Free The Knight by Kim Dragoner

beautiful chestnut mare that he did not recognize and fastened them to the back of the cart alongside the cattle. The boy turned to Rhys and said, “For your father, sir. From the Three Sisters.” He bowed and turned. Rhys bowed his head in return.
    Rhys and Erasmus kicked their horses firmly and ambled out of the stable yard. As they approached the courtyard barbican, a loud cheering went up from the castle ramparts. Rhys looked up and saw the sisters surrounded by the members of the court waving and cheering for him. He reined in Broderick and turned around to face them. He removed his riding hat and bowed to them all from his saddle before spinning his horse around and galloping off to catch up with Erasmus.

 
    Chapter Eight
     
    Earth
     
    The horses and wagons fared well on the boat ride across the channel and when everything had been unloaded on the docks at Glastonbury without incident, there had been no dispute from the men to start the journey immediately. Erasmus and Rhys rode ahead of the wagons and the outriders for most of the way, pausing only briefly for a light lunch. At the foot of the tor, they parted ways with the luggage train.
    “You are to go on ahead to Gloucester,” Erasmus told the foreman. “We will meet you there in four days and continue afterwards to Kenilwurt.”
    “Aye,” the man replied, and moved his lumbering train of animals and goods down the dusty road.
    Rhys found it peculiar that they were still gazing at the horizon as the wagons disappeared from sight. He turned to look at Erasmus. The elder man seemed to be in deep reflection as he watched them vanish over a distant hill.
    “Sir,” Rhys started. “Is everything alright ?”
    “Tell me Rhys,” he replied turning to look at the boy, “do you think everything is alright?”
    Rhys was taken aback by the question. He was used to getting straight answers from his valet. Riddles and questioning replies were a new trait that had developed over the past few days. Erasmus continued before Rhys could shake the feeling of being baffled.
    “I have been with you ever since you arrived at Avalon, Rhys. Since that day you have been in my care. I have done everything that was expected of me during that time, rather diligently I might add, and yet here we are on the road to Camelot where you will be knighted by the King and we are both so unprepared. I’ve failed you, my boy, and this gives me much to be unhappy about.”
    “My dear man, you have done nothing to be ashamed of,” Rhys said.
    He patted Erasmus’ knee beside him as he said it, causing their horses to shuffle around a little. The burst of skittishness from the animals brought a smile to the men’s faces.
    “Had you known that this was where our road was taking us, I’m certain you would have prepared me for it. In my estimation, you have done an excellent job with me in the time that we have had. I may never have worn much more armor in my life than boiled leather but I am surely not the unskilled, rough country boy that came to you those years ago. I’ve learned many things in my time with you, Eramus, all of which have been for my own betterment and I am very grateful for it. Had I remained all this time at Kenilwurt, I may not have learned much more than a thimbleful about the world outside of Worwick’s Shire. Now here I am, that country boy who is about to be knighted by the greatest king the world has ever known. Arthur!”
    The excitement had risen inside Rhys so quickly that it startled Erasmus. He had never seen that much raw emotion spill from the boy before.
    “Well, Rhys, while I appreciate your kind words and enthusiasm, There are about five years' worth of lessons which I must somehow miraculously supply to you during a three-day ride. I suggest that we better get going.”
    “Do you think I will be ready, Erasmus? You know, to stand before the King, before we arrive at Camelot?”
    “Well,” the older man started, “there is one thing which I am