The members of the Guard rose to their feet and bowed before the king. He motioned for them to be seated, and the council meeting began. King Stephen called for reports on the conditions of the roads and walls around the towns and villages, the health of the crops, the welfare of the people and the peacefulness of the kingdom.
Sir Edward and Sir Robert did most of the talking, but every now and then one of the other knights would speak out with details they had forgotten, or add their own ideas and suggestions. The king listened carefully to all that was said and asked questions often, especially when it came to the needs of the people.
Sir Robert was just ending his report on the need for better roads in the northern part of the kingdom when Noble felt the puppy beginning to stir. He looked down and saw the little mound inside his tunic moving. He quickly pulled his cloak over the squirming bulge, glancing at the knights on either side of him to see if they had noticed. Sir Michael and Sir Charles were both looking at the king and hadn’t seen a thing.
Noble was just breathing a sigh of relief when little Hero yawned a loud, whiney puppy-dog yawn. This time Sir Michael turned and looked at him strangely. Noble quickly pretended to yawn himself—just a little—and fidgeted in his seat. Hero whimpered a bit, and Noble coughed to try to cover the sound. By this time Sir Michael was staring at him. Noble had to do something!
He jumped to his feet. “Sire, I have something to say!” Noble burst out, casting around in his mind for what that something could possibly be. Suddenly he was sorry he had spoken at all, for now all the knights, and the king, as well, were staring at him.
“Yes, Sir Noble?” King Stephen asked. He had a little smile on his face, and Noble wondered if he had guessed what was going on under his shirt.
“I—I—“Noble stuttered.
“What is it, Sir Noble?” Sir Edward asked. Unlike the king, he was frowning. “Do you have something to add to our report or not? If not, we will end this meeting now. I am sure—“
“Yes! I do have something to add!” Noble quickly said. Suddenly he had remembered something that had puzzled him on their long mission, something that perhaps the king should hear.
He forgot the puppy inside his tunic for the moment and leaned forward, speaking earnestly. “Your Majesty, there is one small matter that perhaps should be brought to your attention. It may be nothing—just a rumor or a legend to frighten small children—but perhaps it is true, after all, and in that case, it may be wise to pay attention.”
“Well, what is it, Sir Noble?” Sir Edward repeated.
Noble could see that the older knight was a little cranky, so he hurriedly spoke. “There was a story going around, Sire, in some of the small villages, and even in the larger towns, that seemed to have many people frightened – the story of a dark knight who rides through the streets after midnight, peering through windows in secret, with his sword in his hand. Men who have tried to question him say he looms over them silently, with evil written on his face. He rides away then, never speaking, into the shadows of night, but their hearts tell them he is a menace and a threat, and they stand guard, fearful of his return.”
Several of the other knights chuckled. “Oh-ho, Sir Noble!” one of them said. “You believed that story of the phantom knight? Ha! It is just a rumor, an old wives’ tale, a ghost story! You are young, Sir Noble—you must be forgiven for believing in a children’s tale like that!”
The king stood to his feet. “Sir Andrew!” he said sternly. “Noble is young, but he is wise. If he thought to take note of the rumor and bring it before the council, I am sure there must be good reason for him to do so. Sir Noble, what makes you believe the story is true?”
Noble’s face was flushed. The knights had always treated him with respect, and now to have them doubt him hurt. He put his feelings aside, however, and boldly spoke once more. “Your Majesty, my fellow knights of the Guard—these were not children who told these tales, but strong, trustworthy men—leaders among their people. They were not idly spreading rumors, but voicing their concerns—and I saw true fear upon their faces. Still, I might not have thought much of the tale except for the words of one of the village fathers in King’s Crossing.”
“And what were those words, Sir Noble?” King Stephen asked.
