Adventure Magazine Cover — page 72: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

64 She was breathless. “Oh, Manasses!”’ she hailed the boy who accompanied her. “Do you hark to this!’’ Manasses, a dour, sullen-faced youth, cantered up and threw a sour glance at Matteo. “Hark to what?” he growled. “This—boy—.” again the dazzling smile— “‘hath aided the Assassin to escape!” “I do not believe it,’ said Manasses promptly. “Nay, it matters not whether you be- lieve,” observed Matteo softly. “Tf you did so, you did a foul wrong, such as no knight would put his hand to,” re- plied Manasses. Matteo pushed his horse to the other’s crupper. “Will you make good what you have said?” he asked. : The girl clapped her hands. “Oh, this is better than pursuing an Assassin!” she cried. ‘‘Of course, you must fight!” ‘“‘Who are you?” returned Manasses. ‘“‘My father is the lord of Nerak. And who are you?” ““Nerak?”’ Manasses stared, then burst into forced laughter. ‘“‘What right have you to ask a knight’s son to fight?” Matteo’s lips set in a straight line; his face was ashen white. But the girl spoke before he could answer. “Is not his father a knight?” she said. ‘‘Phaugh, you are afraid, Manasses!”’ “His father may be a knight,” replied Manasses, ‘‘but his mother is a Saracen caravan-woman.”’ Matteo leaned forward in his saddle, and struck Manasses with his fist on the point of the jaw. The boy reeled backward, lost his stirrups and fell to the ground. Matteo dismounted and went to his side. “T am not going to fight you,” he an- nounced. “I am going to beat you. But first, you shall tell me your name.” “T am Manasses de Chappes, and my father is the lord of Mardan, and if you touch me you shall die in torment,” blus- tered Manasses, staggering to his feet. Matteo discarded his helmet, and dropped his bow and quiver beside it. “T cry your pardon, lady,” he said over his shoulder to the girl. “Nay, nay,” she answered. ‘‘That was a good clout. Can you do it again?” Adventure “As often as you please,” promised Matteo with a grin. And he did—until Manasses raised his bleeding face and begged for peace. ‘What you said was a lie?’”? demanded Matteo sternly. “TIt—was—a—lie,”’ sobbed Manasses. “Very well. I am satisfied.” Matteo picked up his helm and bow and climbed back into saddle. The girl ex- tended her hand. “You fought well,” she said. ‘Can you do as well with sword and lance?” “Nay, lady, I have done no more than fight from a loophole before this,” replied Matteo with embarrassment. ‘St. Brygas—who is my name saint—be your helper, fair boy! You will be a stout warrior, and I care not who your mother is!”’ ‘“‘Aye, but I care,” rejoined Matteo, and his face set in hard lines. She cried out in protest. “You mistake me! I meant no harm. But, sooth, ’tis so, if you like it or not!” “And who may you be?” inquired Mat- teo, permitting himself another smile. “T am Brygas de Kergac, and I dwell with my uncle, Messer Renier de Chappes, who is father to that unfortunate wight you misused so cruelly.” This was more than Manasses—who had been stanching a bleeding nose—could support. “You are unbearable!’ he shouted. ‘TI will not stay with you, jade! You may find your own way home—or perchance your new friend will give you escort!” He vaulted to his saddle, and spurred angrily out of the road. “Stay, Manasses!”’ him. But he paid no heed,and a look of be- wilderment drove the smile from her face. “We had ridden over-far from the castle when we met the Templar’s man-at-arms,”’ she said. “I fear me——”’ “Navy,” answered Matteo, “I will ride with you. Come, let us start. You will not be far behind your cousin.” “But you? ’Tis a long distance from Nerak.”’ Matteo shrugged his shoulders, as became a warrior grown who had experienced two adventures in the same day. “Tt matters not. I joy to be at your service, lady.”’ 3 Her eyes shone like stars. She found him Brygas called after COIN Clooolkks C@