You and that blade have paid off the score. I should be
content. Let me dismount. I know my way to the hermitage."
"Nay, what is this?" said Ebbo; "thou must have rest and food. The
hermitage is empty, scarce habitable. My mother will not be balked
of the care of thy bleeding feet."
"But let me go, ere I bring evil on you all. I can pray up there,
and save my soul, but I cannot see it all."
"See what?" said Ebbo, again trying to see his guest's face. "There
may be changes, but an old faithful follower of my father's must ever
be welcome."
"Not when his wife has taken a new lord," growled the stranger,
bitterly, "and he a Wildschloss! Young man, I could have pardoned
aught else!"
"I know not who you may be who talk of pardoning my lady-mother,"
said Ebbo, "but new lord she has neither taken nor will take. She
has refused every offer; and, now that Schlangenwald with his last
breath confessed that he slew not my father, but sold him to the
Turks, I have been only awaiting recovery from my wound to go in
search of him.
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