“Does it ever go—well—farther than that?” Sarah demanded.
Sir Gwin stared at her sternly. “I can't say that it never does. But true knights would never take advantage of a woman in any way.”
The lesson went on for a considerable time, and when it was over Josh was ready to quit. He threw up his hands and cried out, “Stop! I'm going to have to learn how to behave all over again!”
“Well, it wouldn't hurt you, ” Abigail snapped. “You could stand a little more politeness.”
Jake laughed aloud. “That's right, you pay attention to Sir Gwin. I'm expecting great things from you.”
When they went back to their room, Josh slumped down in a chair and stared glumly at the other three boys. “I never heard of such! Goel sends us here to do a dangerous job, and we learn to go around kissing a girl's hand. Disgusting!”
“Oh, I don't know, ” Dave said with a smirk. “I didn't think it was so bad.”
Jake picked up a pillow and threw it at him. It struck Dave in the face, and he yelped. “You wouldn't, ” Jake said. “You always were a ladies' man, Dave.”
Dave threw the pillow back. “Looks like that's the thing to be around here.” He looked over at Reb and asked, “Are you getting tired of all this business, Reb?”
Reb had a rather serious look on his face. “You know, ”he said, “I'm not. I guess I didn't know how much I'd missed a good horse. Of course, it goes with the territory, trying to knock somebody off with a stick, but I love that horse!”
He'd been given his own horse now and spent hours grooming him.
“You're our hope, Reb, ” Josh said. “All the rest of us can barely stay on one of those things.”
Reb leaned back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head, and said quietly, “I'll—I'll do the best I can—and that's all a bluenosed mule can do!”
6
A Home in the Forest
Life at Camelot went on pleasantly for the young visitors. The lessons in chivalry continued, though, much to the disgust of Josh—and to the delight of the two girls.
There was, they soon discovered, an entire code of chivalry. If a woman liked a knight, she would wear a certain flower in a certain position in her hair. The knight recognized this at once as a message that he was to continue his pursuit.
“Oh, I think it is so exciting,” Abigail said. “Don't you, Reb?”
The tall blond boy glanced at her and grinned slightly. “Well,” he drawled, “I suppose for girls it's all right.”
The Sleepers were riding along a forest path. Elendar had encouraged them to travel as much as possible to learn the lay of the land. “You never know,” he said, “when you'll need to find your way quickly. When trouble comes, it will come like lightning.”
They had left the castle early that morning, had ridden long, and now, as the sun was high in the sky, had grown hungry.
Jake said, “Look, there's a little house over there. Maybe we can buy something to eat.”
Josh shook his head. “They don't use money here, Jake—not very much. At least the poor people don't. Though we could trade them something. I'm hungry myself. Let's go have a look.”
The shack they approached, Josh saw, was not impressive. Like the houses of most of the poor people, it was small, made out of several kinds of material such as clay and wattle, and crowned with the inevitable thatched roof.
As they entered the cleared area that lay behind the house, a group of children scattered. Two of them hid behind their mother, who had come out to stare at the visitors.
The man who was plowing in the field stopped the oxen and came running to them. He was a little man with a thatch of coal-colored hair. He was undersized, as were all the people in this world, and he yanked off his cap and tugged at his forelock in a gesture of submission. “Good day, kind sirs. Be ye lost in the forest?”
“Oh, no,” Josh said, “we're just out for a ride.” He looked doubtfully at the man and then glanced over at the woman. Fear was in her eyes. I wonder what she's afraid of? he asked himself. Aloud he said, “I wonder if we might rest awhile here? We are thirsty, and perhaps you might sell us some food.”
The man cast a curious glance at the seven, then said, “Certain, sir. If you'll get off, I'll feed and water your horses.”
Slipping to the ground, Sarah said, “Oh, this feels good!” She stamped her feet and arched her back and groaned. “I don't see how you ride all day, Reb, without getting stiff and sore.”
