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course. That's how Longtains got it. He took it from Uther Pendragon's treasury. So, no more talking. Let's go."
    Ten minutes later, Terence and the little man crouched behind a mossy fallen tree and looked at the Five Kings' camp. "There," the green man said. "That tent in the middle, with the flag at the top. That's the kings' council tent, and there they keep the ring."
    "Why don't they wear it?" Terence asked.
    "They couldn't decide which one should have the honor. So they keep it in a jeweled box on the council table. Luck to you, lad." And then the little man was gone.
    Terence hesitated, his mind in a whirl. He didn't know who his companion was, and he didn't trust him. One look at the little green leafy face was enough to be certain that the sprite loved mischief. But he had told the truth about the Five Kings' camp: here it was. Terence realized that he could not risk waiting. Taking a deep breath, he drew his new dagger from its sheath and slipped over the log into the camp. In a few steps he was at the council tent. Two knights strolled by him, but they paid him no mind. No one ever looked at servants and squires.
    With his dagger, Terence cut a slit in the back of the tent, the glinting blade sliding through the rough canvas as if it were silk. Terence slipped through the hole, and though almost blind in the sudden gloom, he could see a jeweled box on a nearby table, just as the little man had promised. Quickly, Terence opened the box and removed the ring. Only then, his eyes adjusting to the shadows, did Terence realize he was not alone. Five bearded men dressed in rich purple and scarlet sat at a larger table a few feet away.
    "Hey, put that back, boy," said one.
    Terence's heart dropped and his stomach tightened. It was the Five Kings. With a gasp, he sprang backwards and dived through the hole he had cut in the tent. Shouts of "Hey! Who was that! What is he doing?" came from the tent, then "After him!"
    Terence blundered into a knight, who cursed and aimed a kick at him, but Terence was already out of reach. He leaped around the maze of tents, hearing or imagining pursuit right behind him. Then he saw a row of horses, saddled and ready. Quickly he grabbed one, climbed into the saddle, and kicked it into a gallop. Only then did he look over his shoulder. No one followed. He rode into the cover of the woods and stopped, gasping for breath.
    From a nearby oak came the chuckling voice of the little green man. "Right from under their noses, no less. I like a good thief, I do. But don't stop now, Terence. Here they come."
    "There! In the trees!" came a shout, and then there was a rumble of horses. Terence kicked his horse into a run and held on for his life. Gawain had taught him to ride, but he had never had to ride at a dead run. Soon he had lost the reins, but he rode a war horse that was used to that. It probably thought it was leading a charge, and all Terence had to do was hold on to the saddle and duck under branches and brambles as they crashed through the forest. Twice he glanced behind him and saw five riders, growing nearer every second.
    "Terence!" a voice shouted suddenly. It was Gawain. He and the others sat their horses on the far side of a little clearing. "Where did you get that horse?"
    "The Five Kings!" Terence gasped. "Behind me!"
    "With how many men?" Sir Kai asked sharply, but as he spoke the kings burst into the clearing behind Terence.
    "I'll take the left," Sir Kai said abruptly and spurred his horse.
    The next minute was a blur of motion to Terence. Sir Kai threw himself bodily against the king on the far left and swung his sword at the next one. Tor leaped from his own horse onto the middle king's horse, and brought him to the turf. Gawain had his fingers in one king's visor, shaking him back and forth, while he parried the sword of another and thrust. That king reeled and fell. Sir Kai lifted one king from his saddle and threw him against another.
    "Ow! No biting!" Gawain shouted.
    The