The arrow flew wildly, harmlessly into the trees. The white wolf leaped to the top of the rocks and paused to look down once more upon Noble. Then, with a flash of his silvery white tail, he disappeared from view.
“Why did you do that?” the knight asked angrily.
Noble shrugged. “He did not deserve to die.” The wolf had saved his life. Today he had done the same for him. Somehow Noble knew in his heart that he had seen the white wolf for the last time—unless it was in his dreams.
Noble dismounted and went to the edge of the crevasse. Sir Robert joined him. Foster, Sharkey and Grimes stared up at them from the bottom. They looked half-frozen. Sharkey and Grimes were pale and pinched-looking. Now that the wolves were gone they had no strength left to do anything more than moan pitifully.
It was not so with Foster. He began screaming curses at the knights as soon as he saw them. His face was splotched with purple and red in his rage and even though it was pressed firmly against Grimes’ foot, he had no problem spewing forth his hatred of Noble, the knights and the king himself. He was bound just as Noble had left him and lying awkwardly in the dirt, wedged solidly between the walls of the crevasse.
Sir Robert ignored the foul-mouthed man and turned to Noble, patting him on the back. “Good work, Sir Noble!” he praised him. “King Stephen will be most pleased with the work you have done in Aber. We will soon have the Wolf and his pack where they belong—in the dungeons of Caernarfon.” He began to direct the knights in pulling the men from their makeshift prison in the earth.
Noble had been right. Sharkey and Grimes were so relieved to be out of the pit they were almost giddy with happiness. They thanked the knights over and over for rescuing them from their trap and seemed to almost be looking forward to the dungeons after their ordeal. Simon Foster was not quite so grateful. He continued to shout abuse upon the knights, and even on his own men, but when Sir Robert threatened to leave him there in the crevasse if he did not be quiet, he quickly shut his mouth and became as meek as a lamb. He would never admit it, but Noble knew Foster was just as glad to be out of the hole as the others.
Sharkey screamed in pain as they put him on a horse, but there was no help for it. Grimes groaned as he sat before a knight on another horse, despite the slings they had made for his broken arms. Sir Robert made Foster walk with shackles upon his arms and legs.
The going was slower this time, but eventually they made it back to the inn in Aber. Master Locke tried to convince Sir Robert to stay overnight and take advantage of his hospitality, but the captain insisted they must be on their way, so after a brief rest and a hot meal for the knights who had gone into the forest, they brought the rest of Foster’s gang up out of the cellar and prepared for the journey back to Caerfarnon.
The other knights were binding the prisoners together so that there would be no chance of escape during the trip when the old innkeeper drew Noble aside. Jacob, Willy, Thomas and several of the other men from the village were with him. Locke looked at Simon Foster and laughed. “I see they have gagged the Wolf’s mouth!”
Noble smiled. “Yes. Once we arrived back at the inn and he saw his men he started up again. We do not care to hear him all the way to Caernarfon!”
“Well, Sir Noble, there is no way that we can thank you for what you have done for us here in Aber.”
“Master Locke, as in everything that I do in my life, I wish only to give the glory to God. It is He Who stood with me against The Wolf, He Who gave the victory to the men of Aber when they faced the pack of Foster’s wolves. Let us give thanks to God.”
“You are right, of course, Sir Noble. We do thank the Lord for His protection and strength—and for you. We hope that you will be able to return to Aber one day.”
Noble put his hand on Thomas’s shoulder. The village boy was standing next to Valiant, stroking his neck and looking sad. “I will come back, Master Locke, Thomas. I have made friends here that I shall not forget.”
Sir Robert gave the word just then for the company to be on its way and Noble swung up into his saddle. With a wave of farewell he joined the other knights and rode slowly out of the gate with the gang of prisoners herded before them like a flock of dumb sheep.
Thomas watched them leave with a heavy heart. His eyes did not leave the young knight on the tall black stallion until finally they rounded a curve in the road and disappeared from sight.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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Return to Aber
It was a month or two later when Noble made good on his promise to return to the village of Aber. Spring had burst forth finally in the mountains. Most of the snow was gone and the sun shone brightly on green grass, wildflowers and flourishing gardens. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and small creatures enjoying their woodland homes. Brownie and Lacey were grazing peacefully in the field behind the inn.
Thomas looked up from his work in the new stable at the sound of horses’ hooves. The townspeople had gotten together as soon as the weather broke and rebuilt the roof and interior of the old stone building for their friend Tom Locke. It was the least they could do, they had decided, after all the old innkeeper had done for them during the attack of The Wolf and his pack.
Now the innkeeper’s son walked out to the gate and saw a group of men on horseback coming up the road, led by none other than Sir Noble and Valiant. Thomas opened the gate and dashed down the road toward them. “Sir Noble!” he called in excitement. Suddenly he stopped and looked beyond the young knight at the rest of the party with him.
Banners were flying against the blue sky. A dozen knights or more made up most of the group, but in their midst rode a man upon a great white stallion, just as beautiful in its own way as Valiant was. At the man’s side rode a small boy on a fine dark horse. Thomas had briefly met King Stephen when he had ridden Valiant to Caernarfon with the message from Sir Noble. Now he was awestruck, however, at the sight of the king and the child whom he knew must be Prince William.
He snatched his hat off and bowed his head before the king, his knees trembling slightly at this unexpected turn of events. Then he heard the voice of his friend Sir Noble say, “Hello, Thomas! I have brought someone who desires to meet you!”
The boy looked up and saw the king smiling upon him and the little prince leaning forward in his saddle, eager to make his acquaintance. His fear disappeared and once again a broad grin lit his face. “Welcome, Your Majesty, Your Highness! Please come in! My father will be most pleased to meet you!” With that, the party followed him back to the gate and into the courtyard outside the inn.