Wash whispered to Jake, “This sure is a poor-looking farm! Back home even the poorest farmer in the county would have a better place than this!”
“It's pretty bad all right,” Jake agreed. He looked about at the primitive house and at the few tools by the shed that seemed to serve as a barn. “We have to be careful not to hurt their feelings.”
The woman came forward timidly. “We don't have much, but I'll fix what we have.”
“Oh, anything will be fine, ma'am,” Dave said quickly. “We're not fussy about what we eat.”
The man had been watching. He introduced himself, saying, “My name is Will, and this is my wife, Donna.”
The Sleepers smiled, and Sarah asked, “And what are the names of your children?” She listened carefully as the woman named them off. Then she repeated their names, saying, “I bet I have a game you four would like to play.”
“A game?” the oldest said, a boy about eight. He was dirty, as were the others, but bright-eyed, and he asked eagerly, “What kind of a game?”
“It's called hide-and-seek. Do you know that game?”
“No.” The boy shook his head. “I never heard of it.”
“Come along. I'll teach you how to play.”
As they moved away, the man Will said, “Make yourself to home. I'll be back soon.”
His wife stared at him as he walked over to the shed and picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows. “Will, you can't—”
“Quiet, woman!” Will said sternly. “We have guests. I'll see that they have something to eat, or my name ain't Will Temple.” He nodded at his guests. “It'll take a while—but if you'll wait, I'll give you a supper fit for a king.”
“Why, don't go to any trouble for us,” Josh protested.
“No trouble, masters. The woods hereabout is thick with game. I'll be back in thirty minutes or an hour. My wife here will cook you a fine meal.” He turned and disappeared almost at once into the depths of the forest that surrounded the small farm.
“That's almost like going to the grocery store,” Jake grinned. “Just step out in the woods, kill a squirrel or rabbit or something, and come home.”
“Not quite that easy,” Josh said. “You've got to be able to hit something with that bow and arrow.” He looked at the woman curiously—she seemed extremely nervous. Josh decided that she was overwhelmed with so much company and said, “Don't worry about us, ma’am, we'll just wander around and look things over until your husband gets back.”
She bit her lip, then turned back to the house.
“I wonder what's wrong with her?” Abigail said. “She looks really frightened.”
“Just not used to company,” Dave guessed. “These people are very backward here. I guess we are nobility to them.” He looked about him. “Look, let's stretch our legs. I'm tired of these horses.”
He led the boys into the woods. As Will had told them, the forest was full of game, and Dave said, “If I'd brought my bow, I might even hit one of those rabbits.”
They had a fine time that afternoon, although they were hungry. Finally, Josh said, “Let's go back. I think Will might have found our lunch by now.” He led the way back and, sure enough, saw smoke rising from the chimney. “Soup's on,” he said. “Let's go see what's for dinner.”
When they reached the house, Will was working on the carcass of a deer, strung up by its heels, cutting it into pieces.
Will grinned, exposing rather bad teeth. “Ah, masters, you're back.” He motioned to the deer carcass. “A fine fat
buck! Donna's cooking up a haunch of it. Should be ready any time.”
Thirty minutes later, the seven were all seated outside, eating off whatever was handy. There were only four wooden plates. The rest used pieces of board. The meat itself was delicious.
“My, this is so good!” Sarah said. She bit off a huge chunk and chewed it thoroughly. Then she drank a mug full of water, fresh from the spring. “I never had a better meal at McDonald's—not even a ‘Happy Meal’ did you, Abigail?”
Abigail's face was usually immaculate, but now it was smeared with grease, and her bright hair was somewhat clouded by the smoke from the fireplace. The two girls had watched the meal being prepared, which consisted of shoving the meat on spits over the open fire until it was practically burned on the outside and still raw on the inside. But she smiled and said, “No, never. This is fine!”
The meat was supplemented with baked potatoes they had to pick at carefully to keep from burning fingers or lips. The Sleepers enjoyed their meal.
