Noble and William raced toward the road. They had just burst through the edge of the forest and onto the highway when King Stephen and the royal guard of knights came galloping in a whirlwind of dust down the road.
“Father!” Prince William shouted. “Father!” He jumped up and down, waving his arms. The king and his men drew up sharply and King Stephen leapt from his horse, sweeping his little son up into his arms.
“William!” he cried. “I’ve found you! I was so frightened!” He clutched the child tightly to his chest.
William wriggled to get free of his father’s grasp. He gazed into the king’s face and with a puzzled look he asked, “Frightened? But why, Father? Didn’t you know that Noble would rescue me? Twice! He rescued me twice! First from the gypsies, and then from those other bad men.” King Stephen merely shook his head and once more bent over his child.
They suddenly realized that there were still screams coming from the forest. The king motioned for several of his men to ride in and investigate. Noble went with them, relieved to have turned the young prince over to his father.
Fly was still swooping down on the men, tearing at any flesh she saw. Noble softly called, “Fly! Come, Fly!” The peregrine falcon left the men to the king’s knights and flew to her master. “Good girl!” Noble praised her. The falcon let out one last shriek as if to say, “And don’t you forget it!” and then settled on Noble’s arm with her wings and tail spread wide.
Noble returned to the king and Prince William just in time to hear the boy explaining to his father what had happened at the fair. “Everyone was watching the bear, Father, and then the two men started fighting and everyone was watching them. Then a gypsy woman threw her cloak over my head and covered me up, and before I could yell, she put something over my mouth and dragged me away. There was another gypsy woman waiting for her and they threw me in a wagon and tied me up and took me back to the gypsy camp. I was very afraid, Father, but Noble came and he cut a hole in the tent and we sneaked away. But then those other bad men caught us again and they were going to take us back to the gypsies, but I helped Noble reach his knife and we cut the ropes again and got away. And just when the men were going to get us again, Fly came and she took care of them good!”
The little boy finally paused to take a breath and his father laughed. “You have had quite the adventure, then, young William, haven’t you? And thanks to Noble, and Fly, too, of course, all has ended well!” Both father and son seemed to have recovered from their fright, Noble saw. He breathed a prayer of thankfulness and for the first time in hours he felt a heavy weight lift off his heart.
King Stephen turned to his men and Noble saw his expression harden and a steely look come into his eyes. “Sir Edward, you and six of your men will return with us to the castle and bring these two scoundrels with you. They shall sit in the dungeon for a time, while I decide what to do with them.” The Mullins brothers were being dragged from the forest, torn and bleeding from Fly’s attack.
The king then turned to Sir Robert. “I want you, Sir Robert, and your men to find the gypsy camp and capture the men and women involved in snatching my son. Then drive the rest of the gypsies away. They are no longer welcome in my kingdom.”
“Come, William,” he said more gently as he turned to his young son. “We must get you home quickly, for your mother is frantic with worry about you! Noble, you shall come with us and spend the night at the castle with us. I want to be sure you are well, before I send you back to the stables.”
“I am well, Sire,” Noble replied. “But may I ask a question of you? How came you to have Fly with you? She does not usually go to any man but me.”
The king laughed. “Jamie was the one who realized you had gone after William, Noble. When he got word to me, I went to the mews and simply told Fly that we had to find you and the prince and she came with me quite willingly. Perhaps I have never told you, Noble, but I was quite the falconer myself when I was your age!”
The king spurred his horse, and started down the road with Prince William in front of him in the saddle. Noble sat before a knight, holding Fly’s perch. He was tired, but not too tired to be excited at riding with the king’s men once more. It was not long, though, before the jogging motion of the horse had him nodding off to sleep. The men were quiet as the two boys slept. The clouds had disappeared from the night sky at last, and the full moon now peacefully lit their way back to the castle.
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CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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Sir Noble Heart
Noble slept well that night in the king’s castle. He was shown to a guest room, and a bath was prepared for him. He was tired after the stressful day and fell asleep the moment his head hit the soft pillow, unable to even appreciate the smooth, silky sheets or the comfort of the finest mattress he had ever slept upon.
A servant woke him the next morning. Noble took one look out the window and realized the sun was quite high in the sky. “I’m late!” he exclaimed and reached for his clothes. He hoped the master of the mews would not be angry at him.
