Sword of Camelot (14 page)

“That's right,” Reb said excitedly, “and what I say we should do is sneak some men out the other side, let them work their way around, and when Melchior's men hit those ladders, we hit
them
from the rear. They won't have no place to retreat to. That kinda discourages a fellow a little bit.”

Loren brightened. “I think Reb's right. Father, let's try it.”

Dion looked at the two young men. “So be it. You two take the flanks. Reb, you work your way around to the east. Loren, to the west. When they charge, let them get up on the ladders, then hit them with everything you have.”

Reb wanted to let out a Rebel yell, but he said, “That's business, Your Majesty! Come on, Loren.”

Within thirty minutes the two forces had crept out the back of Camelot, having arranged a trumpet blast signal.
“When you hear that,” Reb said, “you hit ‘em, and I'll hit 'em, and we'll scrunch them critters!”

Reb led his men around the wall, keeping out of sight behind the grove of trees that shielded the castle. Josh and Dave, Wash and Jake—all were with him.

Reb said, “Now, when we hit, hit with everything you've got, all right?”

Suddenly he heard Melchior's men shout as they charged the castle walls. “Let 'em get up them ladders,” he whispered, “then we got 'em.”

He watched carefully and when all the dark-clad knights had emerged from the woods and were scrambling up the ladders, he took the horn that was secured around his neck by a lanyard and blew with all his might. “Come on! ”he shouted. “Get 'em!”

There followed a wild melee. Loren's small force struck the enemy on one flank while Reb's force struck them on the other. Melchior's men looked back and saw that their retreat was cut off. Screaming with rage and fear, they scrambled down the ladders only to meet the sword points of the forces that had trapped them.

“We got ‘em! We got 'em!” Reb yelled.

But at that moment, a tall form suddenly appeared in front of him. It was Melchior himself.

“I'll cut that lad down,” he shouted to his lieutenant, “and the rest will run.”

Reb barely had time to get his sword up to block the blow that Melchior sent downward. There was a clash of metal, and sparks, and Reb was driven back. Then he scrambled to his feet just in time to keep Melchior's sword from striking right at the top of his Stetson.

The blow struck the ground instead, and instantly Reb took his sword with both hands like a baseball bat, swung it mightily, and caught Melchior in the front of the helmet.

The impact drove the helmet back, and Melchior uttered a short cry. He fell backward to the ground. And before he could move, Reb jerked off the dark knight's helmet, and the rest of the Sleepers put the points of their swords to his throat.

“Don't… don't kill me,” Melchior begged. “I surrender.”

It took but a few minutes for the forces of Melchior to see that their leader was defeated. Everywhere the cry of victory went up from the defenders of Camelot and cries of defeat from the dark-clad knights.

And it was not long before King Dion stood before his begrimed, bloody warriors. “You've all been knights of the realm. Your honor and courage will remain forever—and will be sung by minstrels throughout my kingdom. Especially to you” —he turned to the small group at his side—“the Seven Sleepers, we owe a debt of gratitude. How can we ever repay you?”

Smiling, Josh nudged Reb and whispered, “Say something, you bonklehead!”

Reb swallowed and lifted his hat, put it over his heart. “I pledge allegiance—no, that was back in Oldworld. But I'll say this, we ain't never seen nobody like you folks, and we're proud to be a part.” He thought for one moment and added, “If I couldn't serve under General Stonewall Jackson, King Dion, I guess I'd choose to serve under you and your folks here!”

T
he celebration that took place after the victory of the servants of Goel was forever recorded in the annals of Camelot as the greatest that ever took place in that court.

The royal cooks outdid themselves. When the feast day came, the tables were piled high with joints of mutton, venison, pork, fish, chicken, and every other sort of meat that could be procured. Musicians came from all over the kingdom and played with all their might. Dancers performed with agility and glee before the king and queen and prince and princess.

To the royal family's right, at a special table, the Seven Sleepers were arrayed. Each wore around his neck a gold chain and medallion with the seal of Camelot—gifts of the king. Speeches were made and their virtues praised until Wash said, “Is that us they're talking about? I didn't know we was such cool cats!”

Reb, sitting next to Wash, said, “That reminds me of a woman who lost her husband, back in Arkansas. At the funeral the preacher started going on about what a fine man he was, how wonderful he was, all the good things he had done, and the widow, she leaned over and said to the oldest boy, ‘Henry, go up and be shore that's yore pa in that there coffin!'”

Wash laughed out loud, and Josh demanded to know what was so funny.

“Nothing much, Josh,” Reb said. “Me and Wash are just glad there ain't no more dragons to kill or battles to fight.”
He looked about the table. “I do wish there was some good old grits here though.”

