But you shall have enough and be no longer a charge upon your father.

Malise should be a proud man, having both his sons provided for in one day." The Earl turned him about with his usual quick imperiousness.
"Malise," he cried, "Malise MacKim!" And again the "word" ran through the castle, escaped the gate, circumnavigated the moat, and ran round the circle of the tents till the shouts of "Malise, Malise," could have been heard almost at the deserted fords of Lochar, where sundry varlets were watching for a chance to search the deserted pavilions for anything left behind therein by the knights and squires.
Presently there was seen ascending to the moat platform the huge form of the master armourer himself.

He stood waiting his master's pleasure, with a knife which he had been sharpening in his hand.

It was a curious weapon, long, thin, and narrow in the blade, which was double-edged and ground fine as a razor on both sides.
"Ah, Malise," said the Earl, "you have not taught your son amiss.

He threatens to turn out a most marvellous lad, for not only can he make weapons, but he can excel the best of my men-at-arms in their use.
Have you any objection that he be attached to my guard ?" The strong man smiled with his usual calm, and kept his humorous grey eyes fixed shrewdly on the Earl.
"Aye," he said, "it is indeed more fitting that Sholto, my son, should ride behind my Lord of Douglas than stiff old Malise upon his Flanders mare." The Earl blushed a little, for he remembered how the armourer had offered to ride behind him after he had shod Black Darnaway at the Carlinwark.