Chapter 1 - Broken Peace
Clash, clang, clash! The sounds of the swords crashing together echoed across the Windshire’s tournament field made Squire Lillyan feel strangely giddy as she watched the two knights sparring. As the two circled each other, testing the other’s strength and weakness, Lillyan rehearsed in her mind all of the steps she had learned. Step, twist, dodge, parry and thrust, she made mental notes as the knights practically danced with their combat moves.
One of the knights was dressed in fine ring-mail armor with Talleraunt’s tabard, a gold sword on an emerald-green field, neatly laying over it. His name was Sir Morris the Proud and he was the knight that Lillyan had become apprenticed to since her father retired from active duty to become the king’s advisor.
The other knight, Sir Bren the Lesser, was wearing a simple sparing outfit of a loose shirt, cotton breeches, and padded leather armor to protect him from Sir Morris’s fierce blows. Both knights were covered in sweat and panting from the exertion of their skirmishing. Nevertheless, the two continued with flourishing movements, even as their shadows lengthened behind them as sun began to set, its last rays gleaming off the clashing swords.
Even though it was only light practice, Lillyan could see the sweat glistening on the combatants. Sir Morris maybe skilled but his usual arrogance is causing to make too many errors, Lillyan thought irately to herself. He kept assuming Sir Brent’s next moves that he didn’t pay as much attention to Sir Bren’s real blows. She was so engrossed into the action that she did not notice that someone had walked up next to her.
"Watch ya doing, Lil?" a boy asked in a something voice.
Lillyan jumped with surprised, turning to see that Derith, the only other squire in Windshire, had joined her. She let out a sigh as she leaned against the fence of the jousting field. "Derith, you scared me!" Lillyan chided.
Derith, two years younger than her, was unlike most children his age. Unlike Lillyan, Derith was a sensitive and quiet young lad. His somber sage-green eyes filled with surprise as he quickly apologized. "Sorry! I was just wondering if you’d teach me some more moves,” Derith asked hesitantly.
Derith always looked to Lillyan to help him out with his training. Maybe it was the fact that they were the only squires in Windshire, the capital city of Talleraunt. Or maybe, Derith felt less intimidated by Lillyan than he did with his own knight - his father, Sir Bren. No matter how hard Derith tried to prove himself to his father, he lacked the confidence to pull off the moves he was being taught. Added to that was the expectations of his grandfather, Sir Bren the Greater. It was clear to Derith that he would never live up to his family’s expectations.
Lillyan smiled at him, though secretly she was jealous of another fact that Derith did not talk about. He would one day become a knight. She would not. No matter how hard she practiced or how well she completed her chores, she would never become a knight for the simple fact that she was a girl. It was the kingdom’s policy - girls may become pages and squires, but never knights or soldiers. That was a sore spot for Lillyan that her friends made sure to never mention.
Turning away from the action, Lillyan leaned against the railing and sighed. Derith knew that sigh well. It was a sign that Lillyan always made before agreeing to training him. He smiled sweetly and the two of them started to walk towards the yard with the training dummies. That is when they saw a figure hurtling towards them at a frightening speed.
---
Eliza the page was running towards the jousting and tournament fields from the castle grounds when she spotted Lillyan and Derith staring at her. By the time she had reached the two, Eliza was gasping for air.
"King... Roland..." Eliza panted. "Re... requests... Sir Bren’s... and... Sir... Morris’s... pre... presences!" Eliza collapsed against the railing, heaving in deep breaths of air after her mad dash from the throne room.
"Catch your breath first," Lillyan interrupted. "Then tell us what’s wrong." She put a comforting hand on Eliza to stabilize her, but Eliza brushed it off.
"No time!" She exclaimed. "The king... orders to see... both Bren... and Morris... now!"
---
King Roland paced his throne room impatiently. What could be keeping them? The king wondered. If they knew the severity of this disaster, they would be here by now! With that thought still lingering in his mind, Roland heard the doors of the throne room open wide with a heavy thud.
The first one through the door was Sir Morris, who stormed in like a pompous peacock. Following him were Eliza, Sir Bren, and Lillyan. Derith had chosen to stay behind and put away the sparring equipment.
“You summoned me?” Sir Morris inquired as he marched up to where the king awaited them.
“I have summoned Sir Bren and yourself because a matter of utmost importance has arisen.” King Roland announced. There was an uneasy look on everyone’s face as they waited to hear what was troubling their king.
With that, Roland cleared his throat and continued to speak, “As you are all well aware, we have had peace throughout the kingdom for close to a hundred years. Even in my father’s days, the worst that happened was that a hermit was plagued by a pesky raccoon. There has been no crime, no wars or famine, much less monsters of any kind.”
“Yes, yes, we know all of this,” Morris rudely interrupted. “But what does this have to do with anything?!” He paused and added a grudging, “My liege.”
Lillyan grimaced at Sir Morris’s impudence. How could the king put up with such an obnoxious knight? Even if Morris is the king’s younger brother, Lillyan would expect there to be a little more respect from the knight-prince. She had worked for Sir Morris for only a few years and already she was sick of him, whereas the king had to put up with Morris his whole life.
“As I was saying,” the king proceeded reproachfully. “A hundred years has past and we have not been properly challenged in all that time. Now, a poor man in rags has come to the castle with horrible news – a village along the Black Peak Mountains had been completely destroyed. It was burned to the ground with no survivors. The man claims to have been traveling to the village when he found nothing but ashes and burnt remains everywhere. I have sent Sir Frederick to scout out the area yesterday morning. He said he would be back by this nightfall with confirmation and hopefully some hints as to what we are facing."
