Again he shot, and this time the arrow glanced from my helm. Then I drew
on him and my shaft, that I had aimed at his head, cut away the fringe
about his brow and carried it far away. At this sight a groan went up
from the lords about him, and one cried:
"An omen, O Urco, an evil omen!"
"Aye," he shouted, "for the White Wizard who shot the arrow."
Dropping the bow, he rushed up the hill at me roaring, axe aloft, and
followed by his company. He smote, and I caught the blow upon my shield,
and striking back with Wave-Flame, shore through the shaft of the axe
that he had lifted to guard his head as though it had been made of reed,
aye, and through the quilted cotton on his shoulder strengthened with
strips of gold, and to the bone beneath.
Then a man slipped past me. It was Kari, striking at Urco with Deleroy's
sword. They closed and rolled down the slope locked in each other's
arms. What chanced after this I do not know, for others rushed in and
all grew confused, but presently Kari limped back somewhat shaken and
bleeding, and I caught sight of Urco, little hurt, as it seemed, amidst
his lords at the bottom of the slope.
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