Free The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf by Gerald Morris Page B

didn't think you would."
    "We can't judge him until we understand his motives," Lynet said stiffly.
    "Very true," replied Roger. He turned again. "Come
on,
Beau!"
    Beaumains had fallen behind again when at last Roger and Lynet rode out of the dark forest. The setting sun ahead of them gave an orange tint to the neat, carefully cultivated fields before them. On a small rise was a well-kept manor house. A man on horseback, evidently returning to the manor from a ride in the fields, stopped and stared at them.
    "What ho, travelers!" he called. "You look tired!"
    Lynet smiled at his open, friendly greeting. "We are, rather," she said.
    "We don't get many wayfarers along here," the man
said, riding closer. "Especially ladies. The forest is a bit much for most of them, I think. Dreadful place, wouldn't you say?"

    "Horrible!" Lynet assented.
    "You must stay the night with me! Much better than a cold campfire, I should think. Do say yes!"
    Lynet hesitated, but Roger nodded slowly. "We thank you, sir," he said.
    The man smiled brightly. "Then it's settled. My name is Sir Pertelope. Are you alone?"
    "No," Lynet answered. "We've a knight with us. He should be along soon."
    At that moment, Beaumains rode out of the forest, and Sir Pertelope's friendly face fell. "Is that your knight?" he asked.
    "That's right," replied Lynet.
    "Then I am sorry for you, my lady." Lynet remembered suddenly that Beaumains was wearing the Black Knight's armor. She started to explain that her knight was not the Knight of the Black Woods, but Sir Pertelope called to Beaumains first. "Hello, brother."
    "Brother?" asked Roger.
    "My eldest brother," Sir Pertelope said grimly.
    "The Knight of the Black Woods?" Roger asked. Sir Pertelope nodded. Roger took a deep breath and said, "No, friend. That is only your brother's armor.
The knight inside is named Beaumains." Roger's voice was gentle.

    Sir Pertelope looked searchingly at the dwarf, then at the approaching Beaumains. At last he said, "I must ask. How did this Beaumains come by my brother's armor?"
    "It was a fair fight," Roger said. Sir Pertelope seemed to sag. Roger continued, "I'm sorry, friend, but your brother had threatened the lady."
    "I believe it," Sir Pertelope said. "But still, he was my brother." Beaumains joined the group, and Sir Pertelope sat upright in his saddle. "Whence came you by that armor, sirrah?" he demanded, in a different voice.
    "But Roger just told you—" began Lynet. Roger laid his hand on her arm and shook his head.
    "I took it from a scurrilous knave, a recreant knight of no honor," replied Beaumains.
    "That knight was my brother!" declared Sir Pertelope. "For his sake must I do battle!"
    "So be it!" replied Beaumains. "Appoint thyself to thine armor, and I shall await thee on yon field."
    "Are you both crazy?" Lynet demanded, but Sir Pertelope ignored her. He turned and cantered toward the manor house, and Beaumains turned the other way toward the field he had indicated. Lynet looked at Roger. "They're off their heads!"
    Roger shrugged. "I tried to stop it," he said.

    "Why does Sir Pertelope want to fight?"
    "He doesn't. But it was his brother."
    "But his brother was a bounder! A fiend! He was vermin!"
    "Ay, and he knows it, too. But it was his brother, you see."
    "And what if he gets killed trying to avenge his stinker of a relative? What will that prove?" Roger didn't answer. "Would you risk your life for the sake of a worthless brother?"
    Roger did not speak for a long time. At last he nodded. "I already have, my lady. And I may again." Lynet started to speak, but Roger continued, "And before you say anything, let me remind you that you've come all this way for the sake of a sister you don't care so much for either."
    A finality in Roger's voice told Lynet that he was through talking, and she decided not to argue, especially since he was right. They sat in silence for several minutes until Sir Pertelope reappeared from the manor, fully armed.
    "Gracious, look at that,"