The servant's heart pounded within him as his horse galloped through the woods. He had not stopped moving since he'd seen the sign. This was the moment he'd known had been coming for weeks, yet it did not make his journey any easier.
The faint smell of smoke stung his nose. Tears came pouring out of the servant's eyes--whether it was from the wind, from the smoke, or from the panic, he wasn't sure. Yet he pressed on, his horse sensing that his rider's vision was blurred and choosing a cautious course through the thick woods. Finally, the horse arrived at the crest of the hill, in the midst of a grove of maple trees. The servant reigned in, leapt off his horse, and looked around. When he felt somewhat sure that no one was watching, he ran toward a tree at the edge of the grove and started to climb. He'd built a makeshift ladder in preparation for this moment, and he was glad he had. With his hands sweaty and his knees shaking involuntarily, he'd never have been able to climb this tree on his own.
When he neared the top of the tree, he looked off to the east, toward the castle. His worst fears were true. The castle was in flames. The only home he'd ever known was being destroyed. Then he looked west; the sun was setting, and the faint smoke that had rolled westward cast an eerie red glow over the field below. Then, looking back to the east, he saw what he'd been expecting.
A knight, clad in silver armor that shone in the setting sunlight, was riding a gallant white steed toward the base of the hill. He held a basket in his left hand, and a young child was mounted in front of him. No one accompanied him, and it was just as well, for no one in the kingdom could hope to keep up with this horse. The silver knight dashed toward some bushes that were clustered at the bottom of the hill, about 200 yards below the tree in which the servant was perched. Upon reaching the bushes, the knight reigned in and dismounted in one smooth motion--the basket in one hand, the boy in the other.
The servant watched, spellbound, as the silver knight tucked the basket into the bushes and out of his sight. He then started to guide the boy into the bushes as well when he abruptly stopped and turned. A figure emerged from the woods to the west--a tall knight, clad in black and riding a black horse. The servant cringed as he saw the black knight draw his bow and shoot and arrow towards the boy. The silver knight lurched toward the boy and covered him. The arrow deflected off the silver knight's armor. The silver knight clutched his side with one hand while shoving the boy into the bushes with the other.
Meanwhile, as the servant continued to watch, the black knight relentlessly charged. The silver knight rolled over and drew his sword. He raised it just in time to parry the oncoming thrust of the black knight. The silver knight then jumped to his feet. A great duel ensued. The black knight held the advantage, as he also had a shield and used it skillfully to block any challenge from the silver knight.
As the duel continued, the silver knight--apparently weakened by the initial blow from the arrow--continue to fall back. The black knight was relentlessly pushing him away from the bushes. Finally the black knight knocked the silver knight to the ground. He raised his sword for one final thrust to the heart of his adversary. The servant prepared to close his eyes; his mission was about to be ended before it even began.
But, summoning his last reserve of strength, the silver knight rolled away from the sword thrust and leapt upward, grasping his enemy's shield. He then thrust the shield upward into his enemy's jaw. The blow knocked the black knight down. He lay motionless on the ground.
The servant hoped that the silver knight would finish the duel and thrust him through the heart, but he did not. Rather, he took off his own silver armor, and then proceeded to take off his enemy's black armor as well. Then he donned the black armor and placed his silver armor on his still-motionless adversary. Once this was done, he reached into his quiver, grasped an arrow, and sent it flying in the direction of the servant. The arrow landed at the base of the tree in which the servant was setting. Then the silver knight (now wearing the black armor) jumped on his enemy's black horse and headed back toward the castle, his own white horse following him at a distance.
The servant knew that now was the time to act. He swiftly climbed out of the tree and examined the arrow. A note was tightly wrapped around the shaft of the arrow. He tore off the note and read it. The tears began to flood into his eyes again as he absorbed what it said. With new resolve to serve his king, the servant re-mounted his horse and raced to the cluster of bushes at the foot of the hill. Peering into the bushes, he saw a young boy--about 3 feet in height--silently kneeling in front of the basket. The servant gestured to the boy. The boy came, his face stained with tears but resolved to obey. The servant then grasped the basket and guided the boy to his horse. His job was nearly complete.
The servant then did as the silver knight had done earlier: he mounted his horse, with the boy in front and the basket in his left hand. He turned westward and continued his journey toward the setting sun.
After he'd ridden about 50 yards, however, the servant felt a terrible jolt to his head. An arrow had struck him from behind, nearly knocking him from his horse. The arrow had struck his cheek. Blood splattered into his eyes. Once again, he fought off panic as he tried to maintain the course. He turned around and saw that the black knight (now wearing the silver armor) had revived. He had fired one arrow, and was preparing the shoot another. The servant abruptly turned to the right. For the next minute, which seemed like an eternity, horse and rider dashed back and forth, dodging arrows and seeking the refuge of the woods to the west. Finally he escaped the range of the ruthless black knight. He was safe for now. His journey would continue.
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