But Sir Galahad's Dead

But, what I would like to know is why someone who has entrapped so many good knights in the past was suddenly prepared to risk so much for one of us?"

We then both glanced at the slight figure standing apart from the rest. "I will try to find out," I said. "Assuming, that she will tell me." At my words, the other knights fell away to give us a modicum of privacy.

"Why did you abandon me, madam?" I asked. "And why did you come back? I believe that I am entitled to some explanation."

"When the Saxons appeared," she replied, "I was afraid that they would follow you through the gate before I could shut it in time. So, I closed it once I was the other side."

She raised her hand to stop my obvious question. "Do you think that I would throw you to the wolves just to save my own skin? Fie, Sir Perceval, such little faith in the sister of your king!"

At her words, I felt rather foolish. How could a person of her lineage, sorceress though she was, abandon a comrade in arms any more than a Knight such as myself could? I drooped my head in the apology that I was still too proud to speak,

"Once the gate was shut," she continued, "I went to Camelot and assembled a few valiant knights for your rescue. Timing our arrival just right was a little tricky, but nothing that I couldn’t handle. After all, if I had left a certain paladin to die how would I collect my payment for services rendered?" Absolutely true, but also a complete and utter falsehood. But, then who am I to gainsay a one of the fairer sex?

So not to expose her discomfiture, I quickly filled the gap. "Well, thank you for the rescue, my lady," The last two words seemed to slip out by accident. Or had they? "And thank you and not just for the Grail. Now what’s the task that you require me to fulfil?"

"Who said anything about immediate payment?" she said.

At that, I raised my eyebrows. When we had made our pact I had naturally that she had had something in mind.

"When I need your services, Sir Perceval," she continued, "I will call you. Maybe next week, maybe not for many years. Still, sooner or later, I will have need of a paladin of your mettle. Until then, adieu, sir gallant."

"And adieu to you, my lady." And there was no doubt that, I meant to say those words this time. Then, I mounted my horse and headed for Camelot.