“Father!” he called, dashing to the door. A moment later Master Locke himself bustled through the doorway, and at the sight of the grand crowd in his courtyard came suddenly to a halt.
Sir Noble laughed. “Come, Innkeeper! Where is the warm welcome you so graciously give your guests? Your Majesty, may I present to you, Master Tom Locke? Master Locke, this is King Stephen and his son, Prince William. You will remember Sir Robert, I am sure.” Noble made a few more introductions and then slid down off of Valiant. He shook the innkeeper’s hand, and thumped Thomas on the back in his delight at seeing the boy again.
Locke bowed to the king and his son, and welcomed Noble once more to the inn. The door opened just then behind him and Jacob and Willy stuck their heads out to see what all the commotion was about. Their jaws dropped open at the sight of the royal party. Noble pulled them out into the courtyard and once again introductions were begun.
Finally King Stephen laughed and held up his hand. “It is wonderful to see the meeting of old friends, but we have come here on business, have we not, William?” The small boy looked up at his father with a grin on his face. The king went on. “Master Locke, Sir Noble has shared with me all that you did for him and for your fellow townspeople during the time that Simon Foster preyed upon the village of Aber. I have come personally to thank you for your courageous part in ridding the kingdom of a dangerou
s criminal and his gang, and to bring you this reward. I hope it will cover the expenses you incurred, and more—although I see you have already replaced your stable.” King Stephen held out a pouch filled with gold coins to the innkeeper.
Master Locke bowed his head once more before the king. “Thank you, Your Majesty, but I did no more than defend my home and village. The stable was rebuilt by the generosity and kindness of my friends.”
“Yes, I see that Aber must be a very special place to live indeed if it inspires such loyalty amongst its people. Now, William, I believe you had something you wanted to say?”
“Yes!” The prince rode forward on his horse. “Thomas, Sir Noble has told us also about you! He told us about your fight in the woods with the wolves and how you stood bravely next to him with only a branch to defend yourself! How I would have liked to have seen that! He told us also how you escaped The Wolf and rode Valiant all the way to Caernarfon for help. How lucky you are! Valiant is the greatest of all horses, is he not? Well, almost the greatest I should say, for Father has just recently given me a horse of my own, and although he is not as big as Valiant, he is just as mighty! Look at him! His name is Warrior! Is he not beautiful?” The prince stroked his mount’s mane proudly and beamed with satisfaction upon his wonderful horse.
The king cleared his throat. “William, aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Oh! Oh, yes! What I was about to say, Thomas, is that Sir Noble told us about your desire to have a horse of your own. I know exactly how you feel for I, too, wanted a horse of my very own for ever so long! When Father gave me Warrior at last, I remembered what Noble had told me about you and I suggested that perhaps we should reward you with a fine horse, as well, for your service to the kingdom. If you could ride Valiant, then we knew you would be able to ride anything, so we have brought you a fine steed of your very own, Thomas!”
One of the knights rode forward just then from the back of the company, leading a small dark stallion. It was almost identical to Prince William’s horse except for a small white patch on its forehead.
“This is the twin to my horse, Thomas!” William said eagerly. “One of the finest in the land, except for Warrior, and Valiant, and my father’s horse, of course. How do you like him?”
The innkeeper’s son was speechless. He stood in mute astonishment, gazing with awe at the beautiful animal before him. His father and the two old men beside him were speechless, as well.
Finally the king said, “Take him, Thomas. He is yours.”
Thomas reached for the reins with a trembling hand. He managed to stammer out his thanks to the king and Prince William, but could say nothing else for several minutes as he stood there stroking this horse of his very own.
At last the king said, “Well, it has been a long, warm ride up through the mountains to reach Aber. We could all use something to eat and drink, I think!”
Master Locke slapped himself on the forehead and exclaimed, ”Where are my manners? Do come into my humble establishment, Your Majesty! I would be most honored to prepare a meal for all of you!”
The king laughed and dismounted, followed by the others in his party. They began to troop inside, while Willy and Jacob hurried away to spread the news throughout the village that King Stephen himself was visiting right there in Aber among them all!
Noble, William and Thomas lingered outside for a few minutes more looking over the fine horse that now belonged to Thomas. “He is a beauty,” Noble said in admiration.
“Yes,” William agreed. “Nearly as wonderful as my Warrior. What do you plan to name him, Thomas?”
Thomas pondered the question for a moment and then said slowly, “Well, I have thought of something, but I am not sure…”
“What?” William asked eagerly. “It must be a very worthy name, you know, for this is a special animal. What have you thought of?”
“I don’t know…” Thomas hesitated. “Would you be, er, insulted, Sir Noble, if I named my horse after you?”
William burst out laughing. “That is a worthy name, indeed, Thomas! Noble! Yes, it is a fine name for a horse!”
Thomas looked anxiously at the young knight. Noble broke out in a grin and laughed as well. “Insulted? Nay! I am honored! If that is what you want to call your horse, then Noble he shall be!”
William clapped his hands in delight. “Come on! I must tell my father!” He grabbed Sir Noble by the arm and dragged him to the door.
Thomas stood there for a moment more stroking his horse and then led him over to the field where Brownie and Lacey looked with interest at the approaching newcomer. “This is Noble,” Thomas said to the two faithful old horses. “He has come to stay.” They nuzzled the young stallion and followed as he moved away to have a taste of the sweet new grass.
Thomas watched and then said, “I’ll be back soon, Noble.” He turned and ran back to the inn to join the royal party and his friend Sir Noble in the common room. He leaped with joy up the steps and laughed as he reached the door. Thomas paused for a moment in the sunshine and looked out over the peaceful field. Spring had come to Aber and suddenly life was good—very, very good!
The End
Winter of the White Wolf (Noble Heart Book 4) Page 10