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sum, then," the king said, "you fought an armed and armored knight, yourself without armor or weapon—"
    "No no, he had a stewpot," Sir Kai said.
    "—and defeated him with his own sword," the king continued, ignoring his foster brother, "thus preserving an honored religious man from persecution. It is a deed worthy of a knight of the Round Table." Gawain bowed his head but did not reply. The king smiled at Terence, and said, "You have a loyal squire."
    "I have an ill-mannered squire," Gawain replied.
    "Will you punish him for telling of this deed?"
    Gawain hesitated, then shook his head. "No, sire. How could I punish him for telling what I wished to be known?"
    The king burst into his clear, easy laughter and said, "Well spoken indeed! Kneel, Gawain."
    Gawain knelt again, and the king drew the famous Sword Excalibur. He touched Gawain on each shoulder and on the top of his head and said, "Rise, Sir Gawain, and welcome to the Fellowship of the Round Table. Be ever true to your God; protect always your neighbor; honor always your king."

3. The Five Kings
    The next morning, Terence went to war. With still an hour before dawn, he had dressed and was busy helping Gawain put on armor. When all the different plates were fastened in place and Terence saw his master in full armor for the first time, he gazed in wonder.
    "You
do
look fine, milord!" he said, awed.
    Gawain chuckled. "Just remember — I don't wear all this to look fine."
    "I'll bet that's why Sir Griflet wears his."
    "Likely," Gawain said. "But Terence?"
    "Yes, milord?"
    "Whether he does or doesn't, don't say so outside of this room. A squire never criticizes a knight, even if the knight is a fool."
    "Yes, milord." Terence waited, but Gawain did not move.
    "One more thing, lad." Gawain handed Terence a small dagger in a black leather sheath. "No one should go to war without a weapon. This is yours."
    Terence's eyes shone. The handle was intricately carved in the semblance of a winding serpent. He drew it from the sheath and peered fearfully at the long, wicked-looking blade. On impulse, Terence knelt at Gawain's feet and kissed his gauntlet.
    "Nay, Terence," Gawain said. "Thank me by keeping it well and using it wisely. Now, let's go to war."
    The war, they had discovered the night before, was against five rebel kings who refused to accept Arthur's right to rule. The King of Denmark, who controlled lands on the eastern coast of England, the King of Ireland, the King of the Vale, the King of Soleyse, and the King of the Isle of Longtains had joined into a formidable army and were marching toward Camelot. Most of the knights acted as if Arthur's army would defeat the Five Kings easily, but Arthur and Sir Kai had not joined in this confident talk.
    As the marching column formed, Gawain and Terence took their assigned position at the rear, where they were joined by Tor, riding a powerful bay horse and wearing Sir Hautubris's armor, a gift from Gawain.
    "Good morning, Tor!" Gawain called out cheerily.
    "Good morning, Sir Gawain," Tor replied. "Hello, Terence."
    "Good morning, sir," Terence said, pleased to be noticed. They trotted out of the castle, and Sir Ector's knights closed the gates behind them.
    The day quickly grew hot and sultry, and the dust of the supply wagons in front of them formed a thick, gritty cloud that settled in every crease and corner. The knights rode with their visors down to filter out some of the dust, but Terence tasted grit all day. At midday the column stopped to eat a scanty meal and then was off again into the heat and dirt and sweat.
    In midafternoon Sir Kai trotted back from the head of the column, his helm on his saddle. He watched for a moment, then fell into line alongside Gawain and mopped his brow with a damp rag he had tied to his wrist.
    "Hello, Gawain," Sir Kai said.
    "Hello, Sir Kai."
    "Gawain. I've been wanting to talk to you."
    "At your service," Gawain said. He raised the visor on his helm.
    Sir Kai hesitated then grinned. "Did