The Knight

I shook my head. “I want to ask you more about foining. But first, what do you think about what Lord Beel’s going to do tonight?”

“My honest opinion? Between the two of us?”

“Between the three of us.” I smiled as I stroked Mani’s head.

“All right. I doubt anything will happen, and probably we won’t find out anything.”

“I thought you were worried about it,” I said, “when we were in his pavilion, I mean.”

“I was.” Garvaon hesitated, and looked around. “I’ve been with him before when he’s tried to do something like this. Usually nothing happens, but sometimes something does. I don’t like things I can’t understand.”

“May I ask what happened?”

Garvaon shook his head. His face was grim.

I let out my breath. “All right. I’ll see for myself tonight. Do you think we ought to have a look at the moon?”

“Not yet. I want to talk to you a little bit more, and it hasn’t been long enough anyhow. We haven’t been together very long, but I’ve been doing my best to teach you, like I said I would. You’ll allow that?”

“Of course.”

“We fought the Mountain Men together, too.”

I nodded. “Yes. We did.”

“So we’re friends, and you owe me a boon.”

Mani, who had been ignoring us since it became apparent that there would be no more talk of magic, regarded Garvaon with interest.

“You’ll admit that, Sir Able?”

“Sure. I never denied it.”

“I reserved my boon, and I wasn’t going to ask it, since you won. We both know it.”

“I owe you a boon,” I said, “you only have to tell me what you want.”

For a second or two Garvaon sat studying me. “I’m a widower. Did you know that?”

I shook my head.

“I am. It will be two years this fall. My son died too. Volla was trying to bear me a son.”

“I’m sorry. Darned sorry.”

Garvaon cleared his throat. “Lady Id

I waited, feeling Mani’s claws through the thick wool of my trousers. “Not until today. Today she smiled at me, and we talked like friends.”

“I’ve got it,” I said.

“She’s young. Twenty-two years younger than I am. But we’re going to be living in this Frost Giant king’s stronghold. There won’t be many real men around.”

“You and her father,” I said. “Your archers and men-at-arms, and her father’s servants.”

“Not you?”

“Right. I won’t be there. I’m going to find Pouk and get back my horses and the rest of my stuff. When I’ve done it, I’ll take my stand someplace in these mountains. That’s what I promised Duke Marder I’d do, and it’s what I’m going to do.”

“You aren’t going to stay?”

“I’m not even going as far as King Gilling’s stronghold, if I find Pouk before we get there. Do you still want your boon? What is it?”

“You’re younger than I am.”

“Sure. A lot.”

“You’re bigger, too, and you’re better-looking. I know all that.”

“I’m a knight with no reputation at all,” I reminded him. “Don’t leave that out. If you’ve wondered why I’m so hot to find Pouk, one reason is that he’s got everything I own with him. You’ve got a manor called Finefield, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“A big house with a wall around it.”

“And a tower,” Garvaon said.

“Fields, too, and peasants to plow and plant and herd your cows. I don’t have anything like that.” All the time we were talking, I was thinking about what Id

Garvaon said, “You wish me to name my boon. This isn’t easy for me.”

“I think I can guess it, so you don’t have to.”

“I want you to give me your word, your word of honor, that you’ll do nothing else to lessen me in her eyes. You’re a better bowman than I, and everyone knows it. Let it be enough.”

“I will.”

“If she rejects me, I’ll tell you. But until she does, and I tell you so, I want you to promise you won’t try to win her for yourself.”

Chapter 58. Back To The Ashes

You’vegot my word.” I offered Garvaon my hand.

He took it; his own was like he was, no bigger than most but hard and strong. “You want her, naturally.”

“I don’t.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“She sure is.” I nodded. “But she’s not the one I’m in love with.”

“She’s the daughter of a baron, too.” For a moment Garvaon looked ready to give up. “His only daughter.”

“You’re right. Beel won’t make it easy.”

Garvaon squared his shoulders. “I have your word, Sir Able. What was it you wanted to ask about foining?”

“What should I do when the other man foins? How can I guard against it?”

“Ah.” Garvaon stood and picked up his shield. “That’s a good one. First you need to know that it’s hard to guard against. If he likes it, you’ve got to take that very, very seriously.”

“I will.”

“Second, you need to know when he’s most likely to do it. Do you still have that shield you used last night?”

I shook my head. “I gave it back to Beaw.”

“Then take mine.” Garvaon got out the sticks that were our practice swords.

“Don’t we need more light?” I put Mani down.

“We’re not going to fight. I just want to show you a couple of things. You remember what I said about not coming at your man right leg first? Another reason is that if he knows much about foining, he can stick his sword in it.

“That’s right, square up. Now I’m not going to put my point in your face or your leg, which is what I might do in a real fight. I’m just going to foin your shield. I want you to stay squared up, but back away until I can’t foin your shield without taking three or four steps toward you.”

I took a couple of short steps backward, still on my guard.

“That it? Get set.” Before Garvaon finished the last word, the tip of his stick hit the shield.

He sprang back. “Did you see what I did? I was leading with my left leg a trifle. I took a long step with my right. Add the length of my arm to the length of my blade and it’s as tall as I am.”

“It was like magic,” I said.

“Maybe, but it wasn’t. You’ve got to practice that long step. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Also you’ve got to hold your shield up over your head when you take it. You’re wide open to an overhand cut, if your man’s fast enough.”

“I’d like to see that,” I said.

Garvaon glanced at the doorway. “It’s brighter out there. I’ll teach you how to make anybody back off, then we’d better call on His Lordship.”

With his shield on his arm, he demonstrated the thrust and had me do it. At the third, I felt Mani tugging my leg.

“Ready to go?” Garvaon asked.

“I should go back and dig out my helmet,” I told him. “Lord Beel will want to see me wearing it. Tell him I’ll be along in a minute or two.”

Back in the pavilion, I stooped to talk to Mani. “What is it?”

“I ran over to Id

The front of Beel’s pavilion was lit with a dozen candles. The stony ground had been smoothed, and a carpet laid over it. Beel sat cross-legged on the carpet with a wineskin, a gold bowl, and a gold cup before him. Id

I bowed. “Would it be possible for me to speak in private with My Lord for a moment?”

Beel hesitated. “Is this important?”

“I think so, My Lord. I dare hope you’ll think so too.”

Id