With Ring of Shield

by Knox Magee

  CHAPTER VI

  THE KING'S GIFTS

  When I awoke I was in mine own sleeping room, undressed and in bed. Myservant was standing by my bedside. The sun was shining into my room,and it was evidently well on in the day. I had to think for somemoments before I could tell where I was. Then it all came to me like aflash of light. I remembered that terrible ride; kneeling at theKing's feet, and from that moment everything was a blank.

  I asked my servant what hour it was.

  "Upon the stroke of three, sir," he replied.

  "Is Sir Frederick Harleston yet stirring?"

  "I think not, sir."

  "Go call him, and ask him to breakfast with me, in my sitting room."

  I dressed myself as quickly as my stiff limbs would permit, and soonSir Frederick joined me at breakfast.

  Whilst we were yet at our meal a page brought us word that the King diddesire to see us in his apartments. We hastily followed the messengerand soon found ourselves in the presence of his Majesty, who didreceive us most cordially.

  "Ah! my dear Bradley, I hope thou hast quite recovered from the effectsof thy journey." Then, looking at Harleston, he said:--"And thou, SirFrederick, art not so sleep-weary as thou wast yesterday e'en? By thesaints, we thought that ye both were done for! Ye would not even keepfrom dreamland for the sake of a flagon of wine. Truly, ye weregreatly exhausted; and no small wonder, when one doth take into accountthe time ye made."

  We bowed respectfully, in acknowledgment of this compliment, and hecontinued:--

  "I hope that ye will now give me a description of the battle; for mybrother doth send me the result only."

  After we had described the battle, as well as might be, the King, witha complimentary expression of his thanks for our services, gave untoHarleston and me each a suit of the best of Spanish armour, richlyinlaid with gold. I had seen the King wear suits like these, and I didguess that they were his Majesty's own. This surmise proved to becorrect, for, as we hastened to thank him for his magnificent gift, hesaid:--

  "I know that you will not prize them the less when ye learn that bothof those suits have been worn by us."

  We could not thank his Grace sufficiently for this marked favor: nordid he want our expressions of gratitude; for he stopped us with a waveof his hand:--

  "No more, no more, I pray," said he. "The only thing that I do wishyou to do is promise me that, in case anything should happen me, yewill ever be as true and faithful to my son, which is now Prince ofWales, as ye have been to me. Stand by him through his youth, andshould any one--no matter who--wrong him, I wish ye now to swear to doall in your power to avenge his wrongs. Now, gentlemen, are ye willingto do this for your King?"

  So there we swore, on the cross of his sword, to do that which the Kinghad asked of us; and when we bowed ourselves out of the royal presenceand went in search of the girls the thought furthest from our minds wasthat we should ever be called upon to fulfil our oaths made to our Kingthat day.

  Suddenly, as we were making our way slowly through the halls, Harlestonquickened his pace and, without one word, left me, and hastenedforward, almost at a run.

  "I hope that our hard ride hath not turned my dear friend's mind,"thought I, as I hurried after him. But when I turned a corner in thecorridor I learned the reason of his haste. There, a few paces downthe hall, and retreating from me, but with Frederick gaining rapidlyupon them, were Hazel and Mary, walking arm in arm, unconscious oftheir pursuers--for by this time they had two. I reached them almostas soon as did Harleston, so great was my anxiety lest I should beconsidered negligent in finding them. When the maidens, hearing thehasty steps behind them, turned and beheld us, both did utter littlescreams of surprise. Then Mary quickly recovered herself and said:--

  "Oh, dear Cousin Walter, I am so glad to see thee safe returned." Andthen, as though less concerned, "And thee, Sir Frederick. I hope thouhast come through the journey well, even though thou didst not have oneof those grand campaigns that you so glory in."

  I left it to him to explain to her that we did have one of thoseglorious "campaigns," of which she so sarcastically spoke; for I didturn to greet the dearest maid which ever drew the breath of life.

  "Walter, I am glad that thou hast returned safe," said she, after I hadtold her when we did arrive, and how we came to be returned before theothers. "Thou knowest,"--although I did not--"I had such a fearfuldream about thee."

  "Almost a confession," thought I.

  "Methought I saw thee attacked by foes hidden in ambush, and thou wertfighting desperately for thy life. Then, in battle, I saw theestruggling against fearful odds, and then you seemed to be unarmed, andat the mercy of your foes. But in this dream I did awake to findmyself in a tremble of excitement, and glad that it was but a dream.Yet it did trouble me, not to see what became of thee when thou wert inthese great dangers; for I feared that mine awakening, ere I did seethat which did happen, meant that thou wert killed."

