My people watched too, and I saw a smile cross from one of Matelgar's men to another, but thought no guile.
Then one came forward and arrested me in the king's name as a traitor, and I drew my sword on him, telling him he lied in giving me that name, calling too on my men to aid me.

But they were overmatched, and dared not resist, for the swords of the king's men were out, and, moreover, I saw that Matelgar's men were weaponless.

He himself was not with me, and still I had no thought of treachery.
So the end was that I was pinioned from behind and bound, and taken away that night to where I knew not.

Only, wherever it was, I was kept in darkness and chains, maddened by the injustice of the thing and my own helplessness, till I lost count of days, and at last hope itself.

And all that time the real reason for my arrest, and for the accusation that caused it, never entered my mind, and least of all did I suspect that Matelgar, my friend, was at the bottom of it.