The Knight Behind the Pillar by John Pateman-Gee Read Free Book Online

earlier.
                  Regretfully Aries tried to say something of use again, “Perhaps we should meet again when he arrives.”  He suggested cautiously from the side line.  “It is clear my lord Sir Ector does not wish to proceed until does.” 
                  “I think we shall wait a little longer,” was Alain’s flat reply with sufficient pause to attest his authority, before choosing to explain.  He seemed to constantly have a hand to his face and his thumb rested under his pointed chin while his remaining fingers conducted his words or occasionally stoked the end of his neatly refined black moustache.  “With respect to you all it took long enough this morning to bring you altogether and I have no intention to spend more time finding you all later, or waiting as needed.  As for your comments Archbishop I have met this man a handful of times in the past and I have my doubts that he is anyone’s fool.  Playing the fool when it may serve him is another matter I would observe!”
                  “After all,” Another stranger’s voice chipped in from the back of the room, “Did he not establish the tournament in the first place and set the challenge of the sword?” 
                  “Yes Leodegrance he did, that must be, now when?”
                  “Ten years ago.  Oh there was some fighting over it at the time then I can tell you, oh yes.” Leodegrance finished.    
                  I could not see Leodegrance, but he was the first friendly, almost jolly, voice I had heard so far.  It was like he had to struggle to contain his laughter. 
                  Alain looked thoughtful for a while “That long is it.” He exclaimed, nodding to himself. 
                  “Yes and we laughed at him then!” Added the Archbishop, obviously keen to keep his point alive and valid. 
                  Alain smiled faintly as some thought amused him.  “But only after thousands of men tested themselves against the sword, all of them failed and then and only then was his challenge declared a trick as you say your grace.  Then we laughed at it.  And yet, amazed as I am I admit, here we all are,” He said, once again pausing and the respectful silence responded.  He was in control of this room without doubt I realised.  Whatever the status of the others, he had the reverence needed and appeared to enjoy his influence over them.  Slowly he strolled around the room to immerse himself as he continued.  “As I say, a fool I think not.  He set the sword as a challenge, but it was not for us to beat.  After a few years of trying to pull the damm thing out and I confess I had my full of trying as well and so did every single person here.  Here we are.  We all forgot about it, yes, yet we each allowed the memory of it to linger in the back of our minds, that understanding that we had each once tried and failed has stayed with us.  We now have a boy not even knighted who has done it, he met the challenge and because none of us did, nor did the thousands of other men, suddenly everyone in the country understands the significant of the deed and so they know this boy is special.  As for Merlin, a fool I think not.”
                                I looked once more at Arthur who was listening intently.  I wondered what it was that meant he could pull out this sword when others had failed.  Certainly Arthur didn’t look overly strong.  The old rusted thing in his room only just qualified as a sword, its grace all but eroded through time.  But more of a concern and to my amazement was the fact that this was indeed serious!  These were various leaders of the realms and they have just got together over a boy who pulled a rusted useless old sword out of some rock!
                  Trouble!
                  I thought I was avoiding it this morning,