Lyonesse II - The Green Pear and Madouc Read Online Free PDF Page A

again, and held his clenched fists dramatically high, and all the folk present leaned forward to learn fwhat Flary’s decision might be.
    Flary cried out: “I repent! I sorely regret those crimes which have brought me to my present shame! To each man, woman and child within my hearing I utter this advice: stray never an inch from the path of rectitude! Bear true faith to your earl, your father and mother and to the great Lord God, who I hope will now pardon my mistakes! Priest, come now! Shrive me my sins, and send me flying clean and pure heavenward where I may take my place among the angels of the sky and rejoice forever in transcendent bliss!”
    The priest stepped forward; Red Flary knelt and the priest performed those rites requested of him.
    The priest retreated from the platform. The crowd began to mutter and stir and everywhere there was a craning of necks. Lord Emmence raised his baton and let it fall. The jailers thrust Flary to the block; the executioner raised his axe on high, held it poised, then struck. Flary’s head dropped into a basket. A small green object bounced free, rolled to the edge of the platform, and fell almost at Sir Tristano’s feet. Sir Tristano jerked back in distaste. “Look, there is Flary’s pearl, red with his blood.” He bent his head. “It almost seems alive. See how the blood seethes and crawls along surface!”
    “Stand back!” cried Orlo. “Do not touch it! Remember Flary’s words!”
    From under the platform reached a long thin arm; yhin fingers clutched the pearl. Sir Tristano stamped smartly down upon the bony wrist, and from under the platform came shrill scream of pain and anger. A nearby guard came to look. “What is this disturbancefre Sir Tristano pointed under the platform; the guard seized the arm and pulled out a small gray-faced man with a broken nose. “What have we here?”
    “A thief and pickpocket, unless I am very much taken,” said Sir Tristano. “Examine his pouch and what sort of loot he carries.” The pickpocket was dragged to the platform; his pouch as turned out, yielding coins, brooches, golden chains, clasps and buttons, which folk from the crowd came forward in excitement to claim.
    Lord Emmence rose to his feet. “I discover here an exercise in sheer impudence! While we rid ourselves of one thiet another circulates among us, stealing those valuables and ornaments which we have worn for the occasion. Hangman your axe is sharp! The block is ready! Your muscles are in good tone! Today you shall earn a double fee. Priest, shrive this man and ease his soul for the journey he is about take.”
    Sir Tristano told Orlo: “I am sated with head-loppings; Let us return to our mead and honeycakes… . Still, what shall we do with the pearl? We cannot leave it lying in the dirt.
    “One moment.” Orlo found a twig, which he split with knife, then cleverly caught the pearl in the cleft. “In such matters, one cannot be too cautious. Already today we have seen the fate of two who have avidly seized the pearl.”
    “I do not want it,” said Sir Tristano. “It is yours.”
    “Impossible! Remember, if you will, that I am vowed poverty! Or, better to state, I am reconciled to the condition
    Sir Tristano gingerly picked up the twig and the two of them returned to the Blue Ox where they once again sat down to their refreshment. “It is only just noon,” said Sir Tristano. Today I had planned to set out along the road to Avallon.”
    “I am of the same inclination,” said Orlo. “Shall we ride together?”
    “Your company is most welcome, but what of the pearl?” .. Orlo scratched his cheek. “Now that I think of it, nothing would be simpler. We will walk to the pier, and drop the pearl in the harbour, and that will be the end of it.”
    “Sound thinking! Bring it along, then.” Orlo squinted down at the pearl in distaste. “Like yourself, am made queasy by the sultry gleam of the thing. Still, we in this affair together, and fairness must be