CHAPTER NINETEEN
On Adventure's Way
Now, as the knights separated, Sir Launcelot, who had donned but partof his armor, called Sir Gareth.
"I would a word with you, Gareth. I pray you to spare me the time."
"Right gladly," said Gareth and seated himself beside the other. SirPercival, who had a mind to return to them, on seeing them so seated,swerved his horse and passed by them. Nor did they see him.
"See you this sword and shield. Take you these and use them well. Theyare good weapons and you will find the answering well to urge andparry.
"Yet it is something of far more urge than this that I would speak toyou about. I am right glad that you are to have Allan with you. I hopehe will find much adventure and many experiences. Listen well tothis."
Then did Sir Launcelot tell of the message that had been given both tohim and the boy. Told also of the need for Allan to stay the fine anddevout lad he was.
"You can help, too. I made promise to Sir Joseph of Armathea that Iwould do what I can. Since you are knight dubbed by me, I pray you tohelp me."
"That shall I do right gladly, for I like the youth and his kindlyways. I give you my promise to give him by such example as I may setand in other ways the meaning of knighthood worthy of the search forthe Holy Grail."
"I wish you good fortune, Gareth, and that you overcome this knight ofthe Red Lawns. If you should need aid at any time, I promise I willcome if I get word, no matter how distant you may be."
"I know that," said Gareth soberly. So then they sat for many momentseach thinking of many things. Until at last it was time for them toseparate.
Allan had returned a little while before. He had already heard who thekitchen boy was and how he had been dubbed knight by Sir Launcelot. Ithad been a day of events for him, too. Walker, who had made thejourney with him had talked with him of many things.
"This world is large," Walker had said.
"Soon," Allan had said, "I shall go forth and find out for myself justhow large it is."
"Aye, lad," was Walker's reply, "if you travel all the years you liveI doubt if you could see half of it. Far to the southeast is Rome andthere are many lands one must pass before he reaches there. And to thenortheast live the Norse and the Dane and other tribes equally wildand fierce. Then there are many seas, which I have heard tell arebigger than the sea of Cornwall, which I know well. And west of us,there is Ireland and beyond that the world ends."
"Yet shall I go and see what I can. For, if need be I must go to thevery ends of the world and I doubt not it will be right soon."
"Why, young master?" asked Walker, struck by the seriousness of theboy's tone.
But Allan answered not. Nor did the man press his question but watchedthe lad as he rode on and dreamed.
So they came to the castle. There Yosalinde was awaiting him. Yetafter the first greeting, the girl, whose usual contagion of high andgay spirits carried the youth, who was inclined to be more soberminded, along with her, fell into a brown study. Nor would she listenor attend to his attempts to bring her forth into lighter mood. So theboy, a little vexed and nettled, withdrew feeling hurt and gloomy.
But all this was soon swept aside. For Yosalinde came to him and inher eyes was a great light.
"Listen to me, Allan. I had mind made up at first that I would nottell you but have decided otherwise. I too, have dreamed of the HolyGrail. Does it not seem strange that I, a girl, should so do?"
The boy nodded but remained quiet waiting for her to continue.
"You and I are to soon part, Allan. I am to go to a convent where Ican bring my mind altogether to the spiritual. I dreamed that when Ibecame worthy I was to help you right well in the finding of it. Aspirit will come to me which will guide us both. Think, Allan, if thedream is true, I am to help you and you are to find the Grail."
"So the strange monk told me, Yosalinde. He spoke of one who was tohelp me and she of whom he spoke, I could not take to be other thanyou. You and one other and unless I mistake not that other is SirLauncelot. But it hurts, this thought that you and I will not see eachother for the long time you are in the convent."
"But, dear Allan, there is always that time beyond that. It iswonderful to look forward to that, is it not?"
The boy nodded in assent, a little slowly, as if he were realizingthat it was so. He looked at the girl now and the feeling grew thatYosalinde was to be the one who would lead him onward. Even now, herfine spirit was helping him to cross the first of the pitfalls. Thewish for the girl was the first rung on the high ladder of worthiness.
In the late afternoon the boy returned to the court. Of a truth he hadalmost forgotten that this was the day for the kitchen boy to comeforth. Nor did he, what with thinking of Yosalinde and his missionthat must soon be, remember it until he had almost returned.
"Come Walker, let us make haste, for I would know the news."
So they hurried and had not been inside the gates many moments beforeAllan had found out. But it was only when he came to Sir Launcelotthat he heard the other news that he could go forth with the other twoon adventure's way.
He was glad that he could go with these two who were also young for hecould himself adventure so much the more readily. He would have beenabashed to do so with knights such as his own lord or Sir Launcelotand Sir Gawaine.
Sir Launcelot found the boy soon after.
"When you return, and I think it will not be for more than a year,mayhap, two, the King will dub you knight, so I think. Remember Allan,to be worthy for the things ahead and remember, too, that I am at beckand call, if you need me, if so be you can find me.
"This journey will be the great test. I pray that you return and provewhat I think you will be. Sir Percival, I understand has armor, sword,lance and spear for you. I shall furnish you with shield. So go youyour way and remember that there are few knights who will be foundstouter or more skillful than Gareth."
Allan found Gareth soon thereafter and thanked him for letting him gowith him. Then did the three, Sir Gareth, Breunor le Noire and Allanplan for many things. The blood of youth raced in their veins even asthey planned. Many things would they do. Britain would hear of thesethree, so they hoped.
A goodly trio, of a truth, they made as they rode forth the next day,the maid Linet with them, and only Walker following behind. Three mostworshipful knights watched them as they made their way down the longroad and disappeared from view.
Perhaps, too, it was only chance that led them again past the castleof Sir Percival. There Allan made point to enter the same promising tocatch up with the others as they continued on their way. Nor could hestay more than but a few moments but in those few moments he had toldall to Yosalinde. She, too, watched him, as he hastened to join theothers.
Long before he returned she had entered the convent in accordance withthe plan of her mother and brother. Yet, in the heart of each of themwas only the thought of the future, their hopes were in the far away.