Part 10 (2/2)

Now as Bruyan returned with the two aforementioned, there also came into the room a yeoman who served Sir Pendore. But of him neither the king nor any of the knights took notice but instead immediately began discussion as to the wisdom of waylaying these knights of King Arthur who were now in Cornwall.

Whether King Mark knew this to be so or not, yet of all his court, there were no two who had more reason to hate Sir Launcelot than Sir Bertram and Sir Pendore. For Sir Launcelot had come upon them once when they were in the midst of tormenting two holy men having first taken from them a paltry purse which these two monks were carrying for worthy purpose. Then when Sir Launcelot had asked that they desist and return the holy men's purse they had replied with foul tongue and had made for him. Soon, however, they found that this single knight was master of them both and would they then have complied with his requests. However, Sir Launcelot who was ever slow to anger was now in great rage and he had taken them to the castle grounds of Sir Gawaine and there, before a large number he told of what had happened. And while fair ladies laughed at them and while men looked at them as they would at hinds, Sir Launcelot had taken the flat of his sword and had brought it down on both. Then he had asked two yeomen to club them from the castle grounds since they were unfit to be in the company of knights. This the yeomen had done right l.u.s.tily.

Neither Sir Pendore nor Sir Bertram had ever made mention of this event. But there was no one in all of Britain whom they so fully hated as Sir Launcelot. Now, there seemed likely chance for revenge.

”How many men can you muster?” asked Sir Bertram, speaking not over anxiously yet with meaning looked at Sir Pendore.

”Seven score or more” replied the king of Cornwall.

”I would have more,” replied Sir Pendore. ”What with Percival and Launcelot and this Neil whom I know not, one must make it more than certain.”

It was at this point that the yeoman who was busily at work over the weapons, cleaning them and putting them into perfect condition, as none other in Cornwall could do, had become interested. Sir Percival?

It was this Sir Percival, knight of the Round Table, who had saved the father of this yeoman from the deadly mace of one of his men in one of many melees. It was but a small thing to the knight, long forgotten no doubt, but to Walker, the son of the man who was saved, it meant that he was in debt to this knight. So now he listened, interested. Then too, he had no great love for his master who was never kindly and he had decided long ago that he would find a new master when the opportunity offered.

”I shall find more men, if I can,” Mark offered in reply to Sir Pendore's suggestion. Nor did it seem strange to him that the knight should think that odds of seven to one were not enough.

”Where are these knights?” asked Sir Bertram.

Sir Bruyan told him, the yeoman listening all the while.

”Let us then he off within thrice this hour,” Mark concluded. ”Get you as many men ready as you can,” he said to Sir Bertram and to Sir Pendore who were his chiefs.

Walker, the yeoman, soon had completed his work. Thereupon he made his way into the forest to find him, who was best friend of his, to get advice as to what to do.

He, whom he sought, was none other than our old friend Gouvernail, who, of course, was not far from Sir Tristram, his master.

Though he had long since severed fealty to King Mark, Sir Tristram had returned near unto the court because of the love he bore one of the damsels who was in it. It was Walker who had carried the messages Gouvernail had brought from his master to this same lady.

Walker soon came to the hiding place of his friend.

”What ho?” asked Gouvernail. ”What brings you here at this unseemly hour?”

”I need your advice,” replied Walker. ”My poor head carries too great a muddle.”

”You come to one who can offer but poor solace there,” replied Gouvernail. ”If it were trusty arm, good club or something belike, you could well come to me. But speak, what troubles you?”

So Walker told him. Except that at first he made no mention of names.

”Keep you from it,” advised Gouvernail. ”It is the business of your betters and not of your meddling.”

”Yet had Sir Percival done this thing for my father, and if he would, he could have thought the same,--that it was not his affair but an affair of hind or yeoman.”

”Is this Percival, he who is of King Arthur's court?” asked Gouvernail.

”Aye,” replied Walker, nodding his head. ”Do you know him?”

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