Meantime, Black Ivo's archers advancing, fell into arrow formation and began to ply the Mortain ranks with clouds of shafts and bolts 'neath which divers men and horses fell--what time Black Ivo's massed columns moved slowly forward to the attack--yet Duke Beltane, sitting among his knights, stirred not, and the army of Mortain abode very silent and still. But of a sudden Duke Beltane wheeled his horse, his sword flashed on high, whereat trumpets brayed and on the instant Sir Jocelyn wheeled off to the left, he and all his company, and gathering speed began to skirt Duke Ivo's advanced pikemen and archers, and so rode down upon those men of Pentavalon who were drawn up against Belsaye. Hereupon Black Ivo would have launched a counter-charge to check Sir Jocelyn's attack, but his advanced lines of cross-bowmen and archers hampered him. Once again Duke Beltane's sword flashed up, the first line of Mortain's great array leapt forward and with levelled lances thundered down upon Black Ivo's ranks, scattering and trampling down his archers; but as they checked before the serried pikes behind, forth galloped Duke Beltane's second line and after this a third-- o'erwhelming Ivo's pikemen by their numbers, and bursting over and through their torn ranks, reformed, and, spurring hard, met Ivo's rank with crashing shock in full career. And, behind this raging battle, Duke Beltane rode at the head of his reserves, keen-eyed and watchful, what time Sir Jocelyn was hotly engaged upon the left, nigh unto the town itself.
"Ah, Beltane!" sighed the Duchess, shivering and covering her face-- "'tis horrible, horrible--see how they fall!"
"Nay, my brave Fidelis, heed rather how valiant Sir Jocelyn and his knights drive in their advanced lines--ha! Benedict, see how he breaks their array--an he can but turn their flank--"
"Nay, Beltane--yonder cometh the Raven banner where Pertolepe spurreth in support--"
"Aye, but yonder doth my father launch yet another charge--ha! Benedict, let us out and aid them--the way lieth open beyond the drawbridge an we can but turn Ivo's flank!" quoth Beltane looking ever upon the battle, "O, methinks the time is now, Benedict!"
With Helen's soft hand a-tremble in his, Beltane hasted down from the tower and Sir Benedict followed, until they were come to the square where, amid the joyful acclaim of the populace, their small and hardy following were drawn up; and, as they came, from townsfolk and soldiery a shout arose: "Beltane--the Duke--the Duke!"
"My lord Duke of Mortain," quoth Sir Benedict, "I and thy company do wait thee to lead us."
But Beltane smiled and shook his head.
"Not so, my lord of Bourne, thou art so cunning in war and hast led us so valiantly and well--shalt lead us to this battle, the which I pray God shall be our last! As for me, this day will I march with the foresters--so mount, my lord."