Dave grinned at him broadly. “I expect they'd get it for us if they knew what it was.”

Jake was talking with Abigail and Sarah, explaining how, if they would let
him
run the kingdom, he'd put it ona democratic basis, and then they'd have to elect the king.

“I don't think Prince Loren would like that,” Abbey said with a smile. “He thinks he ought to be king because he's King Dion's son.”

“That's a pretty bad system,” Jake protested. “Everybody ought to have an equal chance at being king.”

Sarah laughed. “The democratic system works pretty badly sometimes too. Though mostly it's better than any of the rest,” she added.

At that moment, a trumpet blew. Everybody stood, for the king and queen had risen.

“A toast,” the king said, “to the valiant Seven Sleepers, Goel's gift to the Kingdom of Camelot.”

All around, golden and silver goblets were raised while the health of the seven was drunk. Then King Dion said loudly, “I do proclaim the Seven Sleepers citizens forever of the realm of Camelot. May their lives be prosperous. May they always be as true to one another as they have been to me and my kingdom!”

It was Josh who, at the insistence of the others, answered the toast. “Your Majesty, lords, ladies,” he said, “I give you King Dion, Queen Mauve, Princess Elaine, and Prince Loren. I give you the Royal Knights of the Table of Camelot. I give you the good people of Camelot.” He held his cup high, and said, “Never have I found hearts so true as I have found in this place. To Camelot—may it always be as it is now.”

* * *

Afterward, the Sleepers walked back to their quarters.

Sarah took Josh's arm. “You're getting to be quite eloquent, Josh.” She looked up at him. “And taller too.”

“You just like me because I'm tall,” he said. “That's the only reason.”

Sarah laughed. “No, there are other reasons than that.”

“Like what?”

“I won't tell you. You'd get too vain.”

The two passed on down the way, and the others followed, going to their rooms for the night.

Reb stopped to pass a word with Sir Gwin, so he left later than the others. On his way out of the banqueting room, he was met by the Princess Elaine.

She looked very beautiful in her royal blue gown with her hair done up and held in place by silver pins. She lifted her face to his. “Will we ever go for rides again?”

“Tomorrow,” Reb promised eagerly. “At sunrise.”

“I'll meet you at the gate.”

Reb went to his quarters, opened the door, and discovered that the other Sleepers were all inside. He looked wildly around and then saw Goel standing to one side. His mouth dropped open.

Wash joggled his arm. “Shut your mouth, Reb. A bird might fly in there.”

Reb clamped his teeth together. “What's happening?”

Josh smiled at him. “What always happens, Reb. As soon as we finish one quest, we're off on another.”

Goel seemed to see the look of disappointment on Reb's face. “Aren't you ready to leave, Reb? After all, my work is done here.”

Reb wanted to say, “Not right away,” but, feeling the eyes of the others, he could do nothing else than nod his head. “Yes, Goel. I'll go anywhere you please.”

“Get your things together—we leave at once,” Goel commanded.

An hour later they were mounted and moving through the woods.

Reb looked back at the towers of Camelot, and sadness came over him.

Wash said, “You'd like to stay a while, wouldn't you, Reb?”

“Well, just for a little while. You know—” He stopped, unable to explain himself. He said nothing more, and finally he found himself riding alone in the rear.

The night sounds came, an owl called far overhead, and he was startled when the voice of Goel sounded beside him. “You like it at Camelot, don't you, Reb?”

“Yes, I shore do! I like it better than any place I've ever been.” Reb looked back, and, although the castle had faded, he could still see in his mind the plumes on the crests of the knights' helmets, the pennants that fluttered gaily in the breeze at the joust, the hawks that flew from the wrists of the hawkers. He looked across at Goel in the moonlight. “Goel, it just seems like I belong in a place like this.”

The moonlight was reflected in Goel's eyes, and Reb saw that he was smiling.

“Don't be afraid of the future, Sir Reb,” Goel said. “I have the feeling that one day, when the world is rid of the Dark Power, you will be back in Camelot.”

Reb sat up straight in the saddle, and a thrill of pure joy ran through him. “If you say so, Goel,” he said, “then it's got to be.”

The procession passed on down the trail, and darkness closed in upon the woods. All Seven Sleepers were thinking of Camelot, of the king and queen, the prince and princess, the friends they had made, but they were also all wondering the same thing: “Where will Goel send us now?”

The Seven Sleepers Series includes:

The Lost Chronicles of several adventures of the Seven Sleepers have been discovered! The books in The Lost Chronicles Series includes: