Read Online A Tail of Camelot by Julie Leung - Free Book Online Page B

shoved his nose directly into Calib’s. “If you’re so sure about that, why haven’t you told anyone?” Warren gave Calib a hard push, and Calib stumbled backward. “You’re too scared, that’s why! And you’re going to get your hide shaved off for breaking the rules.”
    But Calib had seen Warren’s face and knew that his instincts were right: Warren had lied.
    Warren marched Calib to the council room, where all the knights stood clustered around a large map of Camelot and its surrounding areas. Search zones were already marked on it. Barnaby sat sniffling in the corner, his arm in an improvised sling made of cheesecloth.
    â€œLook who I found lurking around in the kitchens, hunting for a snack!” announced Warren, shoving Calib forward.
    â€œCalib Christopher!” Sir Owen jumped up, his voice full of relief. “Where were you off to, lad?”
    â€œI went to the beach to bring shells for the arrowheads,” Calib said quietly. He held out the rucksack half filled with clamshells. His original quest now sounded foolish, even to his ears. Had he really believed a few broken shells would make him a hero?
    â€œOch, I take full responsibility, sirs!” Macie came forward, waving her paws. “Calib only wanted to get the shells as a favor to me.” She discreetly took the bag from Calib.
    â€œI won’t forget this, mate,” she whispered.
    Calib’s attention turned to Barnaby, who was still whimpering quietly. “What happened?”
    â€œThe cobbler threw a shoe at me!” the mouse retorted, sticking out his bottom lip. “Because someone wasn’t there to be my lookout!”
    Annoyance prickled Calib like a boar-bristle brush through his fur. Everyone knew Old Cobbler Hamish had bad eyes. Only Barnaby would let himself get caught in the open.
    â€œWhat do you have to say for yourself, Calib?” Sir Kensington crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.
    Calib thought about Warren’s words and what Howell had said before he left. Calib needed to tell the truth.
    â€œI’m sorry Barnaby got hit by a shoe, but I have very important news.” Calib sucked in a deep breath. “Two-Bits is innocent . The night Commander Yvers was attacked, Isaw the paw prints leading away from Grandfather. They were far too big to belong to a squirrel. They had claws . And Howell agreed it couldn’t have been Two-Bits who murdered Commander Yvers,” he added in a rush. “And he said the Darklings didn’t murder my father.”
    â€œHowell?” Sir Owen looked confused. “Who is Howell?”
    Too late, Calib realized he’d said too much. But now that he’d mentioned Howell, he didn’t see how he could weasel out of telling the whole truth. “He’s . . . Well, you see . . . he was this wolf I met on the beach. A big white one . . .”
    â€œYou spoke with a wolf ?” Macie’s eyes nearly popped out of her head.
    â€œHe wasn’t just any wolf,” Calib said quickly. “His name is Howell, and he said he knew my father, Sir Trenton.”
    â€œI don’t care if his name was Humdinger the Fourth!” Sir Owen shouted. “Wolves are our natural enemies! They cannot be trusted!”
    Sir Percival shook his head and tsked. “Calm yourself, Sir Owen. The poor thing is obviously hallucinating. Grief from losing his grandfather has driven him out of his mind.”
    â€œBut you don’t understand,” Calib began, his voice squeaky with desperation. “The Sword in the Stone has returned!”
    A dumbfounded silence filled the room. Sir Owen found his voice first.
    â€œMaking things up won’t get you out of trouble, laddie.” He tugged his one whisker and gave Calib a stern look. “I thought I had taught you better than that!”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œYou’re a page, Calib.” Sir Kensington stepped in. There was a cold