The Lioness and Her Knight (5 page)

"I gave my word, you see," Rhience replied mildly. "And I must say that the life of a fool hasn't been as unpleasant as I'd expected. You meet such interesting people, and you can say nearly anything to them and they'll think you're joking."

"This knight did not behave honorably toward you!" Ywain exclaimed. "He must be taught a lesson in honor!"

"Wait!" Rhience said, his mouth opening in mock surprise. "Let me guess what you're about to say—"

"I shall go challenge this knight myself!"

"You didn't let me guess," Rhience said plaintively. "And I had the right answer, too."

"You?" demanded Agrivain. "Why should you get this adventure? Some of us have been waiting for years for something to come up, and you've been at court less than a day!"

"But this outrage was committed on the person of
my
friend!" Ywain said.

Rhience looked gratified. "Why, Ywain, I'm touched! I hadn't known until now how close we were."

Several people laughed, and Ywain had the grace to blush. "Well, at any rate, I know you better than Cousin Agrivain does."

"You'll wait your turn for adventures like the rest of us," Agrivain declared belligerently.

Sir Kai yawned loudly and said, "Enough of this. I'm not sure, myself, that anything must be done at all. It sounds as if this knight is bound somehow to protect the land from these magical storms, and if so, we would do wrong to stop him."

"But what about his unchivalrous behavior toward Sir Calogrenant?"

"Rhience," the fool said.

"That's between the two of them," Sir Kai said. "If Rhience wants vengeance, he can do something about it himself."

Ywain looked at Rhience, struck by this. "I beg your pardon, my friend. I had not thought. Have you sworn vengeance on this red knight yourself?"

Rhience pursed his lips and said, "I meant to, actually. I really did. But what with one thing or another, I've never gotten around to—"

"There, Sir Kai, you see?" Ywain said.

"We'll take this to Arthur and the other knights at the next gathering of the Round Table."

"And how long will that be?"

"Two weeks," Sir Kai said.

Ywain's eyes widened, and he started to speak but then subsided. "Very well," he said.

"Now you know how it feels to wait," Agrivain said with satisfaction.

Ywain said nothing. Luneta, watching him, felt sure that he had something in mind other than waiting, but she couldn't imagine what.

She found out the next morning. She was awakened at least an hour before dawn by a lady-in-waiting who informed her that her escort was waiting for her in the courtyard. From the lady's tone, it was evident that she thought that Luneta had overslept, but searching her memory Luneta could not remember having arranged any escort for this morning. She certainly had not intended to leave Camelot so soon, but if Gawain had risen this early to take her to Lady Laudine, she could hardly keep him waiting. Dressing hurriedly and throwing her gear together, she ran down to the courtyard.

Only it wasn't Gawain but Ywain who waited for her, and behind Ywain was Rhience, mounted on his great white horse. Her own two horses were nearby, saddled and ready. "What is this?" Luneta demanded. "I thought Gawain was taking me."

"Oh, we've worked it out," Ywain said airily. "If I have to wait two weeks for the next Round Table meeting before I can go adventuring, I might as well have something to do. You don't mind, do you? The thing is, you were already asleep when it was decided, and I didn't want to disturb you."

Luneta shook her head. "No, of course not, but why so early?"

Rhience snorted but said nothing. Ywain stammered, "I ... ah ... didn't realize that it was so early."

"Unworthy, Ywain," Rhience said. "And what will you say when she asks why I've been brought along?"

Ywain helped Luneta to mount her horse and said, "We can talk while we travel. As long as we're up this early, we shouldn't waste time."

"Yes, why did you bring Rhience? I don't mind, of course, but I thought—"

"All in good time," Ywain said hurriedly, mounting his own horse. "Shall we go?"

Luneta was sure that Ywain had some plan in mind, and she bent her mind to figuring it out. It didn't take long. They were barely half a mile from the castle when she said, "Oh, I understand now. You're off to that Storm Stone, aren't you? The stone is in Salisbury, which is where Lady Laudine lives, too."

"Well," Ywain admitted, "I thought I might drop in as long as I was in the neighborhood."

"And you need Rhience to give you directions to the stone."

"Very good, my lady," Rhience said.

"But it won't work," Luneta said. "If I can figure out what you're doing, so can everyone else. Uncle Agrivain won't let you get ahead of him."

"Ah, but he won't know I'm going near the Storm Stone, will he?"