  "Well, Lady Hazel, thy dreams were true. Verily some angel did showunto thee the adventures I went through. Joyed am I, too, that thouwert kept in ignorance of my fate; for then thou hadst not been sopleased to see me now. And wert thou greatly troubled when thou didstsee me beset by dangers?" And I drew a trifle closer unto her side.

  "Art anxious to know?"

  "Ay, Ay, so anxious, Lady Hazel," and I seized her pretty hand. Shedrew it quickly from my grasp, and motioned with her head in thedirection of Mary and Harleston.

  "Well, then," she said gently, "I was greatly troubled, for I knew notwhether thou hadst been killed or no; and if thou wert dead I shouldthen greatly miss one of my best friends," and her dark and beauteouseyes drooped, and she did seem to be greatly engaged in examining herdainty little slipper, as it nervously tapped the floor, and tempted meto drop on my knees and kiss that pretty foot. I was on the point ofdropping on my knee and telling her how I did worship her, when I didhear Mary titter behind me as though she had read my thought. It hadever been my misfortune to have someone, or something, prevent me fromtaking advantage of a golden opportunity, such as was this, when it didpresent itself.

  Then Mary and Harleston strolled off down the corridor, and I thought Ishould have another chance to complete the story I had started so wellthat morning, some weeks before, in the park. But it was too late. Mytongue would not put into words the thoughts that I was dying toexpress. So I cursed myself for a dumb idiot, and was compelled topostpone my declarations until Erato saw fit to untie my stammeringtongue.

  Hazel seemed amused at mine annoyance, and laughed and blushed in mygloomy face.

  We strolled on and into the library and, as the others were there, wesat and talked and told the girls all about the campaign and our littleadventures and our ride from Berwick, and then they did tell useverything that had happened at court whilst we were away, and which isgenerally known as court gossip and, as it could not interest you, mydears, I will not put it down.

  "See, I did not lose the charm thou gavest me when I left," I said, asI drew it from its hiding-place, over my heart.

  She noticed the locality in which it had been carried, and her colorheightened as I coolly put it back in its place, after I had let hersee it.

  "Art not going to return it?" she asked in a tone which assured me thatshe did not wish me to.

  "Oh! no, I cannot tell what dangers may yet beset me; so I must keep itstill, that I may come safely through."

  To this she raised no objection; so it stayed there till another day,of which I will tell ye later.

  Now I think I hear some one say, as he doth read these lines:--"Was henot simple, not to see that Hazel loved him?" To this I reply inadvance, by reminding him to look back over his own experience--if hehath been so fortunate as to have had one--and try to recall how he didact, under the same trying circumstances. Then, if his memory will beas fresh as is mine, he will remember the times when he was almost surethat his lady loved him; yet, was there not a most tormentinguncertainty, and a dou
bt that he might be over confident, and so, byspeaking too soon, he feared he might lose all? This I know was mineexperience, and I preferred, like a general with an uncertain force, towait until I should find some traitor within the strong fortress that Iwas to take, and so make sure of victory by one short, quick stroke. Inow felt that I was winning over part of her garrison; still did Iprefer to make still more certain that I was not deceiving myself withfalse hope.

  Nor you, ye ones which have yet to experience this most perplexing, andyet most delightful of engagements, be not too hasty in your judgmentof one--not the least distinguished of your house--for when ye areplaced in the position in which he here found himself, if you do notfeel, or act, any more foolish than did I, ye may congratulateyourselves for having conducted the enterprise in the most advantageousmanner. However, in this case--but there, I am getting ahead of mystory.

  When I look back from the mountain of peace and happiness, upon which Iam now sitting, and across the vale of years gone by, to that other,sun-topped hill of youth, I do not regret that I am no longer young.For in that valley, which separates the mountains, I see dark clouds,and storms, and armies marching and engaged in deadly contest. I hearthe cheers of the living intermingled with the prayers and curses ofthe dying. Foul murders are being committed; dark plots being laid andexecuted by those which struggle in that dark and troubled valley. Andthrough all this do I see that same group of young people, strugglingwith the rest. Another and grand soul hath been added unto theirnumber; and their united trials seem, to my old eyes, to rank first inimportance. Then, on the near side, those dark and heavy vapors, withwhich the depression is filled, are torn asunder by the united force ofa giant arm betwixt two flashing swords, and the five walk out and taketheir seats upon this glorious hill, which is the goal of all; and yet,which so few do reach, whilst wearing the fleshly garment.