That Most Precious Gift Page 6

CHAPTER SIX

  Word quickly spread across the land concerning the engagement between Sir Randall and the princess. James, while watching the knight's quarters, learned of the occasion through a steward for another knight and became very troubled.

  Throughout the day, the young lad contemplated on ways which he could get the knight before the princess once again, assured the sight of each other would bring back the truth of their love. He heard outside a window the calling of wears from a traveling soothsayer. Knowing of his master's steady request of soothsayers and magicians, the young steward ran down the stairs to confront the fortune teller.

  “My dear sir, which way art thou headed?”

  “If days continue such as this, one will find me north of this sorrowful lot,” the disgruntled salesman said.

  “Art thou going by way of Ponder?”

  “I am requested continuously by the princess of that land,” proclaimed the man proudly. “It is fond knowing that there are those who ask for a quality professional such as myself, after traveling through barbs such as these!”

  “Though I am but a steward, I have saved earnestly. Mayst thou join me for food and conversation?” asked the lad.

  “Free food, my boy? One is always of interest when the subject is free food.”

  They then left to the village tavern.

  “Lad?” questioned the soothsayer. “What are we to discuss since thou mentioned conversation.”

  “Let us just say it pertains to matters of the heart,” the steward said while patting the elder on the shoulder.

  Meanwhile, within the walls of the castle, preparations continued for the approaching grand wedding. Though still months away, the menu was assembled and invitations were sent. Once being fitted for her gown, the princess quietly left the excitement to walk in solitude among the out-lining fields. She soon found herself remembering back to when Maxwell softly placed his lips upon hers, then shook her head in an effort to erase the memory. Sitting herself within the meadow, she began to pray.

  “Lord? Why is it that I feel this strong sense of emptiness within my heart? Here I am loved by a knight who has offered to die on my behalf, yet I would feel no remorse. Here I am given gifts from him constantly, yet I feel no dues owed. Here I receive affection, yet feel no need to return the act. Is it a memory of another who controls my heart? Is it a memory that decides my fate?” questioned the princess. “Oh Lord, send unto me a sign of the road which I am to travel.”

  Weeks passed as the plans for the wedding continued. The princess who had awaken from another heavy sleep, goes to the window to greet the new day. Suddenly from afar, she found of interest the ringing of bells, a sound familiar to her ears. She hurriedly summoned the handmaiden.

  “Yes, my lady?” answered the servant.

  “The soothsayer approaches the village, hasten not and retrieve him for my service,” ordered the princess.

  “At once, my lady.”

  The handmaiden quickly exited to grant entrance to the soothsayer.

  “Now, maybe thou willst give me the sign I seek. I'm sure his magical ways will state certain of my love for Sir Randall. Certainty is all I desire. Certainty is all I ask.”

  In due time the magician arrived and was escorted directly to the awaiting princess.

  “Welcome, old man. The spirits must have sent you, for before you stands a heavy heart. Come here and sit in my chambers.”

  “Fair princess, you grow prettier with each passing minute. Howst be thy fine mother and father, the king? I hope well," said the soothsayer as he approached and began placing objects all about.

  “They are fine, sweet sire. Hast thou by chance heard of a wedding being prepared for a certain princess?” coyly asked the girl.

  “I have heard such talk. I am sure that they are very pleased. Anyone thou knowst?”

  “You silly old man!” giggled the girl as she sat across from him at a table.

  Once they became settled, the magician tried to read the girl's soul through her eyes as he remembered the story told to him by the young steward, James.

  “Princess, dost though have a heavy heart?”

  “Why yes, old man! Howst did thy know!?”

  “You told of such when I arrived,” laughed the man. “So, what be thy request, sweet princess?”

  “Oh great seer, look into my heart. Tell me if I have met the man I am to wed.”

  The man, likened to that of a scientist, took measured items from different colored flasks, combined them, then shook. The eyes of the princess became wide with child-like anticipation. He then opened a tattered book and began to chant. Suddenly, he poured the ingredients into a large bowl for study.

