The Lioness and Her Knight (29 page)

Philomena's eyes grew wide, and she looked about to faint. Then Philomela said, "But I don't want to turn my sister out of her home."

"Even though she would have done just that to you?" the king asked.

Philomela ignored the king's question and frowned in deep thought. Finally, with an expression of wonder on her face, she said, "And I don't want to share the property with her, either. You see, Your Highness, I don't like her."

King Arthur pursed his lips and nodded. "A dilemma indeed. What do you decide?"

Philomela's face cleared. "I hereby renounce all rights to my inheritance. Mena, you can have it."

A murmur of astonishment came from the crowd. King Arthur said, "I confess, Lady Philomela, that I hadn't considered that option. If I may ask, where will you go?"

"I will go to live with a dear friend who has told me that I could stay with her forever. My home was never happy, sire, and I was never happy in it. Mena can have it with my blessing."

Luneta shook her head and said to Rhience, "She's going back to Laudine's, of course."

"Good thing nobody got killed over this," Rhience commented wryly. "Since we ended up just where we started."

"Not quite," Luneta said, beginning to smile. "It's different for Philomela. If she had had her rightful property taken away from her, she would have resented it the rest of her life. But now she's given it up freely."

"That's very true," Rhience said. "The thing that we do of our own choice is quite different from the thing that someone else forces us—or manipulates us—into doing." Then he chuckled. "And it will be different for poor Philomena, too."

"
Poor
Philomena?" Luneta repeated. "But she got everything."

"Yes, but only because her sister let her have it. She'll never be able to enjoy it, because she'll never forget that her little sister tossed it to her like a bone."

Luneta began to laugh with Rhience and glanced at the royal pavilion. From the sickly expression on Philomena's face, Luneta could see that this realization was slowly sinking in, that somehow she had gotten everything she wanted and lost it at the same time. Luneta looked back at Rhience and remembered what he had asked her one time—"What do
you
want?"—and for the first time, she knew.

***

A knock came from the door to Gawain's chambers, where they were holding what Gawain referred to as a "nonvictory celebration." Luneta looked up hopefully, but it was only Ywain. He came in and greeted them all.

"Where's your lion?" Luneta's father asked.

"Lioness," Luneta said automatically.

"In my rooms," Ywain replied. "She was tired, and besides, sometimes she, ah, inhibits conversation."

Luneta realized that Ywain was bareheaded and shaved and said, "You're not incognito anymore?"

"No," Ywain said. "That was all foolish pride. I decided to let the court know that the Knight of the Lion was really just me, mad Ywain."

Another rap came from the door, and Rhience entered. Luneta smiled a greeting at him, then stood. "Father, Mother," she said. "This is Rhience, the fool I told you about, who rode with us in all our travels."

Luneta's father nodded pleasantly, but said, "Pleased to meet you, but I must apologize for my daughter's introduction. You don't
look
like a fool."

Rhience grinned back at him. "Ah, but surely you've noticed, sir. The biggest fools never look like it."

Gawain frowned. "I'm not sure, but I think we could all take offense at that. You would say that if we don't
appear
to be fools, then we probably are."

Terence, bringing a cup of wine to Rhience, glanced casually at his master and said, "I see no reason for
you
to be offended by that, milord. Only those of us who don't look like fools should be concerned."

"Indeed, I meant no disrespect," Rhience said, after the general laughter had died. "I spoke only of myself. I learned more wisdom in my fool's motley than I ever did before I put it on."

"And now that you've put it off," Luneta's father asked, "what now?"

"Well," Rhience said reflectively, "I've tried the church, and that didn't work for me, and I'd as soon not be a fool any longer. I did think about becoming a recreant knight—"

"A what?" Luneta's mother asked.

"A recreant knight. You know, kidnapping damsels in stress and all that."

"You mean damsels in
distress,
don't you?" Ywain said.

"Well, not at first," Rhience replied. "Once I got better at it, maybe. I thought I'd start small."

Luneta's father's shoulders began to shake. "But it seems to me that for the past year you and Luneta and Ywain have been busily putting recreant knights out of business."

"Well, there, you see?" Rhience said. "There ought to be some openings just now."

