The Green Knight & the Phantom Horsemen

Chapter 4

The sky was dark by the time they reached town. The gate had still not been repaired from the night before and no guards stood post. Bercilak led them straight through and inside the walls of the town. The streets were deserted and even when they reached the inn they saw no one about. They continued on, riding past the inn. Soon they smelled smoke, heard angry voices and saw an orange glow lighting the night sky.

Bercilak swallowed hard and urged his horse to a gallop. Twigg and Natalie galloped after him. Bercilak reined his horse to a halt when he reached the crowd of people. There were hundreds of them, possibly the entire town, standing in front of the Sheriff's once grand house which was now filled with flame. Bercilak dismounted as he heard Natalie scream in horror behind him. The knight ran to the house, but could not get close as the heat was too great.

Bercilak turned and saw a face he recognized from the inn the night before. "Is the Sheriff inside?" he demanded.

The man sneered at him. "He got what he deserved."

Bercilak shook his head. "And his wife? Where is she?" The man simply looked away and it was clear that she burned to death along with her husband. "Dear God!" Bercilak shouted.

"He cursed us!" a voice shouted.

"He had to die to save us all!" rang another.

Bercilak turned to see Natalie, a hand over her mouth, holding the baby with the other. He walked back to his horse and mounted it. He looked at her.

"I don't know what I'm going to do," Natalie said. "I cannot stay here."

Bercilak turned and glanced at the fire one last time. "You will return to Camelot with us," he said. "We can find you work there."

Natalie nodded. Bercilak turned his horse and rode north away from the fire followed by Twigg and Natalie carrying the baby. They rode out of the gates and then turned south toward Camelot, praying that the remainder of their journey home would be uneventful.