Sword of the Rightful King by Jane Yolen

Author:Jane Yolen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

21

The Price of Honor

“YOU CANNOT THINK to let them go like that,” Kay said, when he heard. “It is like something out of a minstrel’s story. A year to prosper in. What were you thinking?” He and Arthur were standing by the fire, warming their hands. The day—like many spring days—had suddenly turned cold, as if remembering its closeness to winter. “To let them go?”

“They are already gone,” Arthur said.

Kay looked up at the ceiling as if the two thieves were there. Then, not finding them, he returned to staring miserably into the fire. “They will say you are soft, Arthur.”

“Maybe they will say I am honorable.”

“Those two were stealing the kings horses.”

Arthur turned and put his hands on Kay’s shoulders. “Those two did not know the horses belonged to me.”

“They knew the horses did not belong to them,” Kay said sensibly.

Arthur took his hands from Kay’s shoulders and walked closer to the fire. He felt a sudden chill through his body. Perhaps I was too hasty, he thought. Perhaps only a rich man can indulge in honor. Perhaps I shall never see the two of them again.

“And now,” Kay was going on, “you have taught the people a fine lesson—that not only is it safe to steal from the king, but that a thief will be rewarded for his thievery.”

“Only an unsuccessful thief,” Arthur said, trying to make light of the situation.

“Arthur...”

“I did not mean any such lesson, and you know it,” Arthur added angrily. But deep inside, he feared Kay might be right.

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