"Of course he will. Rhience said last night that the Storm Stone is in Salisbury."

"True, my lady," Rhience said, "but they don't know that that's where your mother's friend lives. You didn't mention that last night. Ywain knew, of course, but no one else will guess that Ywain is really only using you as an excuse to go early to his adventure."

Ywain grinned. "I left a note for Gawain that I was going to escort you myself while I waited for the Round Table meeting, but I may have forgotten to mention where Lady Laudine lives."

Luneta was mildly indignant at having been used as a pawn in Ywain's game, but as someone who prided herself in her ability to weave other people into her own schemes, she had to admit a certain reluctant admiration for Ywain. He had executed his plan very neatly, and there was nothing left to do but settle down and enjoy the journey.

When Lady Laudine had sent her invitation for Luneta to visit, she had included directions to her husband's castle, which was a very good thing, as it turned out, because it gave Luneta something in writing to wave in front of Ywain's face so as to remind him where they were going. Her cousin had a tendency to forget who was accompanying whom and to assume that they were all going off together to find the Storm Stone. At one point, lost in his dream of victory in battle, Ywain even warned Luneta that she mustn't get in the way while he was fighting the red knight. Luneta rolled her eyes, and Rhience asked innocently, "Oh, Lady Luneta! Do you mean to visit the Storm Stone as well?"

"No," Luneta said bluntly.

Ywain looked surprised for a second but recovered quickly. Bowing to Luneta with rare grace, he said, "Forgive me, cousin. My mind is far too busy with my own affairs. Of course you will be at your friend's home before I meet the knight."

Fortunately, given Ywain's tendency to forget where he was supposed to be going, Lady Laudine's castle appeared to be quite near to the magical stone, judging from Luneta's directions and Rhience's memory. As a result, the closer they drew to Lady Laudine's castle, the more excited Ywain grew. Every stand of trees that they passed prompted him to ask if it were the copse he was looking for. At last the three travelers topped a small hill and looked down on a stately castle, just where Lady Laudine's directions had said it would be. Luneta reined in and looked at it silently for a moment.

"Is that it?" Ywain demanded.

Luneta nodded. "If the directions are right," she said. "Yes, that's it. See how the farthest tower is a little higher than the others? Lady Laudine mentions that in her letter."

"Well, let's go, then," Ywain said eagerly.

Luneta didn't move. Until this moment, concerned with finding her way, she had been able to push to the back of her mind any worries related to her visit, but now that she had arrived, she was suddenly assailed with doubts. What if Lady Laudine didn't like her? What if she was as old-fashioned and frumpy as Luneta's mother? What if she was offended by Luneta's showing up earlier than expected? What if—?

"Nay, lass," Rhience said at her elbow. "Don't be bashful now. Remember that the other night, you faced down a sorceress."

Luneta was startled at how accurately the fool had divined her thoughts, and she quickly lifted her chin. "Who's bashful?"

"Come on!" Ywain said. "The sooner we get there, the sooner I can face this knight at the Storm Stone!"

"Will you hush, cloth-head?" Rhience said wearily. "You'll get there in plenty of time. That copse you've been imagining under every rock is just over that hill to the east, not half a mile away."

"So close!" Ywain exclaimed with glee. "Then He hesitated. "I say, cousin, do you need me anymore? I mean, I've seen you to the castle and everything."

"You're not going to leave her to go in by herself, are you?" Rhience demanded.

"Well, it isn't as if she's in any danger. She's been invited, hasn't she?"

Rhience started to reply angrily, but Luneta interrupted. "No, Ywain, I don't need you. You run along and look for your knight to battle."

Ywain's face lit up. "Wonderful! Come along, Rhience!"

"Not by half," Rhience replied promptly. "If you won't accompany Lady Luneta, I will. Don't worry. You'll find your adventure soon enough."

Ywain hesitated. Then, glancing over his shoulder at the hill, he said, "Very well. Wish me luck!"

He started to ride away, but Rhience called him back. "Wait, Ywain! Since I won't be with you, I've something to say! You go right ahead to the copse and find the magic spring and wait for the knight there, but whatever you do, don't pour the water into the basin. I'm serious, here. This storm is the most destructive thing I've ever seen."

"I'm not afraid of a storm," Ywain said.

"Listen to me, gapeseed! At the moment, I don't much care if the storm kills you or not, but you aren't the only person who might be hurt by the storm. Is it worth some farmer's death for you to make a name for yourself?"

