aforetimes at the avisement of Marshal Barr, and so they kept them, but by the mean of the Temple of Death, there was sickness in that village, and so their strength waneth. But this noble fellowship came upon them and fought with the miscreatures long time and so slew them. Right so did Eorith and Glamoria that were a goodly leech and a holy warrior tend to the people and so by their grace cured them. And these villagers spake of the warnings that Marshal Barr had made the whiles he yet lived, that there was a ruin in the forest that was of mal-fortune and many strange haps.
Right so that fellowship yode them to that ruin, and there were many miscreatures that held the passages against them. And so the fellowship strove with them, and there were many passages of arms, and it so happed that Náriel was taken unware and so she was put to the worse and with that came Glamoria and slew them. And so Náriel made piteous complaint: I pray thy forgiveness, said Náriel, for aforetimes when I have cried for aid I was put to the disworship by that fellowship. It is no force, said Glamoria, for it is to my worship to do aid to noble warriors and goodly enchanters. Then was oolong foughten with a mighty enchanter of the Temple of Death, that wove such an enchantment that he needs must flee, and a strong miscreature ran foot-hot after him, and so turned him and strove with it, but it had the better of him, and gave him terrible maims, and so by adventure he recountered with Eorith that blessed him and made him hale and Kane laid such an enchantment on him that it might do no harm, and so turned him again and strove and so overcame it.
V Of the slaughter of those miscreatures
And as the book rehearseth these miscreatures rose again and yet again, but such was the blessings of Eorith's god that it happed only as she list, and so they slew them with little hurt. But at the end of that slaughter, they were all forfoughten, and so rested they a while, save oolong and Kadja, and the whiles they waited they spoke of their quest, forsooth, said oolong, 'twould be greatly to our worship an we were to enchieve this quest the whiles our fellows sitteth in rest. That were ill done said Kadja, for this is a mighty foe, and therefore it is more to our worship that we should bide with this goodly fellowship and thereby overcome them and so they accorded them both. But soon was Náriel complished of her meditations, and so joined them and she list to be foot-hot on the quest. That ye shall not do by my council said Kadja and so waited them and put them in array and then parted them.
VI Of the adventure of the portal
Right so came they to that ruin. And there they found many creatures of evil will, and passing strong. Guard thyself, said oolong, for I will have ado with thee. And so fought they together, and rushed together and there was a great medley, and so they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly wroth, and each struck many sad strokes, and at the last oolong was foughten with a strong warrior and he wist that he was passing strong, and that this warrior was better breathed, so that at the last he would overcome him, but right so came Theron, and these two warriors fought together and so won the degree.
Then was oolong ware that Náriel was foughten with a ghost afore an uncouth door and so aided him she and then they had the better. And many of that fellowship strove with many miscreatures, but beyond that door were strange adventures, as the book now reherseth. For oolong and Náriel accorded them and passed that door. And it so happed that an they traversed that door, of a sudden were they in great pain that they might not stand, but lightly they recovered them, and many ghost came upon them, and so fought they. Then were they ware of a spirit that was prisoned, that spoke curteist that it was the spirit of Marshal Barr. Right so by the mean of Náriel, that prison brast to-shivers, and so rescued him, and returned they to the fellowship, that strove with many creatures of mal-engine, and many good warriors were passing weak, that they might not stand, and this were by the mean of the Temple of Death. Noble oolong, said Glamoria, take up mine sword, for methinketh that you shall do the better. I shall do an thee list, said oolong. And so fought he with that creature of mal-engine that had Marshel Barr in thrall as I have afore rehearsed, and at the last overcome them. Then rested they and Kadja made shift to search for any other that were of a part to that ill temple.
I Of the manor of Marshal Barr, and the fellowship that went thence.
It so happed that in that time there was a manor that height the manor of Marshal Barr. And it so happed that this Marshal Barr was an holy man, and a right good man of his hands and that he had striven long time 'gainst those most disworshipful enchanters that were called the Temple of Death. And it so happed that this Marshal had died, and the manor was held by his son, but he was of little worship and so leave we him and speak we of Marshal Iron, that assummoned many warriors and goodly enchanters and bade them go forth, for that manor was haunted by many strange marvels.
And in charge of this fellowship was Paladin Glamoria Carpenter that was a goodly warrior and passing holy, and with them was a goodly scout that height Kadija and also there was Eorith, that was a goodly leech, and Thyrian Fireheart the good enchanter, and Theron Hawkwood that was aforetime in the fellowship of Baron Van Heusen, but now held he with the Towers of magic. Also there was one that height Guardian Kane and pyromancer Náriel, the good enchanter, and there too was oolong that was a good warrior, and these were all noble warriors or else goodly enchanters.
And so this fellowship went aways to the manor, and there met them with servants, that spake of divers signs by which they bethought them haunted, but was Kadja ware of an apparition that was invisible to all others, and it spake not but let her know by signs that it was the ghost of Marshal Barr, and when everych of that fellowship was spoken with the servants or yet the son then parted them and Kadja suffered the apparition to have speech though her.