  “Hmmm,” he proceeded. “Fair maiden, listen to thine heart, for it will tell you as I do now. Yes! You have met the man you are to wed.”

  The princess gasped in joy.

  “Great holder of the stars. Tell me if you can. Is he one who is a great knight or lowly peasant?”

  The magician took another vile and dashed it on the ingredients in the bowl, read from the book and then looked for its reading.

  “The suitor is a great knight, though I cannot see his crest. One whose love is as strong for you as yours is for him,” continued the man. “Dost thou know of such a knight, my dear?” he asked while searching her feelings towards the steward's master.

  “Why, yes! Yes, I know of such a knight!” exclaimed the princess. “Tell me this, ol' messenger of fortunes. Is the knight thy has foretold the one I am to marry and happiness will be with us always?”

  Now since the soothsayer wasn't really a magician, seer, or wizard at all -- just a good tradesman and storyteller -- he realized that he was placed on the spot. He could very easily tell the princess yes, yet the softest part of his heart remembered the story told to him by the young steward, James. Instead of leaving her with a heart heavy, the magician decided to have her choose the course of action herself. Taking another flask from his bag, he poured its contents into the bowl, read from the book, and then looked quickly into the mixture.

  “My dear princess, one who has known of my services well,” said the old man apologetically. “I must deliver bad news, it seems as if the spirits have left me for now.”

  The princess became irate.

  “Left you, old man? Well, I order thee to bring them back!” she yelled, standing abruptly.

  “I cannot, my lady, for the spirits are very temperamental. I am so very sorry.”

  “This will not be! How canst the spirits come and go so freely when such a question is asked? Tell me old man, how am I to find the solution to this problem, I mean answer. This answer which I seek?” she asked, dumbfounded.

  “Well, there is possibly one way to receive your answer,” began the old man. “If the princess were to do one thing, then a sign may come unto thee."

  “Then tell me, old man. What am I to do to fulfill this request?"

  The old man got up and started putting his objects back into the bag. When completed, he gently took her hands and looked deep within her eyes.

  “Take thine heart to the edge of the South Forest when the moon is full and centered with the earth. It is there, it is then, you may find your answer.”

  Once saying this, the man hurried toward the chamber door.

  “Princess, I do humbly apologize for the spirits' childish ways.”

  “Fear not, fine sir. You have at least given me a sign to address. Though I feel as if I know of the answer, I shall complete thy task set before me,” sighed the lass. “Here is your worth. Travel safely for I will wish to see you in due time.”

  “So it shall be written in the stars, fair princess,” concluded the soothsayer as he left.

  Once outside the village, the magician came upon a messenger resting on the side of the road.

  “My dear sir, where art thou headed?” inquired the seer.

  “I have no direction at this time, si
re. My horse had been ill, but finally she be well again. Dost thou have a new task for me?”

  “The heavens must be smiling upon us this day,” exclaimed the old man. “There is a trader such as myself, waiting for word from me on the outskirts of Maryknoll. Dost thou know the region?”

  “Yes, sire.”

  “Here is twenty shillings. Take this and deliver to the one in question. She is a gypsy woman who tells readings from a clear ball. Stop for no other till this duty is complete,” ordered the man.

  “Yes, sire!”

  The young rider took the scroll, mounted his horse, and galloped into the day air.

  “If it shall be Cupid's wish, the princess will receive her sign,” said the seer as he went on his way.

  A weeks time passed before the message arrived. After its delivery, the old gypsy woman began to lead her cart through the village of Maryknoll.

  “Cards and palms. Stars and fortunes,” she yelled while making her way.

  “Hark James. Dost thou hear those calls?” asked Maxwell. “Hasten not for a moment, for I wish to question the gypsy woman of tomorrow’s hunt!”

  “Yes, master!” said James, beaming with satisfaction of a plan unfolding. He raced down the stairs and out to the woman approaching.