Ywain frowned, then nodded. "Very well. I'll wait at the spring." Then he was gone.

Rhience watched him go. "
Asinus,
" he murmured.

"It's all right," Luneta said. "He's just excited. And besides, even if he did go with me to the castle, you don't really think he'd be of any use, do you? He'd be so eager to get away and fight this knight, he wouldn't hear a thing said to him."

Rhience grinned. "True," he said. "You can lead an ass to water, but you can't make him think."

So the two of them rode down the hill to the great gates of Lady Laudine's castle.

Exactly as had happened at Camelot, Luneta's initial nervousness proved unnecessary. Lady Laudine welcomed her with a delight that was almost overwhelming. One would have thought that Luneta was Lady Laudine's long-lost sister, so effusive was her greeting, and far from being offended at Luneta's early arrival, it appeared that Lady Laudine had been wishing every day since Luneta's mother had first written that Luneta could come sooner. As for Rhience, Lady Laudine's delight at having a real, live fool at her court was almost as great as her pleasure in having Luneta. "Oh, you can't think how often I've wished for a fool to brighten my days and make me laugh!" she exclaimed. "For—you mustn't tell my husband I said this—a life of luxury is horribly dull sometimes."

"Indeed, my lady," Rhience replied solemnly. He glanced around at the richly furnished sitting room where Lady Laudine had received them. "I can't tell you how sympathetic I am. It all seems very dreadful."

Lady Laudine sighed. "Thank you for understanding," she said.

"But I must warn you, my lady," Rhience continued. "You're sadly out of fashion regarding fools. We don't try to make people laugh anymore; that's quite gone out of style. The latest thing from Camelot is for fools to make people solemn and mournful. I wonder: have you considered your sins lately?"

Lady Laudine blinked, but Luneta giggled, and Lady Laudine's face cleared. "Oh," she said. "Is it a joke?"

Rhience bowed. "Even so, my lady."

"I'm sure it's very funny," Lady Laudine replied with a forced smile. "You must stay with us, too. I won't take no for an answer! Malvolus! Malvolus!"

A gaunt, unsmiling man who had been standing unobtrusively in the shadows strode majestically forward. "Yes, my lady?"

"Malvolus, please have a room made up for this fool. He is to stay with us."

The gaunt man bowed, but very slightly. "I will present the matter to the master," he said. Then he turned and began to stalk away.

"Why, my lady!" Rhience said admiringly. "I had no idea you were so accomplished! Pray, what language were you speaking just now?" Lady Laudine looked confused, but Rhience continued. "In English, it sounded to me as if you had given this gentleman a command, but he must have heard it in a different language. How clever of you both!"

The austere servant stopped abruptly, then turned slowly around to look into Rhience's eyes. Hastily, Lady Laudine said, "Oh, don't worry about him, Malvolus. He's a fool, you see. Please, go and speak to my husband. I should have directed you to do so from the beginning."

Malvolus's bleak eyes held a momentary gleam of triumph, and then he turned again and made his unhurried way to the door.

When the door was closed, Lady Laudine said nervously to Rhience, "Oh dear, I should have warned you. Malvolus does not appreciate jokes."

"No!" Rhience said.

"To be honest, he terrifies me," Lady Laudine confided. "But he's been my husband's steward for years and years. But enough of such things! Let me look at you, my dear!" She held Luneta at arm's length and gazed into her face. "You don't favor your mother very much, do you? But, forgive me, that's not entirely bad, is it? Lynet never cared very much for being a beauty, so it's all right for her, but you, my dear, are a most taking little thing! Why, with a few silks and a bit of primping, we shall turn you out quite a belle!"

Luneta smiled. She had woven several plans for persuading her hostess to dress her in more fashionable clothes than the ones that her mother had packed, but it didn't look as if these schemes would be necessary. Indeed, looking at Lady Laudine, Luneta decided that there probably weren't any dowdy dresses in the whole castle, for never had Luneta seen a more gorgeously clad woman in her life. Lady Laudine was like a princess in a children's story—clothed in the richest of cloth and sparkling with jewels. Most of all, Lady Laudine was a true beauty. Her face was as astonishingly perfect as had been Morgan Le Fay's, but Lady Laudine's bright smile and vivacious good humor made her far more appealing than the sorceress.
I've landed on my feet here,
Luneta thought.
No doubt about it. By dinnertime, I'll be better dressed than I've ever been in my life.