Read Online Keeper of the Grail by Michael P. Spradlin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michael P. Spradlin
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Action & Adventure, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Medieval, Royalty, middle ages, Grail, Knights and Knighthood, Orphans & Foster Homes
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for the bag of coins Sir Thomas had given me. Taking the pouch, he put it in a pocket of his apron. “There now! You’ve already paid me! Sir Thomas always hires me to make a new sword for his squires. He ordered this one several months ago, and I’ve been working on it since his last squire left the Order.”
“Sir, I don’t know what to say,” I sputtered. “Thank you. Thank you very much. It is a fine weapon. I’m grateful for your work.”
“It’s my pleasure, Tristan—and a word of advice. Keep that sword handy. If you run into a couple of ruffians like you did earlier, don’t be afraid to show it. Keep it clean and sharp. Care for it and it will take care of you.” He smiled.
“I will, sir. I promise. And thank you again. Now, if you’ll forgive me, I must return to the Commandery. Sir Thomas will be waiting. There is much work to be done before we sail.”
“Good luck to you, Tristan. Sir Thomas is one of the finest men I’ve ever known. You’ll do well as his squire. Listen to what he has to teach you. Trust him. Good luck to you. I hope to see you again someday.”
Little John waved as I started up the street. Every few steps, I touched the hilt of the sword now hanging at my belt. In my mind I saw myself following Sir Thomas and the Templars into battle with my sword held high.
Reaching the crowd of the marketplace I noticed that the guards were still in evidence. In fact there were now six of them, and they were definitely shadowing me. I could not fathom their interest, but something in their manner made me uneasy. I quickened my pace but was slowed by the midday crowd in the market. It is not easy to quickly move a stallion through hordes of people.
As we turned at the end of the road that led to the Commandery, the crowd pressed around us. I took a tighter grip on Dauntless’ reins, not wanting him to spook, but compared with the noise and confusion of battle, the marketplace seemed not to affect him at all.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed two of the guards draw closer, falling into step a few paces behind me.
The crowd was noisy and I made only halting progress. As I came past a row of vendor stalls, a man pushing a cart of vegetables crossed in front of us and I had to pull Dauntless to a halt, waiting for the man to clear out of the way.
Forced to stop, I was about to turn to face the King’s Guards directly behind me when over the din of the marketplace I heard a noise that left me frozen in fear: the unmistakable sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard.
11
G rasping the hilt of my sword, I hesitated. I couldn’t decide whether to turn and face my attackers or take flight. I felt something horrible was about to happen. When the man with the vegetable cart abruptly moved out of the way, I was startled to see Sir Basil standing in the street in front of me.
“Tristan!” His voice bellowed over the noise. “I was wondering what happened to you!”
A sense of relief washed over me. Taking a quick glance to my rear, I noticed that the King’s Guards had disappeared, melting away in the crowd. My breath returned to normal, but the prickly feeling of fear still crawled across my flesh. Why were they following me? Even more worrisome, had they been about to attack me? Were they there to take me into custody? Had I done something in our brief meeting that had offended the King? I couldn’t think of an answer.
“Sir Thomas wishes you to return to the Commandery immediately,” Sir Basil said.
For a moment, I considered telling him about the guards and what had happened in the marketplace, but I realized that I had no real evidence of anything. Perhaps I had been mistaken? I stood there for a moment, trying to figure it all out. Sir Basil noticed the puzzled expression on my face. “What’s wrong, boy?” he asked.
“I…I thought I…Nothing, sire. Nothing. I will return to the Commandery at once,” I said.
“You’ll find Sir Thomas waiting for you at the
“Sir, I don’t know what to say,” I sputtered. “Thank you. Thank you very much. It is a fine weapon. I’m grateful for your work.”
“It’s my pleasure, Tristan—and a word of advice. Keep that sword handy. If you run into a couple of ruffians like you did earlier, don’t be afraid to show it. Keep it clean and sharp. Care for it and it will take care of you.” He smiled.
“I will, sir. I promise. And thank you again. Now, if you’ll forgive me, I must return to the Commandery. Sir Thomas will be waiting. There is much work to be done before we sail.”
“Good luck to you, Tristan. Sir Thomas is one of the finest men I’ve ever known. You’ll do well as his squire. Listen to what he has to teach you. Trust him. Good luck to you. I hope to see you again someday.”
Little John waved as I started up the street. Every few steps, I touched the hilt of the sword now hanging at my belt. In my mind I saw myself following Sir Thomas and the Templars into battle with my sword held high.
Reaching the crowd of the marketplace I noticed that the guards were still in evidence. In fact there were now six of them, and they were definitely shadowing me. I could not fathom their interest, but something in their manner made me uneasy. I quickened my pace but was slowed by the midday crowd in the market. It is not easy to quickly move a stallion through hordes of people.
As we turned at the end of the road that led to the Commandery, the crowd pressed around us. I took a tighter grip on Dauntless’ reins, not wanting him to spook, but compared with the noise and confusion of battle, the marketplace seemed not to affect him at all.
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed two of the guards draw closer, falling into step a few paces behind me.
The crowd was noisy and I made only halting progress. As I came past a row of vendor stalls, a man pushing a cart of vegetables crossed in front of us and I had to pull Dauntless to a halt, waiting for the man to clear out of the way.
Forced to stop, I was about to turn to face the King’s Guards directly behind me when over the din of the marketplace I heard a noise that left me frozen in fear: the unmistakable sound of a sword being drawn from its scabbard.
11
G rasping the hilt of my sword, I hesitated. I couldn’t decide whether to turn and face my attackers or take flight. I felt something horrible was about to happen. When the man with the vegetable cart abruptly moved out of the way, I was startled to see Sir Basil standing in the street in front of me.
“Tristan!” His voice bellowed over the noise. “I was wondering what happened to you!”
A sense of relief washed over me. Taking a quick glance to my rear, I noticed that the King’s Guards had disappeared, melting away in the crowd. My breath returned to normal, but the prickly feeling of fear still crawled across my flesh. Why were they following me? Even more worrisome, had they been about to attack me? Were they there to take me into custody? Had I done something in our brief meeting that had offended the King? I couldn’t think of an answer.
“Sir Thomas wishes you to return to the Commandery immediately,” Sir Basil said.
For a moment, I considered telling him about the guards and what had happened in the marketplace, but I realized that I had no real evidence of anything. Perhaps I had been mistaken? I stood there for a moment, trying to figure it all out. Sir Basil noticed the puzzled expression on my face. “What’s wrong, boy?” he asked.
“I…I thought I…Nothing, sire. Nothing. I will return to the Commandery at once,” I said.
“You’ll find Sir Thomas waiting for you at the
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