Ralph Rideth the Wood Perilous Again Now Roger led up to Ralph a strong horse, red roan of hue, duly harnessed for war, and he himself had a good grey horse, and they mounted at once, and Ralph rode slowly away through the wood at his horse's will, for he was pondering all that had befallen him, and wondering what next should hap.

Meanwhile those others had not loitered, but were a-horseback at once, and went their ways from Ralph through the wildwood.
Nought spake Ralph for a while till Roger came close up to him and said: "Whither shall we betake us, fair lord?
hast thou an inkling of the road whereon lies thine errand ?" Now to Ralph this seemed but mockery, and he answered sharply: "I wot not, thou wilt lead whither thou wilt, even as thou hast trained me hitherward with lies and a forged tale.

I suppose thou wilt lead me now by some roundabout road to the stronghold of the Dry Tree.

It matters little, since thou durst not lead me back into the Burg.

Yet now I come to think of it, it is evil to be alone with a found out traitor and liar; and I had belike have done better to go with their company." "Nay nay," quoth Roger, "thou art angry, and I marvel not thereat; but let thy wrath run off thee if thou mayest; for indeed what I have told thee of myself and my griefs is not all mere lying.