But Tristan, standing, drew his sword, his burnished sword, and said:
"Coward! Here is death ready for the man that strikes the horse before
the rider."
But Riol answered:
"I think you have lied, my lord!"
And he charged him.
And as he passed, Tristan let fall his sword so heavily upon his helm
that he carried away the crest and the nasal, but the sword slipped on
the mailed shoulder, and glanced on the horse, and killed it, so that
of force Duke Riol must slip the stirrup and leap and feel the ground.
Then Riol too was on his feet, and they both fought hard in their
broken mail, their 'scutcheons torn and their helmets loosened and
lashing with their dented swords, till Tristan struck Riol just where
the helmet buckles, and it yielded and the blow was struck so hard
that the baron fell on hands and knees; but when he had risen again,
Tristan struck him down once more with a blow that split the helm, and
it split the headpiece too, and touched the skull; then Riol cried
mercy and begged his life, and Tristan took his sword.
So he promised to enter Duke Hoel's keep and to swear homage again,
and to restore what he had wasted; and by his order the battle ceased,
and his host went off discomfited.
Now when the victors were returned Kaherdin said to his father:
"Sire, keep you Tristan.
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