Free The Knight by Kim Dragoner Page A

eternally grateful for now that we find ourselves at this junction. It is that every knight began his journey as a squire regardless of his social status, family name or wealth. It is the common landing ground of every boy and man who would serve his king in combat. You may not ride the horse if you cannot first tend to it and you may not wear the armor if you have not first cleaned it. It is a rite of passage.”
    “I understand that, sir, but how does this give you comfort?”
    “Because you, Rhys, have proven yourself to be a rather marvelous squire! Let’s begin!”
     
    ***
     
    Lancashire County, England
     
    Thomas of Manchester was seated atop his favorite destrier when he saw the king’s standard crest the top of the hill. Word had come from Leeds that ‘The Gathering’ had had been ordered and the boys were to ready themselves for the arrival of Rhys of Gascogne. When the three men reined in their horses a few feet from him, Thomas dismounted and bowed low to them. Even the lowliest servant sent on King Arthur’s business deserved the proper respect.
    “Thomas of Manchester, the king has decreed that the Sons will gather and go into the council of Merlin the Magician at Keswick immediately. Here are your orders; prepare yourself for the king’s representative and to depart your home for the north,” the man announced without even dismounting.
    “Gratitude. Have the others been advised?”
    “We still have Liverpool and Kendal.”
    “Godspeed then,” Thomas wished them, bowing again as they turned and rode away.
     
    ***
     
    Caerleon, England
     
    Three days later, Rhys was a knight. He stood in the great hall at Camelot surrounded by Arthur’s remaining men and the lords and ladies of the land who were serving the royal family at court.
    Erasmus had dressed him in his most elaborate clothes and then placed the shiny pieces of armor one by one on his body. He ached all over still from the rigorous exercises the monks at Glastonbury had put him through in the past three days and the armor felt like sheets of lead being bolted to his body.
    Rhys swayed under the weight for a moment and Erasmus caught him.
    “Be strong, boy. You have come so far. You only have a few more steps to take to get there.”
    The man’s words strengthened him and he took a deep breath, shifted his weight and stood firmly with his feet shoulder width apart; just as Erasmus had instructed him. He was surprised to feel how much more bearable the weight of the metal was in that stance.
    “Erasmus?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “I’ve been noticing a strange man around the castle at Avalon these past weeks, but I didn’t think much of it until I was sure I saw him again at the monastery. He was watching us exercising in the courtyard from the high corridor of the dormitories.
    “For the first time, I got a good look at him, but I could not see any features of a face beneath his cloak. What I was sure of though, is that he followed me one night through the castle at Avalon. I wondered if you know this man since the first time I noticed him was when he followed you from the dining hall after luncheon one day.”
    “No face you say?”
    “Not ‘no’ face, Erasmus. That would be silly. His face is always obscured by the hood of his cloak and usually he is too far away to really get a good look at.”
    “I am not aware of any such man, Rhys. I can only advise that you refrain from peering into the face of creatures that prefer to remain faceless; you may not like what you eventually see.”
    Rhys scoffed at the man’s words, dismissing them for superstitious nonsense. As soon as he did that, Erasmus grabbed him by both shoulders and gave him a stiff shake.
    “There are many legions of evil abroad in England today, Rhys. Do not think that they do not know that Arthur seeks to destroy them. Instead, be careful that they do not destroy his instrument… you.”
     
    ***
     
    Leeds, Yorkshire, England
     
    John sat perched on the