By now, the children had lost their fear of the young people and came close to ask many questions, mostly about Camelot.
“I'm going to be a knight when I grow up,” the oldest boy, a lad named Robin, said confidently.
“No, you won't be no knight, lad,” Will Temple said. “You have to be born to be that. You'll be a serf, just like me.”
Josh looked up suddenly and said, “There comes Elendar! I wonder if he's got news from Camelot.”
The silver-haired man rode up on a beautiful white mare, pulled her down, then got off. He beamed. “I see you're out getting to know the people of our country. Do you suppose I could have a bite of that meat?”
At once Donna scurried around. “Yes, sir, surely. There's plenty.” She fetched him a portion, and Elendar sat down on a three-legged stool and listened as the young people gave him a report of their activities.
John noticed that Elendar's eyes went from one of the seven to another, and that he seemed to be evaluating them as if testing them in his mind. His sharp eyes never stopped. Then he looked up and said, “I hear horses coming.”
Reb said in astonishment, “You sure do have good ears!” He listened hard and nodded. “But you're right—sounds like a whole army!”
His words were not far from wrong. A group of horsemen appeared, approaching from the direction opposite the way the Sleepers had come.
“It's the king,” Elendar said. “He left early this morning to go out hunting.” He got to his feet quickly, as did the others, and when the party halted he said, “Good day, Sire. Did you have a good hunt?”
King Dion's face was stern. He cast his eyes around the homestead, and they came to rest on the partly dressed out carcass of the deer. He said, “Who has killed the king's deer?”
A silence fell over the group. Nothing was heard for amoment. Then Will's wife began to sob.
“Hush your crying, woman,” King Dion commanded. He turned to Will Temple, who was standing still, lookin gat the king, and demanded, “Did you kill that deer?”
Will bowed in submission and said, “Yes, Your Majesty. I must confess. It was my arrow that brought himdown.”
“You know the penalty for killing the king's deer?”
Will hesitated, and there was a catch in his voice as he answered, “Yes, Sire.”
“Take him,” the king said, and at once two armed knights dismounted and advanced toward the small farmer.
Josh was alarmed and stepped forward. “Your Majesty, please—let me explain.”
“Explain?” King Dion snapped. “There's no explanation, young man. The law has been broken, and the penalty must be paid.”
“Penalty? Is there a fine?” Jake asked.
“A fine? I know not what is a fine.” King Dion's eyes went back to Will, and they were filled with anger. “All well know what the penalty is for killing the king's deer. Any man who commits such a crime will have his right hand cut off.”
“Oh, no!” Sarah gasped and stared in horror at the king. “You can't mean that, Your Majesty!”
The king had grown fond of the young people. But there was wrath in his face now, for he was jealous of his royal authority. He was also accustomed to violence and harsh penalties.
“You do not understand, young woman. There must be law in my kingdom. If there were not, what would we have? Every man would be an outlaw, taking what he pleased. The deer belong to the king. That is the law of the country. Only with the king's permission can anyone kill one.”
Josh was dumbfounded. He had heard that the laws of the medieval world were strict and harsh—but he had never encountered anything like this. “Sire,” he said, “the man did but try to be hospitable to us. It is our fault. He killed the deer to feed us.”
King Dion shook his head. “He should have gotten permission. I would have granted it—but now it is toolate.” He nodded at the knights and said, “Proceed.”
One knight pulled the trembling farmer over to a small table outside the storage shed and held his arm down. The other drew a gleaming sword. He tested its edge, then said, “I am ready, Sire.”
Josh felt terrible. He whispered to Elendar, “We can't let this happen. It is all our fault.”
Elendar stared at him curiously. “The laws are different here, my boy. I can do nothing.”
Josh saw that Sarah was looking at him, a pleading look in her eye. He at once advanced to stand before the king and looked up into his face, “Sire, this cannot be.”
“Cannot be? You dare to say ‘cannot’ to the Sword of Camelot?”
