by Matt Phelan
The beasts flapped in vain, but they could only slow the descent. Down, down, down they glided.
As they neared the ground, Erec called out, “One. Two. Three!”
The knights let go of the vine and crashed safely into the dirt.
The Black Knight rolled and leaped up, sword held high. She sliced through the vine and the armor and sack slid off.
The furious creatures, free at last, rose swiftly. They screeched at their enemies but did not return.
The group all rose to their feet, dusting themselves off.
“Quick thinking, squire,” said Erec. “I had frankly forgotten about an exit strategy.”
“If there’s one thing a squire knows, my lord,” said Mel, “it’s that armor and weaponry are rather heavy.”
Hector and Magdalena patted Mel on the back and shoulder.
Bors nodded but said not a word.
Chapter Twelve
Court of the Rex
The company traveled on. During a rest Hector paged through Merlin’s book and made an important discovery about who, or what, the Tyrannosaurus rex actually was. He took the opportunity to educate the others. They all examined Merlin’s book.
“Crikey, he’s a big fellow,” said Erec. “Clearly the king.”
“Yes, it would appear to be the most terrible of the lizards.”
“Let’s go meet him then,” said Bors, gathering up his sword and shield.
They climbed steadily up an incline. The trees were smaller and more bare. The air was thick. The noises were fewer.
The Black Knight stopped.
“I think we are getting close,” she said.
The others joined her and saw what had stopped her in her tracks.
The skeleton of a three-horned beast lay before them. Its bones were picked clean.
“There’s another,” said Bors, pointing down the trail to the remains of one of the long-necked creatures. “It’s massive. And apparently no match for the king.”
Farther along were several more skeletons, some intact, some torn to pieces. The path was strewn with carnage.
Hector gulped.
“Steady on,” said Erec.
They moved slowly past the hulking skeletons and carcasses. Insects buzzed, and small scavenger lizards rustled past occasionally. Otherwise all was silent.
The bone trail led to a wide, dusty valley. Rock walls climbed up the western edge, and canyons and hills lay to the north. To the east was a tangled mass of dead gnarled trees and dry brush. The entire place felt like death. Nothing could thrive here.
Nothing except the king.
The knights entered the arena cautiously.
Mel pointed and spoke.
“There, on top of that rock hill. That’s our cave.”
It was indeed the cave. Their trek had brought them back to where they had started. But the hill leading to the cave was on the far side of the valley.
Rooooooaaaaaarrrrrr!
From the shadows of the valley an enormous creature emerged and blocked the path to the cave. Its powerful muscles rippled with each step. Its tail swished slowly in the air. Sharp teeth, too long to be contained, protruded from its mouth. Despite its size, it moved fast and carried itself with poise and confidence.
“Right,” said Bors. “Not so bad.”
Rocks crumbled underfoot. Two more tyrannosaurs joined the first. Each was bigger than the last. Finally the largest and most fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex of all took its place at the lead.
Hector’s mouth hung open slightly.
“Oh. My. Lancelot.”
“Looks like we have the entire royal family to deal with,” said Erec.
“One for each,” said Bors.
“No,” said Erec. “We fight together. Mel, go to the side there in the brush. Make your way toward the cave once the battle begins. Stay low and stay quiet.”
“Sir, I am not leaving,” said Mel.
Erec turned to face her.
“We fight together. You said so yourself.” Mel stood her ground.
“Very well. Now would be a good time for you to come up with another exit strategy. Stay alive at least until you think of something,” said Erec with a grin.
The tyrannosaurs sniffed the air, snorted, and twitched their mighty tails.
The knights turned to face the terrible lizards. They drew their swords.
“Fellow knights,” said Erec, “I would like to make a confession. In truth, I did not slay forty dragons. Furthermore, I have never in my entire life even seen a dragon.”
There was silence.
“Neither have I,” stated Bors.
“Nor I,” said Hector.
“Not one,” said Magdalena.
“But here, in this strange land, we have encountered the fiercest, most terrible creatures imaginable,” Erec continued. “And time and again we, valiant knights, fought bravely and well. We have matched them in strength and courage, and we have bested them in strategy.” He nodded to Mel.
Mel nodded back.
“I say this not as a boast. It is the truth. Our deeds have no need for embellishment or exaggeration.” Erec paused. “I have no illusions about what we now face. These monsters may very well be the end of us. They are certainly worthy opponents.”
The largest T-rex took a step toward the knights.
“But we are Knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. This is a glorious day, and I cannot imagine being among a better band of heroes.”
Shields raised, swords at the ready, the four knights strode toward the terrible lizards.
The tyrannosaurs attacked in a flash. The shields were no match for the force of the initial impact, and the knights were knocked back.
Erec swung at the belly of one beast. His sword glanced off the thick hide but did not pierce it.
No one’s swords could penetrate the terrible lizards’ armor. Bors, mace in one hand, sword in the other, attacked in a fierce combination of blows and stabs.
But the teeth and jaws were the real danger. The lizards were fast and furious, and their chomps brutal and nonstop.