“He told me, Your Majesty, that he woke one night, just a week ago, to the sound of his hounds baying, and his animals restlessly stirring in their pens. He got up, thinking that a fox had stolen into the yard and was after the chickens. He ran out and found a dark knight upon his horse right outside his door. He stopped short, alarmed at the knight’s fearsome appearance. The knight pulled his sword from his sheath, pointing it at the old man, and snarled at him. What it was the knight said, the old man could not hear except for three words—‘noble the king’. When the knight moved toward him, the old man ran back inside his cottage and bolted the door. A minute later he heard the sound of the horse’s hooves and when he dared to look outside again, the knight was gone.”
Noble paused. “I believe the old man was speaking the truth. And though I don’t know what the knight’s words meant, I feel that we should at least be aware that this man exists and is up to no good.”
“If he truly exists,” Sir Andrew said, “have there been any reports that he has actually harmed anyone?”
Noble shook his head. “I have heard of none, but all those who have come face to face with him have been afraid, and they feel he is dangerous.”
Several of the knights began speaking at once, some agreeing with Noble, and the others as doubtful as Sir Andrew. King Stephen listened for a moment to the debate around the table and then called for order. “It would not hurt to look into the matter, I think,” he said. “There are two things that I have learned. One is that it is better to be safe than sorry. Ignoring the problem cannot help, but it can certainly hurt. The other is to trust Sir Noble’s instincts. God has given him many gifts, and leads him. We have seen in the past how Noble has been a blessing to this kingdom as he serves and honors the Lord with his life. I, for one, am willing to listen to him now when he feels so strongly.”
The king turned to Noble and continued, “There are many urgent matters that have been brought before us tonight. My people have many needs and I am eager to begin work on meeting those needs. In the face of those projects this matter is small, Sir Noble, but perhaps it will turn out to be more important than we can now imagine. Therefore, because you do feel so strongly about it, I am putting you in charge of tracking down this mysterious knight, Sir Noble, and seeing what business, if any, he has here in our peaceful kingdom. Choose one or two others to help you, if you will, and report back to me what you discover. Now, does that please you, Sir Noble?”
Noble opened his mouth to thank the king, but to his horror, Hero chose that very moment to declare his displeasure at being cooped up inside the tunic. “Yee-oww!” the pup howled in his little baby dog voice—but plenty loudly enough for all at the table to hear. The men of the King’s Guard stared at Noble, not understanding the sound that seemed to be coming from the young knight himself.
Noble quickly closed his mouth and reached inside his cloak to try to keep the puppy in place. Too late! The determined little dog was not going to be kept inside the stuffy tunic a moment longer! He scrambled up Noble’s chest and stuck his head out the neck hole. Aaah! Fresh air!
The startled knights stared in shock as a puppy popped out of Noble’s shirt! King Stephen burst out in laughter. Sir Michael snorted loudly, trying, Noble suspected, to hold back a laugh, as well. Noble wanted to drop through the floor! He saw the looks on Sir Robert’s and Sir Edward’s faces. He saw Sir Andrew’s grin. Of all the times he wanted to be taken seriously—and now this! They would all think he was just a foolish boy, after all—too young to have the responsibilities of a real knight.
“Aah, Sir Noble! I see you have brought young Hero with you tonight!” the king exclaimed with a chuckle. “A gift from my family,” he explained to the others. “
I see you are taking good care of him, Noble. I am delighted!” The cross look left Sir Edward’s face and Sir Andrew’s grin disappeared. Sir Michael reached out to rub the puppy’s head.
The king continued, “I hope you will all become better acquainted with little Hero, for he will be moving into the knights’ quarters with you as Sir Noble’s guest! I am sure you will enjoy all the things that puppies do, won’t you? The pitter-patter of little paws, the chewing, the whining and whimpering in the night, the puddles…” A look of dismay went around the room. The king laughed once more and cheerfully called the meeting to an end.
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CHAPTER FOUR
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Hero
It had been just as Noble had feared. There had been much grumbling about the puppy in the knights’ quarters, and a good deal of teasing, as well. “Hero!” several of the men had laughed. “That is wishful thinking, Sir Noble! That pretty pup will never be more than a lapdog! He’s too small to ever amount to anything—let alone a hero! What you need is a real dog—a greyhound or foxhound, even.” They scoffed as Hero courageously nipped at the heels of the other larger dogs, but Noble admired the puppy’s spirit and spunk and praised him proudly.
