Read Online Sword of Camelot by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online Page B

him as she said, “Tell me about Goel. Have you ever met him?”
    â€œMet him!” Reb looked at her in amazement. “Why of course I've met him.” He told her how they had come out of the sleep capsules and been directed by Goel ever since. “I guess we're kind of his helpers, you might say. This Sanhedrin's a bad bunch.” He wagged his head dolefully. “I understand they're trying to take over Camelot too.”
    Elaine's lovely eyes clouded, and she smoothed her hair back. “Yes, things have been difficult lately. More and more of our people are being drawn, I think, into the power of the Dark Lord.”
    She stepped even closer and put a hand lightly on his arm. When she looked up at him, her face was filled with apprehension, and she bit her full lower lip. “Do you think you and the others will be able to do something?”
    Reb had always been a modest young man, but his experience at Camelot had not fostered this. Ever since they had left Atlantis, because he was an expert horseman and the travel had been on horseback, he had been more or less in a leadership position. And because he had become an expert jouster, tossing from their saddles some of the best knights, men who were far more experienced, this had given him a rather cocky air.
    Now he did what he would never have done earlier. He waved his hand in the air and said, “Why, don't you fret none about it, Miss Elaine! I'll see to it that nothing happens to you or your family!”
    Elaine blinked—and he noticed how long and thick her lashes were and how smooth her skin.
    â€œOh, that's so good to hear,” she said as she squeezed his arm. “I'm so glad you came.”
    * * *
    Reb enjoyed his talk with the princess, totally unaware of how boastful he had become.
    Josh noticed, however, and whispered to Dave, “I think Reb's getting sort of a big head. I'm a little bit worried about him. One thing we don't need on this trip is a big fat ego to keep up with.”
    Dave agreed. “You're right, Josh. And I don't like this wild tusker business either. These wild pigs aren't anything to fool with.”
    Abigail had been listening in, and she sniffed. “You two are just jealous because Reb isn't afraid of anything.”
    Josh gave her a disgusted look. “It's good sense to be afraid of some things.”
    They moved on without saying more about Reb's problem.
    Soon one of the scouts came running back, his face red with excitement. “Your Majesty,” he said, “there's a huge tusker over there in that clump of trees!”
    The king looked at Prince Loren. “All right, my boy, suppose you show your father what a fine hunter you are.”
    â€œI'll do my best, Sire.” He gestured to several of the servants, who came forward bearing a sheaf of spears. Plucking one out, he motioned the guests forward. “This is what we use to hunt the wild boar. You four each take one, and you ladies can watch the fight.”
    Reb took a smooth, wooden-shafted spear. He touched the pointed blade on the end. “This thing is sharp as a razor. My Uncle Seedy, the barber, could shave with one of these things!” Then he looked at the extended blades on the side. These stuck out at right angles and were rather dull. “What are these things for?”
    Loren held up his spear. “What you have to do is get this point into the boar.” His eyes shone, and his lips turned up in a grin. “But I'm telling you, these boars are tough. They'll run right up the spear and gore you to death before you can blink.”
    â€œThat doesn't sound like too much fun,” Dave muttered. “But what are these side pieces for?”
    â€œHere's what you must do,” Loren said, demonstrating. “Shove the butt end of it into the earth. Nobody's strong enough to keep a three-hundred-pound boar at bay, so when he comes at you, let him run himself right onto this pointed blade.