"I thought we'd settled this back on the trail," Ywain said. "You'd be a terrible recreant knight. Worst ever. And besides, recreant knights always end up fighting people like Gawain and me."

Rhience frowned. "Couldn't I be a cowardly recreant knight? I could just run away, couldn't I?"

"No," Luneta said. "You couldn't." Rhience glanced at her, and she added, "At least
I've
never seen you do it."

Their eyes held for a moment. Then Rhience shrugged. "Nothing for it, then. I'll go back to my father's estate and manage the lands that I'll inherit one day." He added reflectively, "And about time, too. I've been away from home only a couple of years, but when I was back this week, it near made me cry to see what things have come to. Father hasn't put a penny back into that land since I left."

Luneta's father's interest sharpened. "Short-term leases?" he asked.

Rhience nodded glumly. "That and a steward who's grown too old for his job."

Gawain interrupted quickly. "Before the two of you begin talking land husbandry and putting the rest of us off to sleep, I want to ask a question. Is anyone here interested in escorting Lady Philomela back to her friend's home? Arthur wants to send a knight or two along to make sure she arrives safely."

"Where is she going?" Ywain asked.

"Lady Laudine's castle, of course," Luneta said. For a moment, Ywain's face grew empty, and Luneta's heart ached for him. He still loved her. To draw attention away from his pain, Luneta spoke rapidly. "Didn't you know? She and Laudine have struck up a true friendship. Philomela already sees herself as Laudine's chief companion and confidante, which I never was. It's a good arrangement for them both, I think—especially since the magic of the Storm Stone requires that the lord of the castle has to stay there all the time."

"The Storm Stone," Ywain muttered angrily. "I've grown to hate that thing."

Luneta's father spoke suddenly. "I've been thinking about that Storm Stone, actually, ever since Luneta told us about it the other day. As I understand it, it's the center of a magical spell that requires the lord of the castle to stay in one place and to fight anyone who pours water on it. Am I correct?"

Luneta and Ywain nodded.

"I suppose someone has already tried to just smash the blame thing?" Luneta's father asked.

Ywain looked at Luneta, who looked at Rhience, who looked at Ywain. After a long silence, Ywain said, "I'll take Philomela back to Laudine." He smiled at Rhience and Luneta. "You coming?"

It was a pleasant, chattering group that left the next morning to escort Philomela back to Laudine. In addition to Ywain, Rhience, and Luneta, Luneta's parents had decided to come along, and Luneta had never had a more pleasant journey. She rode with Rhience much of the way, but she also spent hours with her mother, talking about the properties of the various herbs that they passed. At those times, Rhience rode with Luneta's father, and Luneta left them alone. One could never tell when those two would begin comparing notes on the best way to drain a swamp or something oppressively boring like that. The only thing that marred her enjoyment of the ride and the company was the occasional glimpse that she had of Ywain's private pain. Every so often he would grow grimly quiet, and as they neared Laudine's castle, these moments of bleak silence grew more frequent.

Once they came to the Storm Stone, Ywain's silence grew so fierce that Luneta could almost feel it as a thickening of the air. He said not a word when they came to the clearing, or when he pointed his sword at Laudine's guards and sent them scurrying away, or when he took out the great iron maul he had brought with him and smashed the stone basin to rubble. All the others waited on their horses, respecting and sharing Ywain's silence. No one offered to help; all knew that this was Ywain's task. When he was done, he scooped all the remnants of the smashed stone into a canvas bag, tied it closed, and then straightened up.

"Shall we go on in?" he asked calmly.

"Sure you didn't leave anything?" Rhience asked.

"I'm sure," Ywain said. He mounted his horse, then put on his helm and closed the visor. He turned to Lady Philomela. "My lady, may I ask a favor from you?"

"Of course, Sir Ywain."

"I hate to ask you to do this, but I need you to conceal something from Lady Laudine. While we are there, I ask you to speak of me only as the Knight of the Lion, and not by my name. Once I am gone, then you may tell her what you wish." Lady Philomela agreed, though clearly she did not understand the request.