"Sounds like a dragon to me," Sir Bren commented. "I know there are rumors of a colony of dragons live in the heart of the Black Peak Mountains. Could it be possible that one of them has come over the mountains?"
"That is most likely what it is," a new voice spoke. Roland lifted his eyes to meet the new comer while everyone else turned to see who had entered without their knowing.
In the doorway stood the retired knight, Sir Frederick the Brave. His face looked tired, but Lillyan was glad to see her father was back safely. Sir Frederick bowed to the king and addressed him directly, "Your Majesty, I have seen the village that the man told you about. It is true. There was nothing there but blackened rubble and scorched earth.”
“I only found one visible print; one that would suggest a large monster. To make matters worse, that was not the only village to be destroyed."
"What?!" Roland exclaimed in horror. "Why have we not learned about this sooner?"
Sir Frederick sighed, "That is because no one had survived to tell us. Whatever this thing is, it must be stopped before it wipes us all out." Looking at the others present in the throne room, his eyes locked with Lillyan’s. She silently pleaded to be allowed on the quest, but her father simply shook his head.
"You are right, Frederick. Someone must slay this fell creature!" Morris proudly declared. "I believe it is obvious who must be sent. And, yes, I do accept." He made a mocking bow to the king and was about to leave when Roland grabbed him by the shoulder.
"I admire your fortitude, Sir Morris, but I think I have other plans for you first." King Roland explained. "I need you to go to Layland, Delameir, and Rhune. Sir Bren, I need you to go to Merifold, Morristown, and Chesterfield, while Sir Frederick goes to Alderfield and Brendale. Each of you must find as many knights as possible and bring them back here so that we might discuss what is to be done about this problem."
"You are going to wait?!" Lillyan gasped. "But, my king, won’t this monster kill more people and burn more villages?! Shouldn’t he be stopped?!" All eyes were on Lillyan now; she shifted nervously.
"For once, I agree with my squire," Sir Morris added dryly. "That is why you must let me find and kill the monster!"
"No, Morris. I gave you direct orders and that is final." the king’s voice seemed strained as if only barely containing his temper. "As for you, Miss Lillyan, What I do, I do for a reason. If you think I am doing this to give the beast more time, think again." Then, turning his attention to the other knights he addressed them with a level voice.
"It appears that our enemy is strong indeed if it can burn whole villages to the ground without anyone learning about this. My father and my grandfather have always warned me about underestimating my foe and I plan to take their advice. When we have gathered enough men, we will fight it and end the beast."
"Then," Lillyan hesitantly ventured. "Could I at least find this monster and study it? I promise I will be careful not to let it know I’m there. That way I can tell you more about this creature."
There was a moment of silence that was broken by a gruff laugh. "You?! Ha ha ha ha! Like you could find this beast in the first place and without being eaten? Ha, that’s impossible!" Sir Morris scoffed. Lillyan glared at her knight with loathing, as if she would strangle him if she had the chance. Frederick laid a hand on Lillyan’s shoulder to calm her down, and then looked to the king.
"I do believe my daughter has a point." Frederick stated. Everyone was stunned. "Understandably, you would not expect me, of all people, to advocate my daughter’s involvement in a task as dangerous as this." He continued, unfazed by the others reactions. "I have seen her train hard and work hard as a squire. She has courage and is committed to justice. Most importantly, she is stealthy and small. It should be easy for her to spy on this mysterious creature without getting noticed."
Pulling her closer to himself, Sir Frederick whispered in Lillyan’s ear, "Promise me you will obey the rules I gave you. You must be careful out there. Do you understand?" Lillyan nodded humbly. "I love you, Lilly." her father whispered as her released her. "I love you, too." Lillyan mumbled.
All eyes were now on King Roland. Roland thought for a moment, this was not something he would have volunteered on a young girl. How can I let a girl take on a quest that is as dangerous as fighting a battle? The king pondered to himself. What puzzled him more was the fact that Sir Frederick himself had endorsed this decision.
"Sir Frederick," King Roland gestured for the retired knight to follow him out onto the veranda. To the others in the room he told them to continue with what plans had already been made. Only Lillyan was told to remain in the throne room.
Once the king and the retired knight were out of ear shot, King Roland looked upon Frederick in utter bewilderment. "Why are you doing this, Frederick?" he finally inquired. "Asking me to send your daughter on a quest like this? Have you gone mad?!"
Frederick did not respond at first. He merely gazed out at the kingdom. From where they were standing, most of Talleraunt was visible. It was hard to imagine that somewhere out there was a monster ready to kill the innocent and destroy their beautiful land.
"Remember when we were young, Roland?" Frederick finally spoke. "Remember how we longed to prove ourselves? How we would adventure out into the King’s Woods as two young boys in search of monsters to slay and foes to defeat. . .” His voice was filled with nostalgia as he recalled their many escapades from their youths.
“I see so much of myself in Lillyan,” Frederick continued. “She is ready, I know it. I truly believe that with all my heart. Although she is only eleven, I have no doubt that she is destined to be great.” Seeing the confused expression on his friend’s face, Frederick knew he had to clarify what he was saying. “I am not sending her to kill the monster, Roland. But, we need information on this thing and I know she can get it. If she stays in the shadows and follows the rules I gave her… the very rules that your father gave us as children… then, she will be safe. Besides, I trust the Light will protect her. I always have.”
Roland mulled it over in his head for a while as the two of them watched the stars begin to appear. With much reluctance, Roland sighed, “Fine. I will tell her that she may go at dawn. Her majesty, the Queen, will help her prepare for the trip. May the Light be merciful on her and all of us.” With that, they returned to the throne room.