The Knight (twk-1) by Gene Wolfe

Author:Gene Wolfe [Wolfe, Gene]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sf_fantasy, sf_action
ISBN: 0-765-31348-0
Publisher: Tor
Published: 2004-03-18T05:00:00+00:00

Pouk came that afternoon, finding me in the Practice Yard watching mock fights with quarterstaffs. He had brought clean clothes. “Tried to fetch along everythin’, sir, only landlord won’t let me ’til he’s paid. Couple o’ nights, an’ tuck.”

“We’ll see about that this afternoon,” I told him. “It’s just out the gate and down the hill.”

“Bit farther nor that, sir.”

“Not much. Before we go, though, I want to get in a bit of jousting practice. Watch, and tell me if it seems to you that I’m doing anything wrong.”

He did; and that afternoon, as we were riding back to Forcetti on borrowed horses, he said, “That’s what knights do, ain’t it? The way you an’ Sir What’s-his-name was riding at each other.”

“Sir Woddet.” I nodded. “Yes, it is.”

“Well, it looks grand, sir, but I don’t see the sense of any of it.” I started to explain, but he interrupted at once. “Say I was on foot. When I seen you comin’ with your long spear—”

“It’s a lance,” I told him.

“An’ your big horse, I’d jump out o’ th’ way, wouldn’t I? I don’t like horses nohow.” He looked down at his own with marked disfavor. “An’ if I was on a good ’un myself, I’d ride around behind.”

“I’m not yet skilled with the lance,” I told him, “but a knight who is will put the point through a swinging ring no bigger than the palm of your hand while riding at full gallop. So if you jump, you’d better jump far.”

Pouk looked dubious.

“As for circling around behind, a well-mounted knight would catch you in the side ten times out of ten. You’d have no chance to defend yourself before you were spitted on his lance. That is, if you and he were alone.”

“I suppose.”

“In battle, there would be a long line of knights riding at you, with another line in back of theirs, if it were King Arnthor’s army. Light horse made up of squires and men-at-arms would guard their flanks, and there would be footmen and archers to guard the wagon-fort. I know all this, you see, because I asked Master Thope the same questions. Knights can be beaten, of course, particularly in the mountains where the enemy can get above them to throw spears and roll down logs. But it’s never easy.”

Pouk nodded slowly. “Aye, sir. I hope you never are, sir.”

“So do I. But I know that there are no safe battles. I hope for honor from Duke Marder, Pouk. Honor and good horses and much more. A manor of my own. Although I can never come to Queen Disiri as an equal, I’d like to narrow the distance between us. Lord Olof told me that queens have wed knights more than once. It’s not unheard-of.”

Pouk shook his head. “I hope you don’t get yourself killed, sir. That’s all.”

“Thank you,” I said, and for a while we rode through the hot spring sunshine in silence. My conscience was bothering me, however, and eventually it made me speak.

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