A few minutes later, the guards at the gate were announcing their arrival, and Laudine was hurrying across the courtyard to welcome them. For several minutes all was confusion and delight as Laudine first greeted Philomela, then Luneta's mother, then Luneta and Rhience. After that, Philomela had to describe to Laudine how she had turned down her inheritance, preferring to come and live with her dearest friend Laudine, which led Laudine to embark on another whirl of excitement, embracing Philomela ecstatically and telling her how pleased she was and how everything had turned out better than she could ever have hoped.

Through all of this, Ywain sat immobile on his horse, his face hidden behind his visor. At last, Philomela turned and said, "And Laudine, this is ... but you've already met the Knight of the Lion, haven't you?"

Laudine rushed forward and gripped Ywain's gauntleted hand. "Indeed, I thank you again, Sir Knight, this time for defending my friend. Please, will you come inside—oh, goodness, I'm all a-flutter today, aren't I? Receiving you out here in the courtyard like a hoyden! Please, come in! You've been traveling and are in need of refreshment! Rufus!"

Laudine's ever-competent steward appeared at the main door to the castle keep, bowed slightly, and said, "My lady. I have taken the liberty of having refreshments sent to the green salon, if you would like to take your guests there. The hostlers will see to their horses."

"Thank you, Rufus," Laudine said. She turned back to the traveling party and said, "Er, and this lion?"

Ywain didn't answer. Even from the side, Luneta could sense the hungry force of his gaze on Laudine. At last Rhience said, "If you don't mind, I believe the lioness should come with us. She won't hurt anyone."

"Er ... of course," Laudine replied uncertainly, and then they all dismounted and followed their hostess into the castle to the green salon. Ywain brought the canvas bag containing the smashed fragments of the Storm Stone.

Once they were in the salon, everyone sat but Ywain, who walked up to Laudine and stood before her. "Sir Knight?" she said inquiringly.

Ywain dropped the sack before her, then spoke softly, using a raspy whisper. "It is yours, my lady."

"This sack?" Ywain nodded. Laudine untied the string and looked inside. "Gravel?"

"It is your Storm Stone," Ywain whispered hoarsely.

For a long moment, Laudine only stared. Luneta watched as the realization of what this meant slowly began to dawn on her. "Then the curse is broken?" she asked.

"Broken or just circumvented," Rhience said, stepping between Luneta and Ywain. "And by the simplest and most obvious of all means, too. The Knight of the Lion smashed the stone a little bit ago."

"You did this for me?" Laudine asked Ywain.

He nodded. "I had heard how this stone imprisoned you. Now you are free."

"So I can leave the castle whenever I wish?" Laudine said.

Ywain nodded again. "And marry whomever you wish." Laudine's face grew still, and she stared blankly at the floor. Ywain took an audible breath, then said heavily, "You see, I know that you once felt you had to marry someone who would defend the stone. Now you can marry whenever and whomever you want—or not marry at all."

Laudine's eyes stayed on the floor. She nodded once, slowly. "I think ... I think that I shall never marry," she said at last.

Luneta looked at Laudine's bleak and rigid face, then at Ywain's stiff, armored figure. They loved each other. Nothing could be more obvious, except that they were going to let their chance slip.

"I can hardly repay you, O Knight," Laudine said, forcing herself to smile, with fairly ghastly results. "But may I give you any token of my gratitude?"

Ywain shook his head in solemn silence. Luneta looked between them once more, then took a breath and whispered to Rhience, "Sorry. I wasn't going to interfere, because I know I always make things worse, but things can't be worse than this." She stepped forward and spoke clearly. "Actually, there is one thing you might be able to do for the Knight of the Lion. I mean, Lioness."

Ywain shook his helm at her vehemently, but Laudine looked up. "Whatever is in my power, I shall be glad to do. A horse? Gold?"

"Only your influence as a woman," Luneta said. "I must explain to you that the Knight of the Lion is in love with a beautiful lady, but he has been separated from her." Laudine looked sympathetic and started to speak, but Luneta pressed on. "The break between him and the lady is his own fault, as he'll be the first to admit. He betrayed her trust. He did it out of foolishness, not from ill intent, but it makes no difference. Now he is too ashamed even to ask for her forgiveness."

Laudine looked seriously at Ywain. "But how can your lady forgive you if you do not ask?"