A Perfect Gentle Knight by Kit Pearson Read Free Book Online

scared, Corrie?” Juliet asked her. “ I wouldn’t have been!”
    â€œEveryone is afraid of different things, Master Jules,” said Sir Lancelot. “Master Cor has passed his trial. Master Harry, please dress your knight in his new vestments.”
    Solemnly Harry drew out armour and a sword and shield from another paper bag. Corrie hadn’t even noticed him carrying it. Harry tied pieces of tinfoil-covered cardboard onto her upper arms. He unfastened her old sword and fixed the new one to her belt.
    The new sword was flat wood sharpened to a point, painted silver. The crossguard was made of cardboard with tinfoil glued on it; above it the handle was wrapped with black tape, and on top was a black pommel made out of a drawer handle. The shield was even more splendid, painted with a coat of arms: brown acorns, a black dog’s head, and a yellow star. Sebastian must have been working on them all week.
    â€œThey’re beautiful!” said Corrie. “What do the symbols mean?”
    â€œThe acorns mean strength, the dog means loyalty, and the star means you are a noble person. These are all qualities you have shown as a squire, Master Cor, and I know you will continue to show as a knight.”
    Corrie could hardly breathe for pleasure. Sir Lancelot directed her to kneel in front of him. “I now dub thee Sir Gareth, noble knight of King Arthur’s Round Table,” said Sir Lancelot, tapping a sword on each of Corrie’s shoulders. “Arise, Sir Gareth.”
    Corrie stood up slowly. Orly hugged her while Juliet and Harry pounded her on the back. “Congratulations!” they all cried.
    Sebastian beamed. “Congratulations from me also, Sir Gareth. I look forward to the two of us having many adventures together.”
    â€œThank you,” whispered Corrie. She was a real knight!
    â€œ Hi , Corrie!”
    They turned around quickly. Meredith! She was standing there with her bike. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Corrie! I was exploring this old golf course, except it’s too bumpy to ride on.” She gazed curiously at the weapons strewn on the ground. “What are you doing ?”
    Corrie flushed. “Hi, Meredith,” she muttered. “We’re … we’re just playing a game.”
    â€œCan I play too?”
    â€œNo!” Sebastian glared at Meredith as if she were an enemy. “It’s a private game.”
    Meredith turned her bike and walked it away quickly. But Corrie had seen the tears spring to her eyes.
    â€œ Why can’t she play?” she said, surprised at her boldness. “We need another squire. She’d probably be happy to be mine.”
    Corrie refused to lower her eyes as Sebastian stared at her.
    â€œSir Gareth, I am shocked,” he said tersely. “You know the Round Table is just for us. No one from outside has ever belonged to it.”
    â€œWhy not?” repeated Corrie stubbornly. Being a knight gave her courage.
    â€œBecause …” Sebastian looked desperate. “Because it’s just not right , that’s why. Because then it wouldn’t be a secret any more. It wouldn’t be special, it wouldn’t be … safe!”
    Safe? Corrie watched Sebastian’s face. The haunted look he had each day when he arrived home from school was there again—the fear.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s all right, Sebastian. Meredith doesn’t have to be one of us. I won’t ask again.”
    Sebastian smiled tightly. “Thank you, Sir Gareth. I accept your apology. We will forget about it. Now, let us see how you fare in a sword fight against Master Harry!”
    Corrie tried to be Sir Gareth again as she pinned Harry against a tree with her sword. Then Sir Gareth and Sir Lancelot charged each other with lances, trying to knock each other down. “Will you submit?” Sir Lancelot asked as Sir Gareth fell off his palfrey to the