King of the Middle March Read Online Free Page B

Activities.”
    â€œThere’s no point,” said Bertie. “I’m not going to.” He stood up and tousled his hair as if he were trying to get rid of every category and judgment and substance and accident in his buzzing head. “You can’t teach me anyhow. You’re not a priest.”
    Nothing is easy when it’s new. How can I talk to the Venetians who can’t speak English? How should you pitch a tent in soft sand? How do you crack a lobster? From the moment we got here, we have been faced at each turn with new difficulties.
    I do like challenges, but what I haven’t found out yet is how to teach Bertie. If I were Serle, I’d just shout at him. But I’m not like that. Anyhow, he’s much younger than I am, and we’ve got to live side by side for weeks and months.
    This evening, I told Lord Stephen about my mother’s ring and how she secretly sent it to me. I explained how I promised Thomas, Sir William’s servant, that I wouldn’t tell anyone about it.
    â€œAnd you kept your promise,” Lord Stephen said. “Which is more than Thomas did. He failed you. He said he’d arranged for you to meet your mother, but she never came.”
    â€œPerhaps she doesn’t want to meet me,” I said.
    â€œOf course she does.”
    â€œThat’s what I think sometimes,” I said.
    â€œAnyhow,” said Lord Stephen, “you’re quite right to tell me everything now.”
    Then I showed Lord Stephen my ring.
    He had to hold it very close to his eyes so he could see baby Jesus reaching out and giving His mother something…what it is, I still don’t know.
    â€œYes,” Lord Stephen said. “Wear it, and keep it warm. Your mother cares for you. You will find her.”

10
FIGHTING–FEAR
    W HAT’S IT LIKE?” I ASKED. “FIGHTING? IN A BATTLE ?
    Wido, Milon’s armorer, sniffed. Then he looked round the ring of Milon’s foot soldiers sitting under the sun and narrowed his eyes. “Go on then, Giff! Tell Arthur.”
    Giff got to his feet and stared down at me. He smiled slightly; I think he did. He has a scar running from one corner of his mouth across his cheek and under his right ear, so it’s difficult to tell.
    â€œYou’ve been afraid?” he inquired.
    â€œYes,” I said. “Sometimes.”
    â€œâ€™Course you have,” said Giff. “We all have. When?”
    â€œWhen I had to belly out across the ice and rescue Sian. She’s my sister. Well…she was.”
    â€œDead,” said Giff.
    â€œNo! No, it’s too difficult to explain.”
    â€œThat all, then?” asked Giff. First he looked at Wido, then round the group, and I saw him wink. Suddenly everyone leaped up and howled and stepped towards me, and I gasped and put up my fists, but when I looked round again, they were just laughing.
    Giff drew back his lips so I could see his teeth. “You was saying?”
    â€œAcross the ice,” I said, and I realized I was out of breath, “and once I was afraid when Alan the armorer pressed his quarterstaffdown on my windpipe. And when I wrestled with Jehan. You know, Milon’s farrier.”
    â€œJehan,” repeated Wido. “We knew Jehan, didn’t we, boys?”
    â€œHe wounded me,” I said, and I held up my left arm and showed them the long scar.
    â€œMad as a monkey,” said Wido.
    â€œWhat happened to him?”
    Wido clutched his throat with his hands, and then jerked back his head. “But you, Arthur,” he said. “You bravee!”
    â€œBravee!” repeated the ring of foot soldiers, and they all laughed again.
    â€œYou knight,” said Wido.
    â€œNot yet,” I replied. “That depends on Milon.”
    Wido caught the eye of another man. “Godard! I thought you’d swallowed your tongue.”
    Godard advanced on me. He’s not all that big, but tough and sinewy.