Josh said, “I would not offend Your Majesty. I am but a stranger here, but surely Your Majesty understands that no true man would want another to suffer for his wrong-doing. I beg you, sir, if someone must suffer for the offense—” Josh's eyes met the king's steadily “—let it be me. The fault was mine. The penalty should be mine.”
A murmur ran around the knights who were watching, and Sarah said, “Oh, no, Josh!”
But he stood fast, held up his hand, and said, “If the fault was mine, the penalty must be mine, Your Majesty.”
Nothing like this had ever come into King Dion's experience. His silver hair gleamed in the afternoon sun, and his dark blue eyes searched the young man. He was still a tall man and strong, though not what he had been in his youth. For a long moment he let the silence run on, and then he suddenly smiled. “You have courage, Joshua. I like that. A bit rash, perhaps,” he added wryly, “but it is a good thing for a young man to be impetuous. I was the same myself when I was your age.” He glanced at the two knights and said, “Release the man.”
When the knights released Will, he straightened up, and his eyes went to Joshua. He whispered, “Thank you, sir. Thank you!”
His wife threw her arms around him.
Josh felt rewarded for the sacrifice he had offered to make.
“Well, you've had enough adventure for one day. Come along with me,” the king commanded. “We have things to talk about.” He waited until the seven were back on their horses and then rode out with his retinue of knights behind him.
Will came forward as Josh mounted, and he raised his hand. When Josh took it, there were tears in Will's eyes. “Thankee, young master. Ye saved my hand for me. Maybe I can do something for you someday.”
Josh smiled down at him, leaned over, and squeezed his hand. “It really was my fault, but I'm glad nothing came of it.” He nodded and spurred his horse.
Sarah was waiting for him. As they rode on, she suddenly leaned over and grabbed him. Josh swayed in the saddle toward her, and before he knew what she was up to, she had planted a kiss right on his cheek with a loud smack.
“There, Josh! That's what a lady of Camelot does when her knight has done a noble deed!” She laughed at the flush in his cheeks. “Be careful that you're not so noble next time, or you may get more of the same!”
7
A Dangerous Hunt
I don't know if you've ever hunted anything quite so dangerous,” Loren said.
The Sleepers were standing with the prince in front of the castle. The day was sunny and beautiful, and yet there was a worried look in the eyes of some of them. They listened apprehensively as Loren went on.
“You see, we hunt the wild pigs on foot.” His eyes gleamed as he took in the faces of the boys. “And it takes a pretty good man to stand up to one of those beasts, I can tell you for sure!”
Reb looked at him curiously, then shrugged. “Well, I spent a lot of my time feeding pigs back in Arkansas. They didn't seem too dangerous to me.”
The prince was wearing a buckram outfit and stood tall and strong in the sunlight. “I never heard of Arkansas,” he said, “but the pigs around Camelot are about as dangerous a beast as you'll be likely to find.” He held up his forefinger. “They've got razor-sharp yellow tusks this long. Let one of them get you down, and he'll un seam you from belly to throat.”
Jake said nervously, “I think I'll just watch this time. No sense rushing into anything.”
Wash grinned, his teeth very white against his black face. “Let's both of us watch. Reb, you know so much about pigs, we'll let you do the hunting.”
Reb gave him a disgusted look. “The day I run away from a little old pig, that's the day you can put me on the floor!” he said defiantly. He was wearing a green doublet today, green breeches, and a pair of soft leather boots—the sort of outfit the boys were all wearing—and he gave Abigail a slight smile. “Hey, Abbey, I'm gonna show you how to get pork chops for supper!”
Loren looked at him with a superior expression. “Well, we'll just let you go on in the front of the hunters, then, Reb. You can show the rest of us how to do it.”
Soon the hunters were in the midst of the forest. The king had come along too. He himself did not hunt, but he liked to watch his son and the other knights in action.
As they moved deeper into the woods, Josh looked around nervously. “This is one time I wouldn't mind wearing one of those tin suits,” he said.
Sword of Camelot Page 5