In the Court of King Arthur Part 20

And then without further parley the knight brought his sword to play.

But sorry adventure this for him and Sir Galahad though still without s.h.i.+eld brought him right quickly to earth. A sorry match was he for the young knight, so ill matched that Walker smiled in glee at his efforts.

The knight now held his peace as Sir Galahad told the yeoman to take his master's horse and go hence. But he scowled and as Sir Galahad turned to go he bespoke him.

"Sir Knight, I shall not forget your meddling in what was of no concern to you. And the day may come when you will regret this deed."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Sir Galahad In The Forest]

"True, Sir Knight," replied Sir Galahad. "I shall have need to make a.s.surance that my horse is secured so that he may not be stolen." And laughing and full at ease he left the beaten knight to his surly thoughts.

Yet as he went the strange yeoman followed him. So that Sir Galahad turned to him somewhat in amaze.

"I thought that your way was opposite."

"My way, Sir Knight, goes only to yonder turn. Yet before I leave I make you gift of this horse. He is yours. That was not a true tale as to who owned this horse. For its true owner is none other than you and my story such as to test you and find answer to whether you would help those who are in trouble, though the trouble owner be lowly born. The horse is sent by friend of yours whose name is not to be related. I wish you well, Sir Knight."

Much overcome was Sir Galahad at the princely gift, for the horse had impressed him much.

"Tell you this unknown friend of mine, that I value this gift as naught else. Tell you too, that I name him the Seeker, in full honor of my quest."

So then the strange yeoman departed whilst the knight and his faithful man went on their way.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

In Normandy

Of the travels of Sir Galahad, of how he journeyed through many lands and new scenes, there is much to be told. Ever with him, went his faithful man, Walker, who served him well and loyally.

Eager was the young knight to reach Normandy of which he had heard much. So he sailed away and since many rumors held the Grail to be there he hoped to find it.

In Normandy, a strange land, he met with much adventure, many knights brave and true, and some who were not. But no sign of the Grail was there to be had.

On his white horse, the Seeker, he made his way southward, finding lodging where he could.

It was so, in the first month of his travels, that he came to the castle of one of the best of Normandy's knights. Of him, Sir Launcelot had spoken highly; he held him in great esteem, and so had counseled the youthful knight to make it his purpose to visit him when there.

Sir Guilbert gave him friendly greeting. Many had been his visits to England, well he knew Sir Launcelot and Sir Percival and the great King himself. Sir Galahad found his stay a pleasant one; there were friendly jousts in which he met some of Normandy's wors.h.i.+pful knights.

In all of these he was victor.

Sir Guilbert had full praise for the young knight. There was son of his, a youth of seventeen, who also admired the newcomer, even as Allan the boy had admired Sir Launcelot. When his visitor's stay was drawing to a close, Sir Guilbert spoke of this.

"My son Charles, Sir Galahad, has taken great fancy to you and wishful am I that you could find it in your plans to take him as page. He is a quiet lad, st.u.r.dy and obedient, you will find. And following wish of his mother, he knows your English tongue well, for she is Englishborn.

He has made study of Latin too, it seemed for a time that he would turn to priesthood. But that will not be, and I cannot say that it finds me regretful. I would have him a true knight, had I my way."

"Your wish, Sir Guilbert, may well be served. But if I may, I should like first to speak to the lad, before I make answer."

"Faith, and you may. For we should want the lad to satisfy you and merit your friends.h.i.+p. I shall see to it that you have the chance to speak with him. It were better, that he know not the reason for your questioning. Is it not so?"

"It would be best, Sir Guilbert," Sir Galahad replied.

Then the two talked of other things and the young knight questioned his friend as to the likely whereabouts of the Holy Grail.

"Many rumors have I heard, Sir Galahad. But never actual trace.

Understand you well, my friend. Knights from every land seek this Grail and I would wish that it were Norman who found it. But if it cannot be one from my own land, I would it were one from your country.

I fear me, it shall not be easy search, it may lead you far."

"I am well prepared for that," replied the Seeker. "If it were easy to find, the glory would be so much the less. I can but hope that I shall have the vision to see it when it is near me."

"I wish you well," Sir Guilbert made answer. "Now let us repair to the dining hall for the meal waits."

It was after they had eaten that Sir Galahad found the opportunity to hold speech with the youth, Charles.

He found the lad to be all that his father had said of him.

"What have you wish for, Charles?" he said.

"I should like to journey far and to many places," the boy replied.

"There is much to see and I envy the many who have traveled to foreign lands."

"How then, if you could, would you travel?"

"As a true Norman knight serving G.o.d and the Church against all infidels."

"Well spoken, lad. But it needs many years and one must learn much to be a good knight. It is not easy work."

"I know that, Sir Galahad. But I shall not count the years for I am still young."

More questions the knight asked the lad and he made eager though respectful answer. It was apparent that he had thought of it for many a day. But Sir Galahad said never a word to him of the reason for his questions and left the lad without knowledge of his purpose.

But the next day he spoke to Sir Guilbert and gave him answer.

"I should like the youth as my page. He is the kind I could well use.

And I promise you that he shall come back to you so that neither you nor his mother shall have reason to be other than proud of him. He will be of great help to me when I reach Rome for I purpose to journey there, I know naught of the tongue."

"Have you told the lad, as yet?" the father asked.

"I thought it best that either you or your lady speak first with him and then will I."

"That is a gracious deed on your part, my knight. And if it bears fruit or not, I shall indeed be in your debt."

"Not so, Sir Guilbert. For the boy will but have such chance as I was given by Sir Percival when I was even younger than he."