Feast of the Elfs: The Green Knight's Squire Book Two (Moth & Cobweb 2) by John C. Wright

Author:John C. Wright [Wright, John C.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Castalia House
Published: 2016-09-27T14:00:00+00:00

2. Final Words

Alberec raised his hand and imposed a glamour of silence on the room. Gil could still hear, muffled, the voices calling or complaining or shouting insults or encouragement, but it seemed no one else could.

Into the glamour of silence Alberec spoke, and the glamour repeated his words, to allow all present to hear. “Swan Knight, you are a stranger and a guest. The insult was against us, our court, mocking our customs and our repute. Why perish for our sake? You have no part in this!”

Gil said, “Good Prince, I am the least man here, seated in the seat of least honor: if I perish, the loss to you is nothing.”

Alberec said, “But why? Why? How is the honor of your King Arthur involved?”

Gil said, “The Green Man slurred not only the knights and loyal men of Alberec or Erlkoenig, and the retainers of the Ethne, and the vassals of Brian. He said there was no one worthy of knighthood in the chamber. I say there is one.”

Alberec stared, but there was a small smile in his beard. “For this you lay down your life?”

“The Green Man also picked up my dinner fork without asking. That was a discourtesy.”

The elfs laughed, but, for once, it was a good-natured laugh, a sound of surprise.

Alberec said, “We all know this apparition would not offer to stand to a blow of his axe unless there is a trick whereby he might survive it! He is surely invulnerable and you are sure to die.”

“This means he is stronger than me, sire, not braver. When a vulnerable squire fights an invulnerable knight, we know who is sure to die. But which one is sure to be dishonored? The boy who stood up bravely to a knight, or the knight who opened himself to no danger whatsoever, and slew a boy?”

Alberec shook his head. “I grant you permission to withdraw from this wager, and forbid any servant of mine from speaking ill of you should you do so…”

“I am honored, sire. I decline. Will any elfish knight here take my place?”

Alberec raised his hand. A pressure in Gil’s ear told him the glamour of silence had ended. But the illusion of silence was followed by a real silence, as fearful and sullen elfs, beneath their illusionary expressions of cheerful nonchalance, each waited for someone else to speak.

None spoke.

Gil said, “When I die, no one will hear any boast of the Green Man that he shamed the court of all the elfs to silence, called them cowards, and walked away unchallenged. I challenge him, although I die for it!”

Ruff leaped up on the table of the beasts and howled, “But you are so young!”

Every eye, including those of the Green Man and his green steed, now turned in surprise to look at the dog, who hunkered down to the surface of the table, looking up with big and frightened eyes.

Ruff cleared his throat. “Ahem! Ahem! Not that I know the complete stranger whom I have never met or anything, but he said he had not aged yet.

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