Read Chris Karlsen - Knights in Time for Free Online Page B

together was remarkable. He recognized the flutes and
    drums, of course, and a variation of the trumpets he was familiar with. Coming to the front with power and then easing back were an indeterminate number of stringed instruments. They sounded
    like a group of psalteries, only stronger, much stronger and with, perhaps the addition of citterns.
    What a wonder to the ear the music was . How he’d love to create words to put to it and sing. He hummed the melody very softly to himself.
    Her scent preceded her as she stepped into the room. He stopped humming.
    “Hello, monsieur.”
    “You would be Juliette, I assume.”
    “I am,” she said. He heard a light tapping on the floor and then the dull thud of another
    chair being placed next to his followed by two crisp snaps.
    “What broke?”
    “Nothing. I was folding my cane.”
    They’d sent a cripple to help the poor blind man. To what end? She was as damaged as
    he.
    “I am Stephen Palmer. But you know that already.”
    “Yes.”
    “Why do they wish me to know you?” A blunt question but he wanted an explanation.
    “I suppose so I could share some of my experience and hard learned lessons with you.”
    “To be clear, I did not request this.” He flapped his hand back and forth in hopes the
    dismissive gesture would get her to leave. “I don’t seek your shoulder upon which to weep. I am blind. It seems permanently. Although, I appreciate the offer, your feminine pity does not appeal to me.”
    “I’m glad you said that. It’s a proudful statement and pride leads to acceptance.
    Acceptance leads to healing and enjoying a productive, fruitful life.”
    Productive? Now? Hardly.
    “What would you know of such things when it comes to being struck blind?” he asked.
    “You are crippled but still see the world as you always have.”
    “I’m not crippled. They sent me because I too am blind.”
    Could he believe her? Probably. They think he can learn from her. Misplaced confidence
    in his opinion.
    “ When I came in you were enjoying the music.”
    “I was.”
    “I heard you quietly humming. Nice job with Handel’s Allegro Deciso .”
    “Handel? Is he the creator of the music?”
    “Yes. Since you can carry a tune well, do you sing well too?”
    “I do. I know all the words to two songs Guy’s wife, Shakira, taught me. Guy is the baron
    I serve.” During the nightmare of what had happened to him the last three days, he’d forgotten
    about Guy. Surrounded like he was when Stephen last saw him, he had to have been dragged
    from his mount. “Served,” he said, feeling the weight of the loss of a friend. “I think he’s dead.”
    “I’m sorry. You say ‘served’ but I take it he was your friend too, if his wife taught you
    songs.”
    “Yes. He was a good fellow and a close mate.” He took a deep breath and let it out. “Do
    you wish to hear the songs?”
    “Absolutely.”
    “The first is called Tusk .” The poor woman wouldn’t know what a tusk is having no
    experience seeing an elephant, he thought. He’d seen one in the Royal Menagerie the previous
    year. Hopefully, she’d have a basic understanding after he explained.
    “Being blind, you’ve never seen an elephant, but they have two curved horn-like features
    growing out of their heads, their faces really. They grow in an upwards fashion.” He found her
    forearm and bent it to demonstrate.
    “I’ve seen an elephant,” she said, as he lowered her arm. “Like you, I wasn’t always
    blind. That’s one of the reasons the doctor asked for me. I know the things you know. I know
    how the colors look. I know what various animals look like, how they’re shaped. I’ve seen the
    sky, and the sea, and forests. I know how it feels to lose all that.”
    With every entity she listed, he envisioned it again in his mind: the green fields of England,
    Arthur with his feathered feet and thick mane and tail, a blue summer sky, the rough waters
    between England and France. Maybe he’d be lucky