The servant laughed. “Nay, you are not late, lad,” she said. “The king and queen desire you to breakfast with them this morning. As soon as you are ready, Rosie will show you to the breakfast room.”
When he opened the door to his room a few minutes later he found Rosie waiting in the hall for him. “What happened yesterday?” she whispered as they hurried to the breakfast room. They had become good friends in the months Noble had been at the castle. “You disappeared from the fair so suddenly. Jamie thought you must have gone after the prince.”
There was no time for a long explanation, for suddenly they were there. “Yes, I found him,” Noble whispered quickly. Rosie announced his presence and then left.
“Good morning, Noble!” King Stephen greeted him. The queen rose from her place at the table and came over to him. She took his hands in hers and kissed him on the forehead. “How, how can I ever thank you for saving my child, Noble? What you did was so brave, and so smart! There simply are no words to tell you how grateful I am to you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”
Prince William jumped up and ran over to him. “Come sit by me, Noble!” he said, pulling his older friend by the hand.
Noble ate the best breakfast he had ever had with the royal family. All the while he ate, the little prince chattered on about his adventures of the day before and how Noble had been the hero—and Fly, too, of course! “I want a peregrine falcon just like Fly someday, Father!” he said.
“Yes, and you shall have one—someday. But for now we must speak of what reward we will give Noble for rescuing you. Don’t you think that is a good idea, William?” his father asked.
“Oh, yes, indeed! He deserves a very big reward, Father! Maybe all the treasure in the whole kingdom?”
Noble laughed and spoke up quickly, “Nay, Your Highness. I desire no reward at all. What I did was what any man would do, with God’s help, if he had been in my place. And it was done for love of my king and his son, not for reward. Please, Sire, I do not wish for a reward. What you have done for me in the past months far exceeds any dreams I could have had for my future. Let us consider that reward already, if you please, Sire.”
The queen spoke. “We shall think on this, Noble. But at the very least, we are holding a banquet tonight on your behalf. You shall be the guest of honor, for we wish for all to know what a great and wonderful thing you have done for us and for the kingdom.” There was nothing more that Noble could say. He bowed to the queen, and then to the king.
“Go to the mews now, Noble,” the king said kindly. “Check on Fly and make sure she was not injured by those villains last night. You have nothing more to fear from the Mullins brothers, Noble. They shall spend the rest of their miserable lives in the dungeons for their plot against my son and their king. We shall send for you later this afternoon to prepare for the banquet. Enjoy this day, Noble”
He was dismissed. Noble hurried to
the mews and found the master himself checking Fly over for injuries. “How is she?” Noble asked anxiously.
“Ah, she is fine, just fine!” the master said. “She gave those scoundrels far worse than what she got. They were so busy trying to protect their own skin that they had no thought of harming her.” The master handed the bird to Noble so that he could see for himself.
“So you are a hero, I hear!” the master said. “Good work, Noble! You make me proud! And how proud of you your grandfather would be if he were here with us now!”
“Nay, I am no hero,” Noble said humbly. “But I would wish always to make my grandfather proud, and my Heavenly Father, as well, no matter what I do—large or small.”
“You are a good lad, Noble. Now I wish you to take Fly and go out to the fields today. The two of you deserve to have an easy day—but if you should happen to bring back a few rabbits or pigeons for Cook, that would be a good thing, too! Now run along, but don’t be late coming back. I hear the queen has plans for you later!”
The day in the sunshine and green fields felt wonderful, and boy and bird felt free and content in their time alone together. Fly was in fine form, and they ended up with a bountiful supply of meat to take back to the cook. He did not allow himself to think about the dangers of the night before, but instead told Fly all about the wonders of the fair and what a splendid time he had had there with his friends.
A servant was waiting for him at the mews when they returned at last. Noble put Fly back in her pen and followed the servant to the room he had slept in the night before. A new suit of clothes was lying on the bed for him and another bath had been prepared. Noble looked in dismay at the bath. Two baths in two days! He would never have thought of such a thing!
Finally he was ready. He stared at himself in the looking glass. The new clothes made him look like someone else—older and almost, well noble. He felt the softness of the cloth on his arm. Never had he ever had such clothes as these!
There was a knock at the door, and once again he found Rosie there, ready to guide him to the banquet hall. “You look wonderful, Noble!” she said shyly when she saw him.
