Part 18 (1/2)
Sir Plenorius answered:
”When he is dead, I will come to Arthur's Court as one of his followers.”
All this time Sir Brune was lying in a swoon on the bed in the turret room. But at last he came to himself and looked about him.
He saw near him his sword and s.h.i.+eld; so he lifted them up beside him. As he lay still, trying to recover his strength, he heard stealthy footsteps coming up the turret stairs. They came nearer and nearer. Suddenly, in rushed Lord Brian of the Isles. He knew that Sir Brune was there, alone and wounded, and he intended to kill him as he lay defenseless. Sir Brune understood this and he cried:
”Ah, wretch, you were ever a coward. You come to kill me as I lie wounded here, just as you killed my poor father while he slept.
But the sight of you makes me forget my wounds.”
At these words, and at the fierce rage which shone in Sir Brune's eyes, Lord Brian, who was indeed a coward, tried to retreat. But Sir Brune sprang to the doorway.
”You shall never go down by these stairs, villain,” he said, ”for I will kill you!”
Lord Brian rushed to the window and sprang out upon the battlements. Sir Brune followed him, though with difficulty. The two began to fight, and Sir Brune soon saw that his enemy was trying to push him close to the edge of the battlements, that he might fall down into the courtyard below.
Sir Brune, at this, put himself behind Lord Brian, determined to cast him off instead. Slowly he pushed him, until Lord Brian was but a step from the edge. Then Sir Brune lifted his s.h.i.+eld and struck his enemy with it. The wicked lord lost his footing, and was dashed to pieces at the feet of Sir Lancelot and Sir Plenorius in the courtyard below.
They ordered his soldiers to bury him, and while Sir Lancelot went to care for Sir Brune, Sir Plenorius went down the hill to find the damsel Elinor. She came back with tears of joy to Sir Brune.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _”He pushed him until he was but a step from the edge”_]
When Sir Brune was well enough to travel, he visited all the castles of Lord Brian, in search of his lost mother. He was very much afraid that she was dead, but at last he found her alive, in the very castle which had belonged to his father. There was great joy at their meeting. He took her to Arthur's Court, whither Sir Lancelot had already conducted the damsel Elinor. A few days afterward Sir Brune and the damsel were married amid great festivities.
[Ill.u.s.tration: The s.h.i.+eld and the Sword]
[Ill.u.s.tration] THE ADVENTURE OF KING PELLENORE
In Arthur's Court, every knight or lady who was found unworthy was banished; yet it often took some time to discover one's real character.
One of the ladies of Arthur's Court was named Vivien. She was very pretty, and as graceful as a willow wand, and so bright and attractive in her ways that no one suspected her of being very wicked.
Among Arthur's bravest warriors was King Pellenore. He had once had a great fight with Arthur, but after that they had become friends, and King Pellenore had been made a Knight of the Round Table. He was not often at court, for he spent much of his time seeking for adventures. Now and then he would return and put away his armor. Then he rode with the ladies or talked to the other knights.
The lady Vivien admired King Pellenore for his valor and his mighty deeds, and whenever she could she talked with him about his adventures. One afternoon she begged him to go for a long ride with her through the forest. So their horses were brought and they set forth. Just as they were pa.s.sing a thick part of the wood, a beautiful golden-haired lady stepped out.
”Good sir knight,” she cried to King Pellenore, ”I ask your help.
I am here in the wood with the dear lord who is to be my husband.
He is sore wounded, for an enemy crept up behind him as we were riding to Arthur's Court, and thrust a sword in his back.”
Then King Pellenore turned his horse's head toward the maiden.
”Gladly will I help,” he said; ”lead me, maiden.”
But Vivien called him back.
”Do not go with her,” she said. ”She may be a witch. Ride on with me.”