first time.
The members crowded about an inadequate round table. Some eyes grew larger with shock to see Hero — a woman — invade their sanctum. But more had voted to allow her to join. She was glad that Digby had helped her with the scholarly paper required to meet membership. This looked like an exacting crowd. She hoped that they saw clearly that Arthur would make a good leader for the group. He was more devoted and more knowledgeable than any Arthurian scholar she had ever met before.
She would never know whether Arthur would have honored her request not to announce the impending wedding. For, with Digby standing at her elbow, a man she had never met before, but who obviously knew Arthur, said heartily, "Congratulations, Watterly, I hear you and Miss Fenster are to be married. Lucky man." He gave Hero a friendly look, completely unaware that she wanted to kick him in the shins until he was forced to hobble out of her sight.
Digby's face grew pale. "Is this true?"
Recognizing with sick horror that Juliet was right, Hero could not humiliate Arthur or her family by denying such a thing, she said in a low voice, "Yes." She wanted to explain, but not here, not in a crowded room. "It was most unexpected."
Before he could reply, the sound of a gavel striking silenced the members, and they all began to file toward the society's round table.
Nervously, she took a place beside Arthur. Juliet, fortunately, had elected to sit in an anteroom, as she was not a member — and not in the least interested in the proceedings either. She had brought a Dickens novel to keep her from being fatally bored. But there was a look of mischief in her eye that Hero hoped would die out quickly. At least, she comforted herself, her sister had not seen her confess to being betrothed. Juliet had an unfortunate tendency to crow when she was proved right.
An older man with flowing silver hair and a tunic of deepest blue stood to speak, and all the members grew quiet. He began by welcoming the new members; there were two in addition to Hero. A small knighting ceremony was held, and then the important announcement that all the members had been waiting to hear. "As you know, I must retire. We must find a new Arthur to head this group." He inclined his head toward the four men sitting at his right. "Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, Sir Galahad, and Sir Gawain will make the final decision, along with me, about the man who has proved himself worthy of the honor."
"The membership must ratify," said a portly man.
Hero recognized him with a start — Fenwell Delagrace, Gwen's father. He was sitting next to Digby, and the look he gave to Arthur was none too friendly. Apparently, he, too, had just learned about the engagement.
With quiet dignity, the white-haired man said, "Of course, the chosen member must be accepted by all. But which of us would not accept the candidate who has accepted and performed the three challenges required? It is a rare man capable of such feats."
Hero wondered what the challenges were, but dared not ask Arthur. His attention was focused upon the speaker with complete gravity.
"The challenges of Honor, Chivalry and Valor will begin at the end of this meeting. Each of the two candidates for head of the Round Table Society must meet each challenge, as well as prove that they have met each at our assembly here, in three months-time."
"Three months' time! That is too long." Again, Fenwell Delagrace interrupted, ignoring the black glances being sent his way by other members.
With patience, the speaker said, "One month for each challenge, that is the way it has always been. Fenwell, do you dispute it?"
He sat back in his chair, obviously not pleased, but he muttered, "No, my liege."
"Good. Then it is decided. In three months' time we shall decide who is worthy to be the new Arthur. Gabriel Digby, Arthur Watterly are you prepared to meet the challenges?"
Digby stood, and said in a strong, carrying voice, "I am."
Arthur stood. His voice
The members crowded about an inadequate round table. Some eyes grew larger with shock to see Hero — a woman — invade their sanctum. But more had voted to allow her to join. She was glad that Digby had helped her with the scholarly paper required to meet membership. This looked like an exacting crowd. She hoped that they saw clearly that Arthur would make a good leader for the group. He was more devoted and more knowledgeable than any Arthurian scholar she had ever met before.
She would never know whether Arthur would have honored her request not to announce the impending wedding. For, with Digby standing at her elbow, a man she had never met before, but who obviously knew Arthur, said heartily, "Congratulations, Watterly, I hear you and Miss Fenster are to be married. Lucky man." He gave Hero a friendly look, completely unaware that she wanted to kick him in the shins until he was forced to hobble out of her sight.
Digby's face grew pale. "Is this true?"
Recognizing with sick horror that Juliet was right, Hero could not humiliate Arthur or her family by denying such a thing, she said in a low voice, "Yes." She wanted to explain, but not here, not in a crowded room. "It was most unexpected."
Before he could reply, the sound of a gavel striking silenced the members, and they all began to file toward the society's round table.
Nervously, she took a place beside Arthur. Juliet, fortunately, had elected to sit in an anteroom, as she was not a member — and not in the least interested in the proceedings either. She had brought a Dickens novel to keep her from being fatally bored. But there was a look of mischief in her eye that Hero hoped would die out quickly. At least, she comforted herself, her sister had not seen her confess to being betrothed. Juliet had an unfortunate tendency to crow when she was proved right.
An older man with flowing silver hair and a tunic of deepest blue stood to speak, and all the members grew quiet. He began by welcoming the new members; there were two in addition to Hero. A small knighting ceremony was held, and then the important announcement that all the members had been waiting to hear. "As you know, I must retire. We must find a new Arthur to head this group." He inclined his head toward the four men sitting at his right. "Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, Sir Galahad, and Sir Gawain will make the final decision, along with me, about the man who has proved himself worthy of the honor."
"The membership must ratify," said a portly man.
Hero recognized him with a start — Fenwell Delagrace, Gwen's father. He was sitting next to Digby, and the look he gave to Arthur was none too friendly. Apparently, he, too, had just learned about the engagement.
With quiet dignity, the white-haired man said, "Of course, the chosen member must be accepted by all. But which of us would not accept the candidate who has accepted and performed the three challenges required? It is a rare man capable of such feats."
Hero wondered what the challenges were, but dared not ask Arthur. His attention was focused upon the speaker with complete gravity.
"The challenges of Honor, Chivalry and Valor will begin at the end of this meeting. Each of the two candidates for head of the Round Table Society must meet each challenge, as well as prove that they have met each at our assembly here, in three months-time."
"Three months' time! That is too long." Again, Fenwell Delagrace interrupted, ignoring the black glances being sent his way by other members.
With patience, the speaker said, "One month for each challenge, that is the way it has always been. Fenwell, do you dispute it?"
He sat back in his chair, obviously not pleased, but he muttered, "No, my liege."
"Good. Then it is decided. In three months' time we shall decide who is worthy to be the new Arthur. Gabriel Digby, Arthur Watterly are you prepared to meet the challenges?"
Digby stood, and said in a strong, carrying voice, "I am."
Arthur stood. His voice
Similar Books