Erec was the first to find himself lifted several feet off the ground. His armor kept the teeth from puncturing his vital organs, but the pressure of the monster’s bite was tremendous. He whacked the terrible lizard on the snout. And then he whacked again. And again.
Sir Hector dodged the stomping legs of another tyrannosaur, pivoted, and brought his sword down on the tail of Erec’s captor. The monster spun and loosened its grip enough for Erec to slip out and grab hold of its neck.
Its mercifully tiny arms reached and clawed, but to no avail. Erec kicked his leg against the beast’s chest and flipped up onto its back. He gouged its eyes from behind.
Hector and Bors stood back-to-back, facing off against two opponents. The flurry of swords kept the beasts at bay but not deterred. They attacked with relentless energy.
When Erec was finally tossed from the bucking tyrannosaur, he landed harshly on the ground and rolled away just in time to avoid being squashed underfoot.
The Black Knight, sword in hand, fought back the largest of the tyrannosaurs. She saw Erec, badly winded with a T-rex ready to pounce on him. Erec struggled to his feet. His opponent snorted and slowly opened its jaws, saliva dripping to the ground.
Magdalena turned back to the gigantic T-rex and shoved a sword into its mouth, lodging the weapon in its jaws. As the monster struggled, she leaped onto its tremendous haunch and hoisted herself onto its back. She took a deep breath. And then, with amazing dexterity, she ran straight down the T-rex’s spine, out onto the tail, and leaped off the monster just as the other T-rex launched itself at Erec.
The Black Knight landed between Erec and the beast. In a flash she lifted a discarded shield and blocked the creature. Erec got to his feet and threw a mace to the Black Knight. Magdalena caught it and dealt the T-rex a mighty blow.
Mel watched in horror from the trees. The knights fought bravely—braver than any before surely—bu
t the odds were against them. The tyrannosaurs did not stop. They would not stop.
She pulled the sack of extra weapons toward her. She might need to supply new weapons at a moment’s notice—
Notice. Notice!
Her hand was gripping the bit of burned sack that had caught fire in the crevice by the lake. Fire. Mel dug into her pouch for her flint and striking stone. After several frantic moments a spark caught a dead tree branch. She blew the flame, and it rose and licked its way up the wood.
Mel waved the branch like a torch. Running along the edge of the arena, she spread the blaze. It wound through the dry brush to the hill where the cave was located.
“Sir Knights!” she yelled.
Those who could looked up. Unfortunately so did one of the terrible lizards. It roared in her direction. Then it charged. But Sir Bors launched himself into the air and brought his sword down on the monster’s foot. It snarled and turned, teeth bared. Bors bared his own teeth and roared back. He swung one powerful fist in a precisely placed uppercut. The punch connected.
The terrible lizard’s eyes crossed; it wobbled on its injured foot, then toppled over with a tremendous THUD.
Bors snorted and turned, fists ready.
“Go!” he yelled at Mel.
She ran, spreading the fire, which burned higher and higher.
Hector and Erec swung their swords at their foes, knocking them back with each powerful blow. Soon Hector turned and ran toward the wall of flame. He bolted through a small opening in the blaze to join Mel. Erec came next, crashing through the fire. He stopped, dropped, and rolled on the ground to extinguish some stray flames.
Eventually Bors leaped through the fire to join the others at the foot of the hill. Three of the tyrannosaurs approached the line slowly, the inferno confusing and angering them. They roared. They chomped the fire, then recoiled in pain. The barrier was working.
“Where is the Black Knight?” said Mel, throwing her torch into the blaze.
The knights peered through the flames and smoke.
“There!” shouted Bors.
The Black Knight faced off with the tyrant king. They slowly circled each other. The king swished its tail and snarled. It snapped at her. She jumped away, landed, then attacked, bringing down her mace. The handle broke in two. Magdalena tossed it aside. There were no other weapons within reach. She ran for the fire line.
“Quickly!” called Erec.
The Black Knight stumbled and fell. The king was on her in an instant, snapping her up in its jaws, her armor creaking and groaning. She pushed at its upper jaw, but the powerful beast clamped down even harder.
That was when she got mad.
The Black Knight grabbed a single tooth and pulled and pulled and tore it right out of the king’s gum. It opened its mouth in a roar of pain. The Black Knight took hold of the king’s tongue, yanked it out, and swung to the ground.
Perhaps the king of the terrible lizards had never felt such a sensation. For a moment it didn’t appear to know what to do, which was enough time for the Black Knight to race for the fire line again. She jumped straight through and landed safely on the other side.
The king stuck its enormous head through the flames, then pulled back with a roar. The terrible lizards panicked. Smoke filled the clearing. As long as the fire around them raged, they were trapped.
“Ha-ha!” Erec chortled. “I’ll bet they wish they were dragons now, eh?”
Bors slapped Erec heartily on the back.
“Good line, Sir Erec! Very witty indeed!”
And with that the company made a hasty climb up the hill to the cave.
Chapter Thirteen
The End of the Adventure
With the fire keeping the Tyrannosaurus rex family at bay far below, the knights and Mel entered the cave and strode down the passageway to the book chamber.
