For I have heard it said that they have more cities than one only, and that so great are their kindreds, that each liveth in a garth full of mighty houses, with a wall of stone and lime around it; and that in every one of these garths lieth wealth untold heaped up.

And wherefore should not all this fall to the Markmen and their valiancy ?" Said the Elking: "As to their many cities and the wealth of them, that is sooth; but as to each city being the habitation of each kindred, it is otherwise: for rather it may be said of them that they have forgotten kindred, and have none, nor do they heed whom they wed, and great is the confusion amongst them.

And mighty men among them ordain where they shall dwell, and what shall be their meat, and how long they shall labour after they are weary, and in all wise what manner of life shall be amongst them; and though they be called free men who suffer this, yet may no house or kindred gainsay this rule and order.

In sooth they are a people mighty, but unhappy." Said Wolfkettle: "And hast thou learned all this from the ancient story lays, O Hiarandi?
For some of them I know, though not all, and therein have I noted nothing of all this.

Is there some new minstrel arisen in thine House of a memory excelling all those that have gone before?
If that be so, I bid him to the Roof of the Wolfings as soon as may be; for we lack new tales." "Nay," said Hiarandi, "This that I tell thee is not a tale of past days, but a tale of to-day.