XXI: Warriors from Eastcheaping Ride Into the Dale explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Community and Kinship

  The bond between Eastcheaping and the Dalesmen is emphasized as a relationship of love and neighborly aid, not feudal duty, as Osberne insists on their freedom.

• Heroism and Growth

  Osberne, now fifteen, steps into leadership, volunteering to fight and selecting his men, while the Knight marvels at his past deeds.

• Social Justice and Rebellion

  The Dalesmen assert their freedom from lords and kings, choosing to fight only as free neighbors for a just cause.

Characters to notice

• Osberne Wulfgrimsson

  Now fifteen years old, Osberne volunteers to ride with the Eastcheaping men-at-arms against the Baron of Deepdale, selecting six men and Stephen the Eater to accompany him.

• Elfhild

  Mentioned as still meeting happily with Osberne, now nearly fifteen years old.

• Stephen the Eater

  Chosen by Osberne to ride with him; later tells the Knight captain tales of the Dale and Osberne's valiancy.

• Master Nicholas

  The goodman of Wethermel, who hangs back when the armed riders arrive, wary of peril.

• Hardcastle

  Referenced in Stephen's tale of how he sped at Osberne's hands, marveled at by the Knight captain.

• The Baron of Deepdale

  Sent a challenge to Eastcheaping over truage, prompting the town to seek help from the Dale.

Key passages

• “So the summer wears with nought to tell of, and autumn and winter in like manner, and spring was come again, and it was hard on two years since those twain had first met, and Osberne was fifteen years old and Elfhild but a month and a half less, and still they met happily as aforetime.”

  The seasons passed uneventfully until spring, nearly two years after Osberne and Elfhild first met. Osberne was fifteen, Elfhild a month and a half younger, and they continued to meet joyfully.

  Establishes the passage of time and the enduring relationship between the two.

• “But in early May of this year came riders into the Dale, friends, though they rode all-armed, to wit the men-at-arms of Eastcheaping, even such as Osberne had seen riding down from the Castle the last time of his going thither; and the errand they came on was this, that war and strife were at hand for the good town, for the Baron of Deepdale had sent the Porte his challenge for some matter of truage, wherein the town deemed it had a clear right, and seeing that it was nought feeble, it had a settled mind to fight it out.”

  In early May, armed but friendly riders from Eastcheaping arrived in the Dale. They came because the Baron of Deepdale had challenged the town over a truage dispute, and the town, confident in its rights, was determined to fight.

  Introduces the conflict and the reason for the riders' visit.

• “Spake Osberne: 'Then there is no more to be said but this, that there is one who will ride with you, and that is my own self. And though I be but a lad I have a stroke of work in me, as some hereby can witness; and if thou wilt, I will ride down the Dale with you and give you my furtherance with the goodmen there.'”

  Osberne declared that he himself would ride with them, acknowledging his youth but asserting his capability, and offered to help recruit other Dalesmen.

  Shows Osberne's boldness and leadership despite his age.