Read Online The Return of Sir Percival by S. Alexander O'Keefe - Free Book Online Page A

attackers when the alarm was raised.”
    The Knight’s hand closed on the hilt of his sword as he continued the tale.
    â€œWhen the first raid came the next summer, over forty ships, we were ready. We met the raiders at the shore and drove them back into the sea, setting many of their ships alight with fire arrows. Only half of the ships escaped. More fleets of raiders came, but with each attack, we grew stronger and more deadly. Over time, the raids became less frequent, and then they stopped.”
    â€œYou made the price in blood too high,” Capussa said with an approving nod.
    â€œYes, but we paid a price as well,” Percival said quietly. “My father was killed in a raid. We … I misjudged the point of their landing, and by the time we arrived with the relief force and threw them back into the sea, my father was dead. A year later, my betrothed, the daughter of the liege lord to the south, was killed in a raid.”
    Percival paused for a moment and stared out at the dark horizon. When he spoke again, his voice was tinged with regret.
    â€œI was many leagues to the north, so there was nothing I could have done. Yet, when I came to know of her death, I felt as if I had failed her. Today, I would see the truth of it.”
    â€œWould you, Knight?” Capussa questioned, a knowing look on his face. “I suspect not. You are particularly good at shouldering burdens that are not yours to carry. It is a good thing I am here to save you from yourself.”
    â€œI am truly blessed,” Percival said wryly.
    â€œIndeed, you are. Now, tell me how you came to be a Knight of this Round Table.”
    â€œIt seems I will indeed have to sleep in yonder swamp to get a moment’s peace,” Percival said over his shoulder as he walked over to his horse, drew out a skin of water from his traveling bag, and took a long drink.
    Capussa stood, walked over to the fire, and nudged a flaming ember back over the edge into the stone pit. Then he lifted his hands to the night sky in mock supplication.
    â€œAlas, I must surely have offended a powerful god in one land or another to have been condemned to cross the world with a companion who is as talkative as a rock.”
    â€œAs you wish. The rock speaketh again, but for the last time tonight,” Percival said with a smile as he returned to the stone bench.
    â€œOver time, I was able to persuade the lords who held the lands within twenty leagues to the north and south to adopt our tactics and to maintain a force ready to come to the aid of the others, in the event of an attack in force. In my twentieth year, come it did. Over a hundred ships sailed past one of the most northern watchtowers. The fire and smoke signals raised the alarm along the coast, moving from tower to tower, as the raiders continued to sail south.
    â€œThe size of the enemy was so great that I rode south with half of my liegemen and picked up additional forces as we passed through the lands of each lord. The outriders I’d sent to shadow the raiders came back at the end of the day and reported our enemies had sailed up the Humber River. That would be here,” Percival said, leaning forward and drawing a line from the coast to an inland circle.
    â€œOnce I heard this, I knew that Eburacum, a wealthy city along that river, was the most likely target,” Percival said, tapping the circle with the stick.
    â€œI sent a rider to warn the city of the raid, but the mayor ignored it. At that time, people were unaware of how powerful the Norse raiders had become. Once I knew Eburacum was the target, I told the other coastal lords we had to march inland to protect the city. Some agreed. Some did not. In the end, I was able to march inland with only seven hundred men, but they were good men. Over the previous three years, I had trained them to march together, to form battle lines, and to move as one during battle, on command.”
    â€œI hope,” Capussa said