The Green Knight & the Phantom Horsemen

Chapter 2

The sun had long set and Twigg pulled his cloak close to him as there was a damp chill in the air. He squinted his eyes trying to see the path before them and then turned his face skyward to see a night dark as pitch. "There is no moon, nor a single star tonight," he complained to Bercilak. "We should have at least taken the elder's offer to stay the night."

Bercilak turned to look at him, barely able to make out his features in the darkness. "That village was as cold and dry as any I've ever visited," he said.

"Ah," said Twigg understanding. "There was no drink or whores."

"Precisely," Bercilak said. "If we can celebrate our heroic victory with neither drink nor the warm comfort of the fairer sex, well, why was it worth risking our necks to begin with?"

"You make a fair point, My Lord, but there is something to be said for a warm bed and a full stomach as well. A bed empty of a woman's presence is still more comfortable than the cold ground," Twigg complained. "Who knows when we will find another town or village?" As if on cue the clouds parted allowing the moon to cast some light to the earth and Bercilak smiled as the wall of a town came into view.

"There is your warm bed and full stomach Twigg!" the knight proclaimed. "And with any luck, the inn shall have a well stocked tavern."

"Yes, My Lord," Twigg smiled, happy to finally be nearing the end of this long, long day.

Bercilak and Twigg rode up to the gate of the town wall. The wall was made of tall timbers, perhaps twelve feet high, sharpened into points at the top and latched together with hemp rope. Such walls were common, especially for towns and villages this far from a lord's castle. Bandits, ogres, and other dark forces often preyed on people too far from the protection of soldiers.

"Hello!" Bercilak shouted into the darkness.

"Who goes there?" a voice returned.

"Tis I, Sir Bercilak de Hautdesert, of King Uther's court at Camelot. Better known to most as the Green Knight." Bercilak and Twigg heard discussion and then the snap of the latch before the gate swung open.

"Come in m'Lord," came a voice and Bercilak and Twigg rode forward through the gate and into the city. Twigg was relieved to see lights burning brightly in windows throughout the town. "Welcome, m'Lord." Two men quickly pushed the gate closed and dropped the long wooden plank back into place securing it.

"Is there an inn in town?" Bercilak asked.

"Yes, m'Lord," the man said, "straight down the road to your right."

"Thank you," Bercilak replied and he and Twigg rode their horses along the road.

"Certainly. We're very glad you came, m'Lord." Bercilak's eyes cut to Twigg at that last remark, but Twigg only shrugged.

Bercilak and Twigg rode until they reached the inn, where they dismounted and turned their horses over to a stable hand to be boarded for the night. Bercilak pushed the door to the inn open and stepped inside. Much to Bercilak's relief, he entered a tavern, but was surprised to see few men patronizing it. There were only two customers, huddled in a corner drinking from large metal cups and two men that appeared to be the hired muscle, armed with swords, looking formidable and eying him suspiciously.

The proprietor stood behind the bar wiping it with a filthy rag. "Evening stranger," he said with a smile which revealed several missing teeth.

Bercilak smiled and approached the bar, nodding politely to the guards. "My squire and I need a room for the night," Bercilak said.

"Squire, eh?" the man said as he looked at Twigg. "Are you a knight?" Bercilak nodded. "May I ask your name, sir?"

"Sir Bercilak de Hautdesert, of King Uther's court at Camelot," Bercilak said.