Free The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck

shall change it,” said Arthur.
    â€œAnd I shall defend it,” said the knight. And he mounted his horse and dressed his shield before him and took a great spear in his hand. The two rode together with great force and with such perfect control that the spear of each struck the center of the shield of each and both lances shattered. Then Arthur drew his sword, but the knight called to him, “Not that! Let us joust again with spears.”
    â€œI have no more spears,” said Arthur.
    â€œYou shall have one of mine, I have enough,” said the knight, and his squire brought two new spears from the tent and gave one to each of them. Then again they spurred their horses and crashed together with all speed and force, and again both spears struck true and both shattered. And again Arthur laid hand to his sword. But the knight said, “Sir, you are the best jouster I have ever met. In honor of our knighthood, let us joust again.”
    â€œI agree,” said Arthur.
    Then two more spears were brought and they ran together again, but this time Arthur’s spear shattered while his opponent’s held and drove both horse and man to the ground. And Arthur stepped clear of his horse and drew his sword and he said, “I shall fight you on foot since I have lost to you on horseback.”
    And the knight said mockingly, “I am still mounted.”
    Then the king was furious and he put his shield before him and advanced toward the mounted knight.
    When the knight saw this fierce bravery he quickly dismounted, for he was an honorable man and took no pleasure in unfair advantage. He drew his sword and the two fought fiercely, striking and slashing and parrying, and the swords cut through shields and carved through armor, and blood dripped and flowed, and their hands were slippery with blood. After a time they rested, panting with weariness and weak from loss of blood. Then in renewed fury they rushed together again like two rams. Their sword blades collided in mid-stroke and Arthur’s sword broke in two pieces, and he backed away and lowered his hand and stood sad and silent.
    Then the knight said courteously, “So I have won and I have the choice either to kill you or to let you live. Yield to me and admit that you are beaten or you must die.”
    Then Arthur said, “Death is welcome when it comes. But defeat is not welcome. I will not yield.” And with that, unarmed, he leaped at the knight and grasped him around the middle and threw him down and ripped off his helmet. But the knight was powerful. He wrestled and twisted until he rolled free and tore Arthur’s helmet off and raised his sword to kill him.
    Then Merlin intervened, saying, “Knight, hold your hand. This one is much more than you know. If you kill him you give a dreadful wound to the whole kingdom.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThis is King Arthur,” said Merlin.
    Then panic, fear of the wrath of the king, came over the knight, and again he raised his sword to kill him. But Merlin looked in his eyes and made an enchantment, and the knight’s sword dropped and he fell into a deep sleep.
    Then Arthur cried, “Merlin, what have you done? Have you killed this good knight with your magic? He was one of the best knights in the world. I would give anything if he were alive.”
    Merlin said, “Do not worry about him, my lord. He is not as badly hurt as you are. He is asleep and will awaken within the hour.” And Merlin said, “I warned you this morning what a knight he was. He would surely have killed you if I had not been here. There is no knight living better than he. In the future he will render you good service.”
    â€œWho is he?” asked Arthur.
    â€œHe is called King Pellinore. And I foresee that he will have two sons named Percival and Lamorake, who will grow up to be great knights.”
    The king was weak and wounded and Merlin took him to a hermitage nearby