The Adventures of Sir Givret the Short by Gerald Morris Page A

"It must have been hard to volunteer to stay behind."
    Givret shrugged. "Everyone thinks I'm a coward anyway."
    "I do not," the queen replied. "But I cannot help wondering: Why
did
you advise against this hunt?"
    Before Givret could reply, though, a strange knight in full armor rode out of the woods, followed by a lady on a gray mare. Givret wore no armor, but he had promised to protect Queen Guinevere, so he moved his own horse between the knight and the queen. "Good day, Sir Knight," he said politely.
    [[graphic]]
    "Who are all these blundering fools riding through the forest, kicking up mud?" the strange knight demanded. "They nearly spattered my lady, the most beautiful lady in the world!"
    "They meant no harm," Givret replied soothingly "That was a hunting party from King Arthurs court."
    "A hunting party that large? Ridiculous! My lady, who is the most beautiful lady in the world, scoffs at the very idea."
    Givret glanced at the most beautiful lady in the world. She was picking a bit of grit from under her thumbnail and paying no attention. "Er, if you say so, Sir Knight," Givret said.
    "Why would so many go hunting at once?" the knight continued.
    "You see, they're after a magical white stag," Givret explained.
    "Magical? What do you mean?"
    "It is said that whoever catches the stag earns the right to—" Givret broke off.
    "Well? Right to do what?"
    Givret shrugged. "The right to kiss the most beautiful lady in the world," he said.
    "That they shall not!" roared the knight. "For
my
lady is the most beautiful lady in the world, and no one shall kiss her but I—Sir Yoder, son of Nut!"
    "That's your name?" Givret asked. "Sir Yoder, son of ... of..."
    "Son of Nut, yes."
    "I see. That would make me a bit testy, too," Givret commented.
    Sir Yoder ignored him. "No other lady is so beautiful as my lady! Compared to her, even that lady beside you is a warty hag!
    Sir Yoder placed his hand on his sword, as if expecting Givret to react angrily, but Givret only replied, "If that is so, Sir Yoder, then you must capture the white stag yourself. You should join the hunt at once!"
    Sir Yoder drew a sharp breath. "Why, you're right!"
    "And I will help you," Givret continued. "For I happen to know that Arthur's knights are chasing the wrong stag! The
real
magical stag is in ... in Scotland!"
    Sir Yoder blinked. "Scotland? But that's days and days from here!"
    "You'd better hurry, then," Givret said urgently, "before someone else catches the stag and earns the right to kiss—"
    "You're right again!" shouted Sir Yoder. "Come, my lady! To Scotland!" And off they rode.
    Queen Guinevere began to giggle. "Thank you, Givret, for getting rid of our rude friend. But did you have to send him so far?"
    "Nothing wrong with Scotland," Givret replied. "Besides, it serves him right; he insulted you."
    Now a new voice broke in. "What was that? Someone insulted the queen?"
    It was Sir Erec, the prince of East Wales, who was just emerging from the woods. 'What are you doing back here, Erec?" asked the queen.
    "I got separated from the others, then couldn't find my way back," Erec explained. "Odd thing, but trees all look alike. Ever noticed that? How anyone finds his way in a forest—but never mind that! Answer me! Did someone really insult the queen?"
    "Yes," Queen Guinevere replied, "a wandering knight named Sir Yoder called me a warty hag."
    "Sir Yoder, son of Nut," added Givret helpfully.
    "And what did you do, Givret? Did you face him in single combat?"
    Givret shook his head. "The thing is, Erec, this son of Nut chap was wearing armor, and I'm not. So I sent him to Scotland instead."
    "You didn't fight him?" exclaimed Sir Erec in dismay.
    "Only a fool would fight in hunting clothes," Givret said.
    "I shall fight him myself!" Sir Erec declared. "To Scotland!" Spurring his horse, he bounded away.
    "But Erec," called Queen Guinevere, "Sir Yoder has already been punished!" But Sir Erec was already gone. "Oh, dear," said the queen,