“Hear us, Merlin!” said Erec in his most booming voice. “We have bested the tyrant king of the terrible lizards and herewith request our reward. Return us to England!”
A strong wind blew through the dark cave, then stopped suddenly.
Erec strode back to the entrance. He looked out.
“Ah, vermin! Didn’t work.”
A tremendous roar from somewhere below confirmed this to the rest of the company.
“Perhaps Merlin’s book could help,” Mel suggested.
Hector placed the book on the rock at the center of the chamber. He paged to the end.
“Oh, there appears to be a note. I shall read it aloud for you.”
Hector cleared his throat. And then cleared his throat again.
“Oh, just read it already, Hector,” said Bors.
Dear Knights,
I have detailed the aspects of the Terrible Lizards in these pages for your quiet perusal. However, it is likely you have ignored this volume entirely and ventured out to see for yourselves. I hope that worked out for you. And if there are any of you left and you still have heads, let alone eyes to read these words, I do hope you will reflect on your experience.
Terrible and magnificent creatures have indeed walked this earth. Perhaps they still do or will again one day. I hope that you now have a proper amount of respect for these fierce beasts and that this knowledge may help curb your more boastful assertions of knightly bravery and exploits.
And now my enchanted owl is tired and requests that I dictate no more for him to inscribe. Fare-thee-well or farewell, Brave Knights (whichever is the case).
Best,
Merlin
The knights looked at one another.
“Has this”—Erec began slowly and evenly—“has this entire adventure just been one of Merlin’s Teachable Moments?”
“Yes, I believe so,” said Hector. “Furthermore, it appears that we could have simply sat here and read the book.”
There was a long silence.
“Well, where would the fun be in that?” said Magdalena.
More silence.
Until a chuckle came from Bors. Soon Erec joined in. And Hector. And Mel. Magdalena smiled a rare smile, and then, even more extraordinary, she laughed.
The whole cave echoed with laughter.
And then four torches blazed.
The knights walked to the entrance and looked out.
“Merry ol’ England,” said Erec.
Indeed it was. There were fine trim oaks. The woods were orderly and proper. A squirrel hurried by. It wasn’t even a large squirrel.
The knights descended the hill. They found their horses just as they had left them, grazing peacefully in the shade. The knights went to their steeds.
“One moment,” said Bors, placing a hand gently on Mel’s shoulder.
“Mel,” he said. It was the first time he had ever used her name. “You have acted with cunning and bravery. Your contribution to this quest is undeniable.”
Mel glowed. Warmth radiated through her. She stood a little taller.
“But—”
It was one small word. Yet her face looked as though Sir Bors had thrust a sword through her.
“I am afraid that I cannot have a girl as a squire. It just . . . it just isn’t done.”
He held out his hand. Mel knew what it meant, knew there was no argument to be made.
She handed Bors the sack of weapons that she had so dutifully carried.
He took it and secured it to the weapons horse. Then he mounted his own horse and set off, pulling the reins of the weapons horse behind him.
Erec and Hector each gazed at Mel silently, but then followed Bors on the path to Camelot.
Mel stood there alone. Small. Lost.
Until a shadow fell over her. She turned.
The Black Knight was beside her, high on her midnight steed.
“Come with me, if you like. Be whoever you wish to be.” She lowered a hand. “A good squire is a good squire.”
Mel smiled. She reached up, and the Black Knight easily lifted her onto the back of the horse.
They rode on without
another word.
That evening the four knights returned to Camelot and the court of King Arthur.
They waited until all were assembled in the great hall. Especially Merlin. This entrance had to count.
The massive oak doors opened with a bit of tasteful fanfare. The Knights of the Round Table turned in unison.
Sir Erec, Sir Bors, Sir Hector, and the Black Knight strode in, still wearing their battle-scarred armor.
A hush fell over the hall.
Merlin sat up straight, a small inscrutable smile under his long beard.
“Approach,” said Arthur.
Sir Erec strode before the king and queen and bowed.
“Sire, we have returned from battling the terrible lizards. They were indeed fearsome, more so than any dragon in existence, but”—Erec looked back at his fellow knights—“together we bested them all.”
“Step forward, all of you,” said Arthur.
Hector and Bors approached and bowed. The Black Knight remained in the shadows, helmet and visor on as usual.
Arthur waited.
“All of you, I said.” Arthur’s voice was quiet, but that meant that he was really, really serious.
The Black Knight came forward. And for the first time in Camelot she removed her helmet. Magdalena bowed.
There were gasps. A few forks dropped out of the hands of stunned knights. Wine was spit out in surprise.
Arthur cleared his throat. Guinevere tilted her head slightly. Merlin merely nibbled on some lettuce. He didn’t seem particularly surprised.
Erec broke the silence.
“Your Majesty, I know this is highly . . . irregular. But I must tell you and all here at court that before you stands the bravest and mightiest knight I have ever known.
“Sorry, Lancelot,” Erec added quickly.
Lancelot waved it off. Little things didn’t bother him.
“Your name?” asked Arthur.
