The Squire's Quest by Gerald Morris Read Free Book Online

to try explaining that to Gawain at the moment. "Whether you think it or not," Terence said, "you'll feel better with some food in your stomach."
    Gawain grumbled something indistinguishable, but he took the small loaf of brown bread that Terence had brought him from the castle kitchens and began to chew. Terence left him alone and went to see Eileen. She was in her sitting room with Sarah, both sewing, when Terence swung through the window. Sarah jumped with obvious alarm. "Oh, it's you," she said.
    "Welcome home, Terence," Eileen said, smiling warmly. "When did you arrive?"
    "Last night after midnight," he said.
    "Do you
always
come in that way?" Sarah demanded. "You scared me."
    "You really
should
be careful," Eileen pointed out. "After all, I ve got a guest here. What if Sarah had been dressing?"
    "I knocked earlier," Terence said, "but no one answered." He glanced at the door, noting with mild surprise that it was bolted with a heavy wooden beam.
    "Was that you?" Sarah asked. "Oh, I'm sorry. I thought it was Alexander."
    Terence grinned. "What, the emperor of Constantinople? Is he still around?"
    "He says he won't leave without Sarah," Eileen explained.
    "I see," Terence said, keeping his face bland. "So are you betrothed yet?"
    "No, and shut up," Sarah said. "I don't want to hear it."
    "Hear what?" Terence protested. "I wasn't going to say a thing."
    "If that's true, then you re the only one," Sarah muttered.
    Eileen laid down her needlework. "Many people at court have felt the need to tell Sarah what a brilliant match it would be," she said.
    "Just in case I hadn't realized it for myself," Sarah added.
    "Well, have you turned him down?" Terence asked.
    Sarah hesitated. "No," she admitted. "I don't love him, but I don't actually dislike him. There are times I think he might not be a bad choice. I believe he's a man of honor, anyway. But I don't like everybody assuming I'll marry him just because he's the emperor."
    "And he's still pursuing you?"
    Sarah rolled her eyes. "Like a ferret after a rabbit. I try to slow him down by acting cold and putting him off, but that only seems to make him more sure of me than ever."
    Terence remembered what Dinadan had said at the tournament about the French traditions of courtly love. It had sounded absurd, but Dinadan was no fool, and he had spent a lot of time traveling on the continent. Perhaps he was right. "Maybe he thinks you re just being discreet by pretending not to love him."
    "That what he keeps saying," Sarah said. "It's what puts me most out of patience with him, because it gives me no answer. If I encourage him, he believes that I love him. If I don't encourage him, he believes it even more. He says he wants to do great deeds for me, to slay my enemies."
    "Very romantic," Terence said drily. "And how do you reply?"
    "I told him I had already slain them all myself. He didn't believe me."
    A new thought occurred to Terence. "Say, how does that old advisor of Alexander's feel about this? Acor-something."
    "Acoriondes," Eileen said. "And he's just three years older than I am, dear."
    Terence closed his eyes. "I meant 'that youthful courtier. "
    "He's the only one on my side," Sarah said. "He doesn't say anything, but I can tell he's hoping I'll stand firm."
    "It's probably part of his job to protect Alexander from unwise marriages," Terence reflected. Sarah's eyebrows lifted haughtily, and Terence added hurriedly, "I mean from a diplomatic point of view. Kings aren't supposed to marry for love; they have to make marriages that will help their states. Even Arthur's marriage with Guinevere was an alliance between him and old King Leodegrance."
    "But Arthur and Guinevere love each other," Sarah pointed out.
    "They do now," Terence agreed, "but it was a bit rocky at first." Changing the subject, Terence turned to Eileen. "Can you tell me anything about this new fellow, Mordred? Have you met him?"
    "Once or twice," Eileen replied. "Seems nice enough. Why do you ask?"
    Terence