II Of the speech of Marshal Barr
And then this ghost bade them go forth to the village for it was invested of miscreatures that were the warriors of his old enemies, that he had struck down, but the which now rose again as creatures of mal-engine and most foul enchantment, and by their means they had Marshal Barr's spirit in thrall, but that he had 'scaped them. So gathered they and went to the village.
III Of the journey to that village
And so went they aways, and met them with warriors and miscreatures of the Temple of Death, that held against them, but they did them such deeds of arms, and the goodly enchanters put forth their power so that they took little hurt, but that Eorith was struck astonied, and an enchanter of the temple struck oolong by a subtle working so that he was greatly afeared, so that he might not move, but then he bethought him that in that in that wise he should win but little worship, and so he strove with them again and put them to the worse and struck them down. And so hie them to the village.
And the whiles they traversed, oolong and Theron spoke a little, of quests that they had enchieved, and of what fellowships they had been, for Theron knew not that Baron Scara'Fould was a most disworshipful lord and that he used ill customs. And hast thou been infellowship with that warrior that height Lorgar? said Theron, for I have oft been put to the worse the whiles I have been in fellowship with him, for it is his custom to never hold together, but to rush and traverse that in no ways might he defend me, and so it oft haps that he requireth rescue. That is not warriorly done, said oolong, but it is oft a goodly custom of damsels that they be prisoned and so some good warrior may rescue them and win worship.
IV of the village
Now turn we to the village that was sore pressed with foul creatures, and so invested that them they might not stir without. But that town was passing strong, for they had fortified them aforetimes at the avisement of Marshal Barr, and so they kept them, but by the mean of the Temple of Death, there was sickness in that village, and so their strength waneth. But this noble fellowship came upon them and fought with the miscreatures long time and so slew them. Right so did Eorith and Glamoria that were a goodly leech and a holy warrior tend to the people and so by their grace cured them. And these villagers spake of the warnings that Marshal Barr had made the whiles he yet lived, that there was a ruin in the forest that was of mal-fortune and many strange haps.
Right so that fellowship yode them to that ruin, and there were many miscreatures that held the passages against them. And so the fellowship strove with them, and there were many passages of arms, and it so happed that Náriel was taken unware and so she was put to the worse and with that came Glamoria and slew them. And so Náriel made piteous complaint: I pray thy forgiveness, said Náriel, for aforetimes when I have cried for aid I was put to the disworship by that fellowship. It is no force, said Glamoria, for it is to my worship to do aid to noble warriors and goodly enchanters. Then was oolong foughten with a mighty enchanter of the Temple of Death, that wove such an enchantment that he needs must flee, and a strong miscreature ran foot-hot after him, and so turned him and strove with it, but it had the better of him, and gave him terrible maims, and so by adventure he recountered with Eorith that blessed him and made him hale and Kane laid such an enchantment on him that it might do no harm, and so turned him again and strove and so overcame it.
V Of the slaughter of those miscreatures
And as the book rehearseth these miscreatures rose again and yet again, but such was the blessings of Eorith's god that it happed only as she list, and so they slew them with little hurt. But at the end of that slaughter, they were all forfoughten, and so rested they a while, save oolong and Kadja, and the whiles they waited they spoke of their quest, forsooth, said oolong, 'twould be greatly to our worship an we were to enchieve this quest the whiles our fellows sitteth in rest. That were ill done said Kadja, for this is a mighty foe, and therefore it is more to our worship that we should bide with this goodly fellowship and thereby overcome them and so they accorded them both. But soon was Náriel complished of her meditations, and so joined them and she list to be foot-hot on the quest. That ye shall not do by my council said Kadja and so waited them and put them in array and then parted them.
VI Of the adventure of the portal
Right so came they to that ruin. And there they found many creatures of evil will, and passing strong. Guard thyself, said oolong, for I will have ado with thee. And so fought they together, and rushed together and there was a great medley, and so they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly wroth, and each struck many sad strokes, and at the last oolong was foughten with a strong warrior and he wist that he was passing strong, and that this warrior was better breathed, so that at the last he would overcome him, but right so came Theron, and these two warriors fought together and so won the degree.
Then was oolong ware that Náriel was foughten with a ghost afore an uncouth door and so aided him she and then they had the better. And many of that fellowship strove with many miscreatures, but beyond that door were strange adventures, as the book now reherseth. For oolong and Náriel accorded them and passed that door. And it so happed that an they traversed that door, of a sudden were they in great pain that they might not stand, but lightly they recovered them, and many ghost came upon them, and so fought they. Then were they ware of a spirit that was prisoned, that spoke curteist that it was the spirit of Marshal Barr. Right so by the mean of Náriel, that prison brast to-shivers, and so rescued him, and returned they to the fellowship, that strove with many creatures of mal-engine, and many good warriors were passing weak, that they might not stand, and this were by the mean of the Temple of Death. Noble oolong, said Glamoria, take up mine sword, for methinketh that you shall do the better. I shall do an thee list, said oolong. And so fought he with that creature of mal-engine that had Marshel Barr in thrall as I have afore rehearsed, and at the last overcome them. Then rested they and Kadja made shift to search for any other that were of a part to that ill temple.