The Death of King Arthur by Peter Ackroyd Page B

reason. Can you please ride after him and bring him before me? You may use force, if necessary.’
    â€˜I am at your command,’ Balin replied. He was astride his horse in a moment, and rode after the mournful knight. He found him in a forest, by the side of a fair lady, and he greeted him gallantly enough. ‘Sir knight,’ he said, ‘you must come with me to the king and explain the causes of your sorrow.’
    â€˜That I cannot do. It will bring down evil on my head, and be of no help to you.’
    â€˜Then make ready, sir. I must capture you in battle and bring you by force to the king. But I am unwilling to make a fight of it.’
    â€˜Will you be my warrant, if I go with you?’
    â€˜Indeed. I will protect you even at the cost of my own life.’
    So the knight named Sir Harleus rode out with Balin, leaving the lady in the forest. Just as they came up to the king’s pavilion, however, Harleus was pierced by a spear from an invisible rider. As he lay dying he whispered to Balin, ‘This is the work of a knight called Garlon. Take my horse. It is better than yours. Ride back to the forest and rescue the fair lady. She will lead you on the quest that I have pursued. Avenge my death.’
    â€˜I will follow the road you have taken. In the name of God I will complete your quest.’ So Balin went to Arthur, and told him what had occurred. Then he returned the way he had come. After a while he rode into the forest and found the fair lady. He gave her the shaft of the spear that had killed Harleus, and she greeted his death with sorrow and dismay. Then together they rode from the forest, until they came up to the gates of a great castle. Balin had just passed through the portcullis when it was closed behind him, leaving the lady separated from him. At this point some knights surrounded her with their swords and would have killed her. But Balin mounted the stone steps of the gatepost and flung himself down into the moat, where he drew his sword and challenged them to combat. They refused to fight, saying that they were only following the custom of the castle. They told Balin that their mistress had lain sick for many years; she had been told that she must have a silver dish brimming with the blood of a noble lady, a virgin and a king’s daughter, in order to be healed. So they drew blood from any damsel who came close to the castle. ‘Well,’ Balin told them, ‘bleed her if you must, but do not endanger her life.’ She gave up her blood willingly enough, and filled the silver dish, but it did not bring health to the lady.

Wherein the dolorous stroke deals death
    They rested that night at the castle, and in the morning went on their way. They rode for four days without meeting any adventure, but then by chance on the fifth day they lodged in the manor house of a rich gentleman. As they sat at supper with their host, Balin heard cries and complaints coming from another room. ‘What is that noise?’ he asked.
    â€˜It is my son,’ the host told him. ‘I will tell you what happened. I contended at a joust, where twice I managed to defeat the brother of King Pellam. In retaliation he swore to revenge himself on my best friend. That friend is my son. He is now so sick that he can be cured only by the blood of the man who has injured him. But I do not know his name. And he rides invisible.’
    â€˜I know him,’ Balin replied. ‘His name is Garlon. He has killed a knight who was in my safe keeping. I would rather meet him in combat than acquire all the gold of this land.’
    â€˜I will tell you how you can achieve that. King Pellam of Liste-noise has proclaimed a great feast, to be held within a fortnight, but no knight may come there unless he is accompanied by his wife or paramour. You will be able to see him on that day.’
    â€˜Then I promise to bring you some part of his blood in order to heal your son.’
    â€˜We will