The Knight

I did not say anything.

“I confess it in order that you may know I am not your foe. You may confide in me as a fellow adept.”

“All I can confide is that I don’t know a thing about magic, My Lord.”

“Wizards never tell. It was a saying of my nurse’s, but I didn’t know there was so much truth in it. You’ve been on those cliffs, Sir Able? It was you who slew our foes there?”

“Yes, My Lord. Some of them. Most of them were killed by my dog. The arrows of your archers killed some too.”

“Did you take my daughter up there? After the battle?”

“No, My Lord.”

“Did you see her there when you were there yourself?”

“No. If she’s been up there, I know nothing about it.”

“This is the deed to the manor of Swiftbrook, Sir Able.” Beel held up the parchment. “Did you speak to her without my knowledge, telling her of the battle?”

“No, My Lord.”

“Who was with you on the cliffs? Anyone?”

“My dog and my cat, My Lord. You’ve seen them.”

“Who was it who told my daughter of the scene there? The men you slew, and the way they died?”

“It wasn’t me, My Lord. Don’t you think you ought to ask her?” He got quiet, and I knew there was not a lot I could say then without making it worse. Besides, I had things to think about myself. I buttered bread, laid smoked sturgeon on it, and folded it over. At last Beel said, “You’re hoping that I will send you off to find your servant.”

“That’s right, My Lord.”

“I won’t. You had better get some rest, if you’re to shoot against Sir Garvaon.” I nodded, stood up, and returned Sword Breaker and my dagger to their scabbards.

“You’re still willing to contest with him?”

“Any time, My Lord.” I did not say it, but my bowstring was putting me through hell every night. It seemed to me then that it was high time I got something for it.

“I will judge your contest.”

I nodded. “Sure, My Lord.”

“I will do my utmost to judge fairly, Sir Able. My honor is at stake in that.”

“I understand, My Lord.”

“You may go.” Beel sighed. As I was stepping out of his pavilion he added softly, “Yet I hope Sir Garvaon has the victory.”

Chapter 51. Archery

In the dream I had that morning, I was myself for a change, but very young, much younger than I had been when I came out of Parka’s cave. I was sitting in a little boat and paddling up the Griffin. Bold Berthold stood watching from the bank, and Setr swam beside me, spouting water and steam like a whale. Up the river, Mother was waiting for me. Pretty soon Bold Berthold was left behind. I saw Mother’s face among the leaves of a willow and in a hawthorn, beautiful and smiling, and crowned with hawthorn blossoms; but the Griffin wound on, and when the hawthorn was past I saw her no more. From time to time I glimpsed a griffin of stone from whose mouth the river issued. I tried to reach it, but came instead to an opening in a tube of thick green glass.

And emerged at once, mounted on a gray warhorse and gripping a short lance from which a pe

It was past noon when I woke. I yawned and stretched, thinking about Mother’s face in the willow leaves and in the hawthorn blossoms. She was only a girl, and although there was a lot of sleep in the thought, there was more sorrow than sleep. She was still a young girl, not a great deal older than Sha, when she went away. “You’re awake just in time. I trust you slept well?” Mani was sitting at the foot of my cot, washing his face with his paws.

I yawned again. “I thought you’d be with Id

“Your dog wanted to cadge food. Since I’d had more than enough from Her Ladyship, he enlisted me to stand his watch.”

I put my feet over the edge of the cot. “I’m glad you two are speaking now.”

“Oh, we understand each other perfectly,” Mani said. “He thinks I’m detestable, and I think he is. Doubtless we’re both right.”

“You’ve been talking to Id

Mani’s eyes (very beautiful green eyes that seemed to glow) opened wider.

“How did you find that out?”

“Was it supposed to be a secret?”

“Well, she wasn’t to tell anybody. I made her promise.”

I had found my clothes. I laid them out on the cot and looked into the corners of Garvaon’s pavilion to make sure there was nobody around except Mani and me.

“She told her father, and he reported me to you. Isn’t that it?”

“No.” I tied my underwear and straightened out a fresh pair of socks. “She told her father things she’d heard from you, and he’s been trying to find out how she learned them.”

“Oh.” Mani stretched, throwing his tail into S curves. “Did you tell him?”

“No.”

“Probably for the best. You don’t mind if I tug your blanket a little?”

“Try not to tear it.” I pulled on my socks.

“All right.” Mani tugged; his claws were big, sharp, and black.

“This is going to sound pretty silly, but I didn’t know you were going to talk to anybody except me.”

“Because your dog doesn’t?” Mani yawned. “He could talk to some other people, too. He just doesn’t want to. Are you mad because I talked to Her Ladyship? You didn’t tell me not to.”

“I—no.”

“I told her you were my owner.” He gri

“I suppose I should thank you.”

“Not necessarily. Ingratitude is my lot in life, and I became reconciled to it long ago.”

I had buckled my belt. Before I spoke again, I worked my feet into my boots. “I’ll try to make my gratitude a lot more tangible, but it may take a while.”

“Well, you could let me keep talking to Id

I pointed my finger at Mani’s neat black nose. “You know perfectly well that you’d talk to her even if I told you not to.”

“I’d have to, wouldn’t I? I mean if she cornered me. She’d say, ‘I know perfectly well you can talk, Mani, and if you won’t talk to me I’ll have my father’s archers use you for practice.’ Then I’d say, ‘Oh, My Lady, please!’ And the fat would be in the fire.”

“Okay,” I decided, “you may talk to her when there’s no one else around. Except for me. You may talk to her when I’m there, or Gylf.”

Mani made me a mock bow. “My Lord.”

“Don’t do that. It reminds me of Uri and Baki, and I don’t like it when they do it.”

“Your wish is mine, Great Owner.”

I knew Mani was trying to get my goat, but it was hard not to laugh. I said, “In return for being so nice to you, I’d like you to answer a few questions. Will you?”

“Anything, More Than Divine Master.”

“You told me once you weren’t from Aelfrice. Do you stand by that?”

“Correct.”

“Are you from Skai, then?”

“I’m afraid not.” Mani began to wash his right front paw, a small and surprisingly neat pink tongue darting in and out of his large, scarred face. “Wouldn’t it be simpler to ask what world I was born in?”

“Then I do.” I picked up my hauberk and wiggled into it.

“Just out of curiosity, do you intend to wear that when you shoot against Sir Garvaon?”

“Yes. I do.”

“What in the world do—well, all right. Back to the subject, Mani. I was born right here in Mythgarthr, although I’ve been to Aelfrice a couple of times. Next you’ll want to know how it is that I can talk. I don’t know. Some of us can, though not very many. Some dogs can, even, but not all of you can understand us. My late mistress knew how to give a talking spirit, and she gave one to me.”

“You’re saying Gylf was born here, too.”

A man-at-arms thrust his head into the tent. “They’re about ready for you, Sir Able.”