The king had been correct, also. Though there were complaints and mockery, the other knights had been kind to the little dog. They brought him tasty treats and played with him whenever they got the chance. Noble spent time every day in between his other duties training Hero, and the men were quick to give him advice and help. Hero was a bright little fellow and learned quickly. He had soon won a special spot in the hearts of all the men, but especially in the heart of Noble himself.
Noble took the pup with him whenever he could. Hero was a familiar sight at the training fields where the knights practiced their archery, jousting and fencing as he napped under a shady tree. He went along with Noble and Fly in the afternoons as they hunted. Noble made sure to keep the puppy out of Fly’s sight when she was hunting. Fly’s eyes were keen, but Noble didn’t want the falcon to mistake his pet for a rabbit or a gopher! When he rode out on Valiant, Noble carried the puppy in his pocket or tucked inside his tunic since the little dog’s legs were too small to keep up with the great warhorse. Valiant would nuzzle the pup when he got the chance, and was careful not to step on the puppy when it ran between his feet.
Hero was Noble’s constant companion and grew dearer to him every day. As soon as he was able, after his return from the long journey with the knights, Noble had taken the pup with him to see his grandmother. She lived on the outskirts of a neighboring village, and whenever his duties allowed, Noble would visit her on the Lord’s Day to worship with her and to supply her with provisions from the castle.
“Oh, my goodness, Noble! Who do you have here?” Granny had cooed as soon as she caught sight of the tiny head sticking out of Noble’s pocket on that first Sunday visit. “Isn’t he a fine little fellow!” she said as she took him into her arms.
“His name is Hero, Granny,” Noble replied. “He is a gift from Prince William. Though others doubt and laugh, he will soon be the finest hunting dog in the kingdom. I am sure of it, although little Hero himself does not yet know it!”
His grandmother laughed. “Well, if you say it will be so, Noble, I believe it, for surely you do have a way with animals! And have you done much hunting lately?”
“A little, Granny, with Fly whenever I can. These days, though, I am doing hunting of a different sort.”
“Come inside and have some breakfast, Noble, before we go to the church for worship. I have baked fresh scones for you and made jam from the blackberries out back. Now tell me, what kind of hunting are you are doing?” she asked as she led him into the small cottage.
Noble sat down at the table before he answered and looked around the cheery room for a moment. Granny was poor, and her place was small and rather bare, but wherever she could she had brightened it with color and warmth. He missed the peaceful days when he had lived there with her and Grandfather. Although his life at the castle was busy and happy, and he was grateful to the king for allowing him his dream of becoming a knight, there were times when he longed for a hug from Granny or a nice long chat with her.
Now he bowed his head and thanked the Lord for the breakfast Granny had prepared for him and for the chance to see her again. He reached for a warm scone and bit into it before replying. “I am hunting for a man, Granny,” he finally said. “A knight, actually. There have been stories told throughout the kingdom about a dark knight who rides through the countryside, spreading fear and dread wherever he goes. The king has asked me to track him down and find out what he is up to.”
Granny was silent for a moment and then asked, “Is he a threat, Noble? Is this a dangerous task for you?”
Noble watched Hero nosing around the corners of Granny’s cottage and slowly said, “A threat? We don’t know yet, Granny. As for it being dangerous—don’t worry. I have asked Sir Michael to help me in my search, so I won’t be going alone. And wherever I go, the Lord goes with me. You know that, Granny.”
“Yes, I do know that, Noble. You are safe within His hands. Where will you look for this man?”
“Wherever we hear rumors of him, I suppose. Some of the other knights think we are wasting our time, that the stories of him are just tales to scare little children. For now he is simply a shadow in the night, but something in my heart tells me he is real, and a danger.”
