Much praise, and more than that, is due to you.

Were you in the fight ?" Then I could answer him to a plain question; for all this praise, though it was good to hear, abashed me.
"Nay, Sheriff," I answered.

"Fain would I have been there, but a wiser head than mine advised me, and bade me do your bidding, and forbear.
Else should I surely have fought." "Loyalty has brought good to us all, Heregar," he said, looking squarely at me.

"Yet should I have hardly blamed you had you disobeyed me." Then I flushed red, thinking shame not to have done so, and went to excuse myself for obedience.
"Yet had I the safety of a lady who must die, if the battle went wrongly for us, laid on me in a way," I said.
"Matelgar's fair daughter ?" he asked.
"Aye, Sheriff," And I told him of the flight from the hall, and where she was now, wondering how he guessed this.

But I had come from Stert, and therefore the guess was no wonder.