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

precious,” said Merlin. “While you wear the scabbard you can lose no blood no matter how deeply you are wounded. It is a magic scabbard. You will do well to keep it always near you.”
    As they came near to Caerleon they met King Pellinore, but Merlin did not trust the temper of either of the knights and he cast a spell so that Pellinore did not see them.
    â€œIt is strange that he did not speak,” Arthur said.
    â€œHe did not see you,” Merlin explained. “If he had, there would have been a fight.”
    And so they came to Caerleon and Arthur’s knights were glad when they heard the story of his adventures. They were amazed that the king would endanger himself alone, and the bravest men were filled with happiness to serve under a chieftain who rode to his adventure as any poor knight would. They gave King Arthur honor and love, but also fellowship.
    But Arthur could not taste the full flower of the fellowship because his mind went brooding back to Merlin’s words about the king’s sin with his sister and the bitter prophecy that his own son would destroy him.
    Meanwhile, King Royns of North Wales, so lately defeated by Arthur, had been raging continuously in the north and had taken Ireland and the Isles. Now he sent messengers to King Arthur with a savage and arrogant demand. King Royns, the message said, had overcome the eleven lords of the north, and as wild tribute he had skinned off their beards to trim his cloak. Eleven beards Royns had and he demanded the twelfth—King Arthur’s beard. Unless Arthur sent his beard Royns promised to invade the land and put it to burning ruin and take King Arthur’s beard and his head also.
    Arthur heard the messengers and he responded almost with joy, for it took him for a moment from his foreboding.
    â€œSay to your master that his boastful, shameful demand has been received. Tell him my beard is not well grown enough to line his cloak. And as for giving him homage, I promise to bring him to his knees, crawling for my mercy. If he had ever associated with honorable men, he could not have sent so shameful a message. Now take those words with you.” And he sent the messengers away.
    Then Arthur asked his assembled men, “Does anyone here know this King Royns?”
    And one of the knights, Sir Naram, answered, “I know him well, my lord. He is a wild, proud, passionate man. But do not hold him lightly because of his arrogance, for he is one of the best fighting men alive. And do not doubt that he will try with all his force to carry out his threat.”
    â€œI will take care of him,” said the king. “When I have time I will deal with him as he deserves.”
    And his brooding fell on him again. He called Merlin and questioned him. “Is the child you spoke of born?”
    â€œYes, my lord.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œOn May Day, my lord,” said Merlin. Arthur sent him away and sat thinking with narrowed eyes, and his inward thoughts were dark and mean. He could not bear to have his incestuous shame known, and at the same time he was frightened at the prophecy. He sought a way to escape from ill fame and his fate. Then a cruel and cowardly plan grew in his mind with which to save his honor and his life. He was ashamed to tell his plan to Merlin before he put it into action. To conceal his incestuous sin, couriers went out to all his barons and his knights, ordering that any male child born on May Day must be sent to the king on pain of death. The barons were angry and afraid and many put the blame on Merlin more than on Arthur, but they did not dare refuse and many children born on May Day were taken to the king, and they were only four weeks old. Then the king conveyed the babies to the coast, for he could not bring himself to slaughter them. He placed the month-old babies in a little ship and set the sail to an offshore wind and it moved out to sea unattended. King Arthur, with shamed and evil