“Be careful, Noble,” Granny urged.
“I will,” Noble promised. “But now we must hurry if we want to get to church on time! I am so glad to be here with you again on this Lord’s Day, Granny! I have missed you so!”
The rest of the day passed quietly as Noble and his grandmother enjoyed one another’s company and the antics of the playful pup. Noble amused Granny with stories of his journey through the kingdom and of the sights and people he had met. She was happy to hear about the warm welcome he had received from Prince William and the king and queen. Granny told him in turn about the good crop of garden vegetables with which the Lord had blessed her, and little bits and pieces of news about friends and neighbors in the village. They took a walk late in the afternoon, keeping a close eye on Hero and laughing at the clumsy puppy as he raced ahead.
It was long after dark when Noble finally took his leave of Granny and climbed into the loft where he slept when he was home. It had been a good day. He would have to return to the castle in the morning, but for now he breathed a deep sigh of contentment and thanked the Lord as he closed his eyes. Hero snuggled in close to him, and soon the boy and his dog were fast asleep.
Little did they know that the shadow of a knight passed close to the small cottage in the midnight hour and paused outside the gate before finally moving on. Hero raised his head at the quiet echo of horse’s hooves and sniffed the air. The little dog looked toward the window and whimpered softly. Moonlight streamed through the small panes, and the muffled clip-clop sound faded away. Hero sniffed once more, and then laid his head back down. His eyes were open for a long time, though, as the pup stood watch bravely through the night.
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CHAPTER FIVE
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The Hunt
The weeks passed swiftly. Noble and Sir Michael rode out often in search of the Dark Knight, but the man was always days ahead of them and the trail was cold. The people continued to live in fear of him, however, and now they began to hear tales of his cruel and violent nature. It was more important than ever that they catch up to him and discover who he was and why he was there.
Although he was still a pup, and very small, Hero soon outgrew his cozy spot inside Noble’s shirt, and even his pocket, and the young knight began carrying the little dog in a saddlebag when he took him with him on Valiant. Hero had settled down and learned quickly all that Noble tried to teach him. He was eager to please his master, and his eyes shone with pleasure whenever Noble praised him. There was intelligence behind those big brown eyes, as wel
l, and Noble felt that sometimes the pup would just love to break out into speech and tell him all the things he wanted so desperately to say. The bond between Noble and his dog grew stronger with every passing day.
Though those days were busy with the hunt for the Dark Knight, practice with the Guard, hunting with Fly and training Hero, the highlight of each week was the Lord’s Day which he spent at Granny’s. She prepared his favorite things to eat, and he did whatever chores she needed done. They walked down to the village church together and discussed the pastor’s message as they ate their lunch together afterwards. Noble took Fly with him sometimes, and then in the afternoon he would hunt with the falcon and supply his grandmother with meat for her table. Always he took Hero to Granny’s with him, for she delighted in the little dog and looked forward to seeing what new tricks Noble had trained the pup to do that week.
Sir Michael was waiting for Noble in the stables when he returned from Granny’s cottage one Monday morning. He did not greet his friend but said urgently, “Don’t bother to dismount, Noble. We have to ride out. There have been rumors that the Dark Knight was seen near here last night. If we hurry we may be able to pick up his trail.”
“He has! Then we must go, but give me a few minutes first to feed and water Valiant, and take Hero back to the quarters,” Noble replied.
“Feed your horse, but we’ll have to take the pup with us. There’s no time to take him back now. It has already been more than an hour since the reports came in. If we don’t go quickly we may lose him.”
Sir Michael led Valiant to the water trough while Noble grabbed a bucket and went for feed for his horse. A few minutes later they were ready to go. Jamie was just riding back into the stable yard as they were riding out.
“Oh-ho, Sir Noble, Sir Michael!” the stable boy called out in greeting. “I am sorry I was not here to help you with your horses. I was out exercising the queen’s steed. Do you need anything else?”
Shadow of the Dark Knight (Noble Heart Book 3) Page 2