The Knight

I did.

“Do you really know Aelf? I mean, are you on friendly terms with them? Normally?”

“I’m not as friendly as I’d like to be with one of them,” I said.

Mani wanted me to explain, and I did, a little; but I did not like it, and when he saw I did not he shut up. We cooked the rest of the rabbits, sharing them between the three of us, but there was not a lot said after that.

―――

There was still rain on the grass when we struck the War Way next morning. Gylf ran in front to show me the way; when Mani was not riding on my shoulder, he trailed behind to stay away from Gylf. Half an hour’s fast walking got us in sight of some pavilions where sleepy servants were tidying up and seeing to a hundred or more horses and mules. A man-at-arms with a partisan stepped into the road to make us stop.

“I’m Sir Able of the High Heart,” I said, “a knight of Sheerwall Castle who’s been lost in this forest. If you’ll lend me a horse, I’ll be very grateful, and I’ll return it as soon as I rejoin my servant, who has my own horses.”

The man-at-arms bawled for his sergeant, a somewhat older man-at-arms who had a steel cap and a hard leather shirt. I explained all over again, and the sergeant said, “You’ll have to ask Master Crol, sir. That your hound?”

“Yes. His name’s Gylf.”

“We seen him last night and tried to catch him, but he give us the slip. Good huntin’ dog?”

“The best.”

“Well, you come along with me, sir.” The sergeant patted Gylf’s head, which Gylf tolerated to show there were no hard feelings. “Had any breakfast?”

I shook my head. “We ate a couple of rabbits last night, and to tell the truth I was really glad to get them. But that was supper for Gylf and me, and for my cat. I didn’t get as much as I wanted, and they didn’t either.”

“You got a cat, sir?” The sergeant looked around without seeing Mani.

“Somewhere.” I could not help smiling. “He’s only invisible at night, so I suppose he’s hiding ’til he finds out if you’re friendly.”

“I ain’t, sir. I’m a dog man, myself. What’s a cat good for anyhow?”

Gylf barked softly.

“Well,” I said, “I talk to mine. You can learn a lot from a cat.”

A servant carried a big tray loaded with steaming food into the nearest pavilion. The sergeant said, “That’ll be breakfast for Master Crol, and them other upper servants, sir. Let’s see if Master Crol wants to talk while eatin’. If he does, maybe you’d get a bite too.”

I said I hoped so.

“Master Crol’s a cat man, I guess. He’s got a dozen back at the castle, anyhow. Might be best if you left the hound with me, sir. I won’t hurt him.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” I told him, “but I’m going to take him with me just the same. If Master Crol objects to him, I’ll walk.”

The sergeant grinned and touched his steel cap. “Wait here, sir. Shouldn’t take long.”

It took quite a bit longer than I hoped, but that gave me a chance to rub Gylf’s ears and look around at the camp, which was big. There had to be close to fifty servants of one kind or another, and a bunch of archers and men-at-arms.

“He’ll see you now, sir,” the sergeant said when he came out. When he was closer, he lowered his voice. “I told him about your dog. He said it was all right.”

The inside of the pavilion was dark after the sunshine outside, but I could see three men eating at a small table. “Good Master Crol?”

The man facing me motioned me to come closer. “You are Sir Able, one of Duke Marder’s knights?”

I said I was.

“Lost? And you’d like something to eat?”

“Most of all, I’d like you to lend me a decent horse,” I said, “but I’d like a bite to eat, too, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“What if it is?”

I could not tell whether he was looking for a fight or making a joke. I said, “Then let me borrow a horse, please, and I’ll be gone.”

He clapped his hands. “We must get you something to sit on, Sir Able. Does that hound eat as much as I think?”

Gylf wagged his tail, so I said, “More.”

“I’ll have them bring something for him.”

One of the other men got up. “I’ve had enough, and had better see to busi ness. You may have my seat, Sir Able, if you want it.”

I said thanks and sat. “I’ve got a cat, too. He seems to be hiding just now.”

“I understand.”

“I’d like a little food for him, too, when I find him.”

A servingman came in, and Crol told him to take away the dirty trencher the other man had been eating from and bring me a clean one. “And bones. With meat on them.”

“I’m Master Papounce,” the man across the table said. “The servants are my charge. Master Egr, who just left, has the baggage train and the muleteers. Sir Garvaon has our men-at-arms and archers.”

Crol added. “They’re in the big pavilion. Can you use that bow?”

It was what Master Agr had asked me once. “I can shoot as well as most men,” I said.

“We might have a match tonight,” Papounce suggested. “Sir Garvaon’s a fine bowman.”

“I’ll be far ahead of you,” I said, “if I can get a horse.”

“That’s up to Master Crol. He’s Lord Beel’s herald, and he’s in charge of everything save Sir Garvaon’s men.”

Crol shook his head. “His Lordship must see him. I—”