Knight for a Day Read Free Page B

dust.”
    “I see it!” Angus said.
    The dust cloud grew larger. Soon Wiglaf made out the shape of a knight on a steed. Two men rode behind him in a wagon.
    “It’s him,” Erica breathed. “Him!”
    Wiglaf’s heart thumped with excitement as Sir Lancelot galloped into view. The visor on the knight’s helmet was down. He wore armored gloves on his hands. No part of him could be seen. Yet inside that armor, Wiglaf knew, was Sir Lancelot of the Lake.
    Sir Lancelot galloped up to the waiting group. He reigned in his steed and hopped off. He pushed up his visor. And Wiglaf found himself staring into the sky-blue eyes of the world’s most perfect knight.
    “Welcome!” Mordred boomed. “I am Mordred the Marvelous. I am headmaster of this fine academy for boys who dream of becoming dragon slayers, like yourself.”
    Mordred turned to his students. “Let’s give Sir Lancelot a DSA welcome, boys!” he cried. With that, the students began to shout the cheer that Erica had made up:
    Give a holler! Give a cheer!
Lancelot of the Lake is here!
He’s the knight above all others.
He is perfect, kind to mothers.
He never swears or drinks or gambles.
He’s polite to friars and damsels.
He slays dragons, if they’re evil.
He makes us proud to be medieval!
    Boys from Dragon Stabbers’ Prep,
They have fight and they have pep.
Boys from Knights “R” Us have spirit,
When they cheer, you sure can hear it.
But DSA-what have we got?
We have got Sir Lancelot!
    Everyone whistled and clapped.
    “Thank you,” Sir Lancelot said. “Let me present my men. Squire Knuckle.”
    A yellow-haired man behind Sir Lancelot cracked his knuckles.
    “And Squire Squint.” Sir Lancelot nodded toward a man with long, greasy, dark hair. He wore a patch over his left eye.
    Wiglaf had never seen a squire before. But neither Knuckle nor Squint fit his idea of what a squire should look like. Squire Knuckle did not seem entirely clean. Squire Squint’s hair had surely never known a comb. The two attendants reminded Wiglaf of men he had seen somewhere before. But where? He wondered if Sir Lancelot had hired these shabby squires as some sort of good deed. Yes, he decided. That must be it.
    “And now,” said Sir Lancelot, “the contest winner must wish to meet me.”
    Mordred pushed Wiglaf forward.
    “I won, sir. Wiglaf of Pinwick,” Wiglaf managed. He bowed.
    “Rise, Wiglaf of Pinwick!” the knight said.
    Wiglaf straightened up.
    “How lucky you must feel, boy,” Sir Lancelot went on, “winning me for a day.”
    “Lucky is right,” Erica muttered.
    The knight turned to address the group. “How many of you boys have ordered items from my catalog?” he asked.
    Erica’s hand shot up. Sir Lancelot smiled. “Very nice,” he said. “You shall get a ten-percent discount at the Sir Lancelot Fair this afternoon.”
    “Oh, thank you, sir!” Erica exclaimed.
    “The rest of you boys will have a chance to buy Lancelot collectibles, too,” he added. He turned to Knuckle. “Tell the boys what we’ve brought for the Sir Lancelot Fair, Squire.”
    “Tooooday,” Squire Knuckle began, “we have a cartful of brand-new items! You can buy exact copies of Sir Lancelot’s boyhood slingshot. He used it to knock out his first dragon, Snaggletooth. It comes in lead, copper, and silver. Or, for those of you with great big allowances...” Squire Knuckle grinned, “...it also comes in gold!”
    “Oh!” Mordred let out a little squeal.
    Again, the boys yelled and clapped.
    Wiglaf clapped along with them, even though he had no allowance at all.
    “And now, sir knight,” said Mordred, “let us be off to lunch. I know you shall be pleased with what Chef Frypot has created for you!”
    “Chef Frypot?” said Angus as they walked to the DSA dining hall. “Oh, puh-lease!”
    “Greetings, Sir Lancelot!” said Frypot. He bowed as the great knight entered the dining hall. For once, the cook had on a clean apron.
    Frypot led Sir Lancelot, the