Knight Quest (Time Hunters, Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

just about anything,” she said.

    Tom glanced over to the other group and groaned. “Oh, no!” he said. “Posing Percival’s still standing too. You know what’s going to happen, don’t you?”
    Isis nodded. “Al’s going to have to duel against him.”

Al and Percival stood side by side before King Arthur. Both were out of breath, but every other would-be knight had either keeled over with exhaustion, been disqualified or been injured.
    â€œThe final challenge shall be on horseback,” King Arthur told the crowd. “Fetch your mounts!” he boomed to the two young men.
    Al hurried over to Tom and Isis, wiping his brow with his grimy rope belt, leaving a smear of dirt across his forehead. Al glanced over at Percival, who still looked immaculate in his fine clothes and shiny boots.
    â€œOh, Lord. How can a simple lad like me hope to win against a nobleman?” he said.
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Tom. “Just because Percival’s got a title doesn’t mean he’s any better than you.”
    â€œToo right,” agreed Isis. “You’re just as good as any noble.”
    Al smiled at his new friends and went to fetch Acorn.
    â€œDo you really think he’s got a chance?” asked Isis.
    â€œWe’d better hope so. Here he comes now!” Tom said excitedly.
    Al entered the clearing at a trot, bobbing proudly up and down in the saddle. He waved as he spotted Tom, Isis and Cleo among the spectators, and cantered over to where they were standing.

    â€œWhat on earth is under your saddle?” Isis said, pointing to the grubby green-and-red cloth that hung over Acorn’s flanks.
    Al grinned. “He looks right dashing with that, doesn’t he?” he said. “It’s like one of those silk saddlecloths with knightly coats of arms on, only, get this…” He leaned down and whispered, “it’s a bit of an old blanket really. You wouldn’t know, would you?”
    â€œWell, ye—” Isis began.
    Tom clapped his hand over her mouth. “No, Al. You’d never know,
would you,
Isis? It’s really smart.”
    â€œThing is,” Al said, suddenly seeming gloomy, “that Percival’s going to gallop in on a thoroughbred charger. And I didn’t want old Acorn, here, with his fluffy, feathery old hooves, to feel scruffy.”
    Sure enough, an ‘Ooooh’ rippled through the crowd of villagers as Percival rode in on a tall, black stallion. Tom couldn’t help but gasp at Percival’s shining suit of armour and the horse’s gleaming tack.

    â€œWhat an idiot!” Isis said. “He looks like he’s about to lead an army into battle, not duel with a boy on a carthorse.”
    She folded her arms and scowled. “I really can’t stand show offs!”
    Tom looked sideways at her and laughed. “
You
can’t stand show offs?”
    Percival sat smugly in his grand saddle, with the visor on his helmet raised up so they could see him smirk. He whispered into his stallion’s ear and made clicking noises.
    Suddenly the horse began to prance round the clearing. Percival steered the horse up close to the villagers, so they could have a better view. The horse flicked its tail in a peasant woman’s face.
    â€œAargh!” she cried, dropping the wicker basket that she had been holding. “Oh no, my eggs!” The woman started to pick up what she could from the yellow, yolky mess on the ground.
    Percival just laughed and trotted away. But Al jumped down from Acorn and helped the woman gather the unbroken eggs back into her basket.
    â€œNo need to fret, my good lady,” Al said to the woman. “There’s still a few that will make it into your pan.”
    The woman smiled and patted Al on the arm. “You’re a good lad. I hope you put that horrid Percival in his place.”
    â€œNow for the joust!” King Arthur announced.