After that I made Ruth ride behind me, and, if there was any holding to do, she could do it. All that day and one more day we rode, and at night we arrived at my castle. Giving orders that my faithful charger be well fed and bedded, and that the treasures I brought with me be safely secured behind lock and bar, I trudged wearily to my rooms to remove the iron and leather harness that seemed so necessary for a ruler to wear when out on the lonely roads of his country. I bethought me of King Arthur, who made his land so safe that a golden bracelet hung on a thorn bush for three years without being disturbed while it waited for its rightful owner. That was the kind of country I wanted Cornwall to be, some day.
Percy came after me into the privacy of my rooms, and ere I was aware, started to take off my armor and cleverly found sweet oil to rub me with and then helped me put on my silks and soft velvets. Before I realized it, I was in comfort before the fire, and she holding out to me a horn of spiced ale, which it seems she had ordered for my pleasure on her way up the stone stairs.
After that came some pleasant days in the library. Ruth could not read, but she had a willingness to learn. Her frank statement that I knew more than she did was decidedly refreshing to my masculine pride. In my astonishing adventures in the Apurimac Valley, the Blessed Islands, Cabel and Dahomey, I had met many women, but never one who willingly acknowledged my intellectual supremacy. The simple child seemed anxious to learn, so I permitted her to look through my books and I read to her some pages of my personal history, and after many hours I was pleased to find that she had learned to read, though still showing a preference for picture books. Of course she wore her boy’s clothing and I was very careful to call her Percy, but occasionally, when we were alone, I graciously gave her osculatory treatment for the devil I had forced to enter her.
It was all very lovely and might have continued for an eternity of pleasant evenings, at least for several months, had it not been for an unexpected and slightly embarrassing visit from several of my mightiest nobles. There were only three of them, but they were so powerful in the affairs of Cornwall that they might as well have been thirty or three hundred. I received them in the library, first telling Percy to begone and stay begone till she knew they were safely out of the castle. To help the page pass the time while away from me, I gave her a book wherefrom she could learn her letters and thus improve her ability to read.
Before the fire the good knights, Belvidere, Arthur and Mallory, sat warming their shins and drinking my wine, the while looking at each other and then sidewise at me as though uncertain as to who should begin the conversation or as to the effect it would have on their Overlord. At last Mallory coughed and began to tell me what was on their minds.
“You must be willing to acknowledge, Cecil, son of James and grandson of David, and even back to the son of Raymond, that your arrival in our country and becoming Overlord has been a matter of deep mystery to us all.”
“There is no doubt that it was most unusual,” I replied.
“We admit that we needed a strong man as ruler. There were robbers, giants and demons within the realm and many strong and jealous countries around us, anxious for our downfall. You arrived at an opportune time, and thanks to your ability as a giant-killer and politician you have given Cornwall a sense of security that, before your advent, it strangely lacked.”
“My record speaks for itself,” I almost boasted. “Five robber gangs dispersed and from these over a hundred killed in battle or hung to dead limbs to warn all evil-doers against acting thus in my confines. Three giants, seven deadly serpents, one dragon and a number of salamanders and ogres have been sent to Limbo. Thanks to my magical powers, Queen Broda, of Ireland married our Lord Figzhugh and now that country is very friendly to us. Wales does not dare to attack us. In fact, only a short time ago, I adventured there and rid their land of a most horrific curse, following which remarkable feat of valorous knighthood King Conwyn gave me many jewels and other presents of great value. I am going to sell some of these, buy food and give it to my folk against the cold of next winter. Thus there is no doubt, at least in my mind, that Cornwall hath profited by my taking charge of the affairs of state.”
Belvidere swore a mighty oath; “By the bones of the eleven thousand and one virgins of Cologne, no one can dispute the truth of all you say, and, speaking for us three, and we represent the country, I am sure that we value your services as Overlord, though your bookish ways are beyond us—.”
“Ah” I interrupted, “but you have not seen all my books. Now I am sure that if you looked through my copy of Elephantis — Where is my copy? I always keep it right here. That dog of a page must have taken it. Anyway, I am certain you would have keen enjoyment from its inspection.”
“That may be, but we are not monks. None of us understands the art of reading.”
“You do not have to read. The book of Elephantis is one of pictures only.”
“That would be different. But to go on where your Worship broke into my argument. We like you and appreciate your clever manner of ruling the country; but what would happen to us should you die of the Black Plague? You have, as far as we know, neither kith nor kin, and, being unmarried, no children to make your dynasty secure. That is why we came here. To urge your marriage.”
I lost no time in making answer.
“This new problem my lords. know owe is no to me, I I it to my country to marry and beget children, sturdy sons to help carry the burden and beautiful daughters to make fortunate alliances. But how can I marry? I am wise but not wise enough to select a wife from the beautiful virgins of Cornwall. I met Eleanor, daughter of Sir Belvidere and lost my heart to her, but the next day Sir Arthur rode by with his daughter Helen, and I realized that she is blonde, whereas Eleanor is brunette. Then the same week chance led me to the home of Sir Mallory, and his daughter Guinevere graced the banquet table. Tell me, my lords, with three such beauties to choose from, how can a man decide? If I marry Eleanor how can I keep the mystical beauties of the other two charmers from haunting my dreams? Shall I take Helen and offend the fathers of Guinevere and Eleanor? That is why I remain a bachelor. Am I right? Only by remaining single can I keep my beloved knights at peace and those darling girls with at least some degree of hope, for as long as I am single I am the rightful property of any woman artful enough to win me.”
Sir Arthur smiled; “Very clever. That speech is on a par with your general performance since dropping into our country from nowhere. We know how you feel. You want to be fair with all of us; but at the same time you must marry. I hear that you are a worker of magic; that by your daemonical powers you became Overlord and later secured the friendship of Ireland by removing the tail from our friend FitzHugh so he could marry Queen Broda. We are asking you to use this magic in selecting a bride. To the west of this castle, centering a fairy ring in the dark forest, is a bride well. A single man, looking into that well, sees the face of his future wife. We will gather there, the Cornwall nobles and their eligible daughters. You will look into the well, compare the picture you see there with the lovely damsels, and announce your decision. It is an ancient custom, and, as we know you are honest, will provide a satisfactory answer to our dilemma. For many hundreds of years our Overlords have thus selected their women. So the next night of the full moon we will gather there and you will provide a priest, and the selection and marriage will be the work of but a few minutes. Are you satisfied with the plan?”