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

“These lances are
deadly
weapons. The stakes are high!”
    Tom watched as King Arthur took two heavy-looking lances with shining, carved hilts from his servants and passed one each to the contestants.
    â€œWhich of you will show the kind of courage I am looking for?” Arthur asked.
    Al sat astride Acorn’s broad back, looking slightly sick as he stared down at the gleaming lance.
    â€œAl’s strong and knows his stuff, but I hope a real lance isn’t too different from a homemade one,” Tom said.
    â€œPosing Percy seems to be struggling with the weight of his,” Isis said. “All the fancy armour in the world isn’t going to give him bigger muscles.”
    Cleo led the cheering with a loud meow.
    â€œCome on, Al!” Tom and Isis called out.
    Percival snapped his visor shut.
    Al raised the lance and stared straight ahead, looking determined.
    â€œCharge!” King Arthur shouted.
    The horses started to gallop towards one another. Clouds of dust billowed up under their thundering hooves. Tom watched as Al’s lance came down.
    The horses galloped closer and closer.
    Al’s face looked grim.
    His lance made contact with Percival’s breastplate…
    Thunk!

    Percival grunted.
Oof!
The air was literally knocked out of him as he tumbled off his horse and hit the ground.
    Clank!
    Al had won the first round.
    â€œHooray!” Tom and Isis cried.
    The villagers started to cheer and whistle loudly.
    â€œSecond round!” bellowed King Arthur.
    Al smiled and waved cautiously at the crowd. He swung Acorn round to begin the second charge. Acorn seemed unruffled, despite all the noise.
    Percival’s stallion, however, was not coping so well. The horse was wide-eyed and rearing up on its hind legs.
    â€œBehave, you stupid beast!” Percival yelled at the stamping horse and kicked him with his spurs.
    The horse whinnied. It pawed the ground, then reared up again. The weight of the lance pulled Percival out of the saddle and he landed on the ground with a clatter. The crowd started to laugh.
    â€œServes him right!” another peasant woman said.
    Percival levered himself stiffly off the ground. Tom could see that his shining armour had been dented. Judging from his blazing-red cheeks, his pride had taken a knock too.
    â€œYou ridiculous animal!” Percival shouted at the horse. “Calm down, or I’ll turn you into food for Father’s hunting hounds.”
    King Arthur clapped his hands. “Leave the horse be. Come here, both of you,” he said, beckoning Al and Percival forward. “There is no point in continuing the joust with that horse in such a state. Instead, you will both progress to the final and trickiest trial of all. This will be a true test of your valour.”
    â€œAs you command, sire! I’m ready,” Al said.
    Underneath his short beard and moustache, King Arthur was smiling. “I have hidden a golden sword in a nearby cave,” he said, with an air of mystery. “I challenge you both to seek it there. The man who finds it and returns it to me shall become my knight…” His blue eyes twinkled as he continued, “… but only if you can get past the dragons who are guarding it. What say you?”
    â€œDragons?” Percival scoffed. “Ha! Easy,” he said, although Tom noticed his hands were shaking.
    Al scratched his head and frowned. “Well, I’ve never met any dragons before. But I’ll give it my very best shot, Your Royal Magnificence,” he said, bowing low in front of King Arthur.
    Tom turned to Isis. He was so desperate to get the words out that he didn’t really make sense. “Dragons! The riddle! Legend of the stone!”
    Isis nodded eagerly. “Yes! Exactly! Everything in the riddle is coming true. King Arthur is the legend. I’m fairly certain my amulet is the stone in his sword. And Al’s about to track the sword down in the
cavernous