Great-Heart carefully wiped the giant’s blood from his sword with a piece of wool cloth tucked into his belt. He would clean it thoroughly when he returned to the Interpreter’s House. It was a fine Jerusalem blade, and it deserved his full care, but for now this would have to do.
Christiana and Mercy, the women entrusted to his care, trembled. Christiana’s sons were pale. Matthew was doing his best to be brave, but Samuel and Joseph made no attempt to hide their distress. A glimmer of excitement peeked through James’s fear. Not long before, he had been crying. The lad couldn’t be more than eight or nine years old. Perhaps ten.
“Please, Mr. Great-Heart, can you teach me how to use this?” He held up a dagger with an ivory-inlaid handle he’d found halfway up the Hill of Difficulty. “Someday I want to slay giants like you!”
Great-Heart said nothing. He merely glanced toward Christiana. She nodded.
“I must return to my Lord tonight,” he said. “But—”
“Who is there?” Watchful’s voice rang out from the gate of Palace Beautiful.
“It is I,” called Great-Heart. The gate swung open wide. He’d been here many times before, and Watchful recognized his voice.
“How now, Mr. Great-Heart? You are here later than usual.”
“I’ve brought pilgrims here by my Lord’s command for them to lodge. I would have been here earlier had I not been delayed by Giant Grim.”
“I heard the commotion,” Watchful replied. “You look none the worse for wear.” He looked Great-Heart over thoughtfully.
“It was a long and tedious affair,” said Great-Heart, “but I cut off his arm, and then his head.” Great-Heart smiled wryly. “And I’ve brought the pilgrims here safely.”
“It’s getting late. Won’t you come in and stay till morning?”
“No, I will return to my Lord…” Great-Heart’s brow furrowed. He could have sworn he had already said that. Well, he had—but that wasn’t it.
“Oh, sir!” exclaimed Christiana. “I don’t know what we would have done without you. What would have happened if you hadn’t been there to fight for us?”
Mercy joined in. “I wish you could stay with us until the journey’s end.”
“Please, sir,” said James.
Watchful leaned in and lowered his voice. “Lord Greycloak and Lady Evadne are here.”
“Very well.” He turned to James, who had been eavesdropping. “Come along, lad. A few moves won’t hurt.” He shrugged. “It won’t be the first time I’ve walked through the night.”
Ahead, Great-Heart glimpsed Perry and Eva. Eva glowed in her white and silver dress with a radiance rivaled only by Christiana and Mercy together. James gasped.
“Is she…” James’s eyes widened. He stepped forward, strode up to Eva, and knelt on one knee.
“I pledge fealty to my Lady, to be thy knight until my Lady releases me, or death.” He laid his dagger at her feet.
Eva gave a brief start as her gaze fell on the dagger. She studied the boy for a long moment, then her composure returned. She smiled sweetly. “What is your name, brave knight?”
“James, son of Christiana, my Lady.”
She withdrew the matching dagger from her sleeve and tapped it lightly against his shoulder. “I accept your service. I dub thee Sir James the Brave.”
James scooped up the dagger, leaped to his feet, and dashed toward the Palace.
“Mama! Mama!” he called. “You’ll never guess…”
Perry broke into a deep-chested laugh. Eva giggled, blushing.
“You’re a good sport, my Lady,” said Great-Heart.
“Oh, stop it!” Eva exclaimed.
Great-Heart’s hard face softened. He gazed into the distance.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Eva said. “I need your help. We need your help.”
“I must return—” This was the third time he had said it. A very strange feeling settled over him. “But tarry here a day or two. If my Lord wills, I will return. I will teach you what I can, but my journey lies with Sir James and his family.”
A grin lit up his face. Then he bowed slightly and turned away.