  “Fair lady, fair lady,” yelled the lad. “My master seeks thy service.”

  “Are you the one told to me by me peer?” asked the old woman. “For if not, tell thy master I will visit him henceforth after a certain meeting.”

  “It is I, dear seer. I am the one the message tells of.”

  “Good. Let us then go forward and place before thy master Cupid’s misdirection.”

  The two advanced to the knight’s residence.

  “Master! Master! I have brought before you the seer whom thou has requested. Shall I send her in?” asked the steward towards the window of his master’s quarters.

  “Have her rest below; also give her drink so that her concerns will be fixed upon my questions.”

  The steward led the old woman inside and placed her at an eating table with a cup of wine.

  “Now old woman, you understand the task before thee, correct?” whispered James.

  “Ye, that I do steward, and DON'T call me old”

  “Though one cannot control the direction of Cupid’s arrows, I feel it one’s responsibility to point the bow in its proper form,” concluded the steward.

  Shortly thenafter, the knight arrived and motioned the steward away.

  “Hast thou had a fine journey, gypsy woman?”

  “I have, dear knight,” she answered while bringing out a crystal ball to place it upon a silk cloth. “Now, what service may I render thee? Wealth? Health? Future journeys? Love?”

  “Yes, seer, answer me this. Through the magic of your transparent, powerful ball, tell me if I am to be successful with tomorrow's hunt.”

  The old woman peered deeply into the ball. Her wrinkled hands floated upon its rim, her eyes then widened and a smile showed upon her face.

  “Sire, I see before me that you will be successful in thy hunt tomorrow. Though I also see one greater on the horizon!” exclaimed the seer.

  “One greater? Tell me then, old woman, when and where will this great hunt take place?”

  “Don't call me old!” snapped the woman.

  “What?”

  “I request that you do not call me old, sire.” stated the woman defiantly. “Although I may not be as young as the spring, I still have the fire to warm the coldest of weather!”

  “Sorry. . . .” apologized the knight

  The fortune teller then peered deeply once again into the mystical device. Her eyes danced from side to side as if watching a show.

  “I see a young knight among the largest of herds which he has never faced.”

  “Go od ,” interrupted the knight. “Is the knight thou seeith, me?”

  “He is sire. He is thyself,” she continued. “And I also see this knight, by light of a full moon, in a most daring challenge yet rewarding of all time.”

  “Good. Good!” exclaimed the knight. “So where must I be to find this great herd, great seer?”

  “It is a land where you have found favor before, my knight.”

  “Cornage? Beatice?” asked the knight.

  “Nay, my lord. Tis in the South Forest among the land of Ponder where the hunt shall take place.”

  At the mention of the region, the young knight abruptly got up and walked a short distance away.

  “Ponder,” he whispered as if detesting the very word through his lips. “Art thou sure?”

  “I am sure, sire. It shows before me in this window of the future. Thou dost know of such a land, correct?”

  “That I do, dear woman. That I do,” sighed the knight. “And if I fail to address this future, how do the stars then read for my successes?”

  She looked to the ball, then shook her head.

  “I must inform thee, the future may stand bleak for thy hunting,” answered the woman. “I sense a hardening of your heart towards this region. Has thou experienced a dragon or witch in these parts?”

  “A combination of both, seer. A combination of both,” said the knight as he turned back towards her.

  “Dost thou have further questions for me, sire?”

  “I can only think of one, dear lady, but I shall refrain for a later date. Be gone so that I may contemplate the vision you have foretold."

  The woman gathered the items to leave.

  “Here old woman, I mean very beautiful and youthful woman,” said the knight as he handed her her worth. “Thank you for thy service. I pray your journey will be blessed.”

  “Thank you, sire! Thank you for both the payment of silver and also the payment of words. Remember, under a full moon in the South Forest of Ponder. Go to where thou hast been before and you shall then find your greatest reward,” rhymed the seer as she left.

  “Steward, come here! We must plan a most unusual journey,” called the knight.