The banquet hall was overflowing with people. All the great lords and ladies of the kingdom had been invited, as well as the royal knights. Most of the dignitaries from other kingdoms who had come for the tournament were there as well. Noble was led to the dais where the king’s table was and he found a surprise!
“Granny!” he gasped. His grandmother was sitting at the queen’s side in a seat of honor.
She smiled and rose to kiss him. “I am so proud of you, Noble! Your mother and father would be, also, and Grandfather, as well, of course.” Noble hugged her and kissed her cheek. He turned to the king then, and discovered another surprise.
Fly was on a perch behind the royal table. The master of the mews was nearby, caring for her and offering her little tidbits of meat. She was a guest of honor, as well.
“Noble, come over here!” Prince William called. “You are to sit here, between my father and me!” Noble took his seat next to King Stephen. He felt a bit awkward and shy, being in such a high position, but William soon put him at ease with his laughter and happy chatter.
The king welcomed everyone to the banquet, and a prayer of thanksgiving was offered to the Lord for the safe return of the prince, and for the food, too, of course. Servants brought in dishes and platters and bowls of the very finest the Cook and her helpers could prepare. Noble discovered to his surprise that he was drinking from a golden goblet—one of the king’s very own! All the while they ate, entertainment was being performed for their enjoyment by musicians and dancers, jesters and jugglers. They ate and drank until they could eat no more.
Finally the king rose once more. “We are here tonight to rejoice at the safe return of my son, and to recognize the one who is responsible for that brave and daring deed. Several months ago I brought a young falconer and his bird to the castle in repayment, I believed, for the good service of an old friend and loyal subject, Henry Talbot. Never have I made a wiser decision. Noble Talbot is the grandson of my old friend, and if it were not for him, perhaps we would never have found our child, Prince William, again.” The king paused and cleared his throat. The queen wiped a tear from her eye.
“Noble is his name, and indeed, he was well-named, for noble is his character. He was lowly-born, but he is great-hearted and high-minded. He is wise and honorable beyond his years, and generous and compassionate, as well. Although he will deny it, he is heroic and courageous. And he is honest and loyal—altogether an extraordinary, excellent young man whom I am proud to call my friend, just as his grandfather once was.”
King Stephen turned to Noble. “Noble, please rise.” Noble stood to his feet. His knees were knocking and he felt that his face must be red for it felt warm with all the praise that the king had bestowed upon him.
“Noble, this morning you told me that what I have done for you in the past few months has exceeded any dreams you may have had for your future,” the king said. “I happen to know that that is untrue for I know your dreams, Noble. I have heard you confide them to a little boy. I have heard you say that if you could have your true dream, it would be to be a royal knight. You felt it was too lofty a dream for a boy such as yourself.”
The king paused once more. “You have spent time in the fields with my knights, training for the sport of it, or so you thought. Sir Robert tells me, however, that you are as skilled and brave and worthy as any young knight has ever been.” A loud cheer rose from the knights in the hall. Noble blushed once more.
“You have said you will take no reward, Noble, for your actions of yesterday,” the king continued. “Well then, I shall ask something of you, instead. Kneel before me, Noble.”
Noble’s legs felt shaky as he knelt before the king. The king reached for his sword and gently touched each of Noble’s shoulders and his head with its blade. “I ask faithful service of you to your king and kingdom. I do dub thee, Sir Noble Heart, a royal knight of the kingdom. Rise, Sir Noble.” Noble rose and faced the king. His heart was beating wildly in his chest.
“I have changed your name, Sir Noble, for you do indeed have a noble heart. You are young for a knight, but as our Father Himself has said in His Word, ‘Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example…’ Let all here tonight know, Sir Noble is a true knight of the kingdom, one of my true men. If any despise him for his birth, or for his youth, they shall answer to me! And so tonight, I present to you Sir Noble Heart, a true Knight of the King’s Guard!”
The crowd broke into cheers and applause for the youngest knight of the kingdom. Fly spread her wings and let out an ear-piercing cry. Noble looked at his granny and smiled as she wiped tears from her eyes.
Prince William grabbed his hand and said, “You see, I said you were noble, didn’t I? Now, do you suppose we could go out hunting with Fly tomorrow, Sir Noble?”
The End
Flight of the Falcon (Noble Heart Book 1) Page 7
