by Mary Vee
Their trainer entered the stables. “Do you have everything?”
“Yes,” answered Ben.
The trainer shook his head. “You forgot one thing. An important piece of information.” He faced Gilbert. “Sire. You and Ben have risen to the top in my class, exceeding all my expectations. Had the final round of the tournament finished, I’m convinced it would have been a tie between you two. I’m not surprised you chose to take him on this journey. Sire, if you please, would you stand by Squire Ben?”
Gilbert did as the trainer asked.
“You both have worked hard and gained skills worthy of a knight. Your efforts compel me to say—” He paused to look at the king and squire. “You have earned your knighthood. Please kneel.”
Gilbert and Ben obeyed.
“Do you promise to protect the kingdom and everything it stands for?”
“I do.” They both said.
The trainer touched their shoulders with the sword. “Because of your skills and commitment to protecting the kingdom, I dub you Knights of Aerlis.”
Ben looked at Gilbert, his eyes wide and his mouth dropped open.
“I think this is the first time I have ever seen you speechless.” Gilbert nudged his best friend into their celebration elbow-fist salute.
The ceremony only took a few heartbeats but made an unforgettable lifetime change. One Gilbert never thought he’d experience. This ceremony confirmed the value of this epic mission.
Gilbert couldn’t wait to get going. “Sir Ben.” It sure felt good saying those words. “You will ride Good Knight and lead the packhorse.”
“Yes, sire.” Ben twined his fingers and stretched them until they cracked.
This had to be the best moment of his life. “Let’s mount.”
Ben swung up on Good Knight with ease, the same way Gilbert would have. Matthias groaned but managed to mount his horse without help.
A stable boy guided Promise to the entrance of the stable. “She’s ready, sire.”
Gilbert stepped up to the destrier towering over his head and stretched his left leg above his chest but could not reach the stirrup. He set his foot back on the ground. Across from the stables, his squire friends, Charles, Sybil, Daniel, Jonathon, and Justin stopped their work. They stood. Watching him flounder. The horse was too tall for him and he knew it. After a few practices, he’d learn how to swing himself up that high to mount, but the opportunity hadn’t presented itself.
He tried again. His foot slipped under the stirrup two more times, despite twisting his leg left or right, or swinging his leg higher.
A stable boy brought a small ladder and rested it beside the horse. “I’ll hold it for you while you climb, sire.”
A loud guffaw came from the squires. “Leave the king be,” shouted the trainer, “and get back to your chores.”
Men and women leaned out of the shops, gardens, and all around the bailey.
Gilbert’s arrogance had caused every one of those eyes to focus on him, a fool, a short fool climbing a ladder to mount a horse. How embarrassing. He could have leaped onto his paltry horse, Good Knight, in a heartbeat, but no, he had to prove himself more important than he was.
He slipped his left foot into the stirrup, grabbed the saddle with his left hand then released his grip of the ladder with his right.
The stable boy shouted, “Now swing your right leg over the horse.”
“Quiet. I know what to do,” grumbled Gilbert. He swung his right leg up and mostly over the massive horse. Promise shifted before he settled into the saddle. The stable swayed back and forth, and the saddle slipped from his grip. A cloud of dust poofed into the air as he hit the stable floor. Laughter broke out from carpenters, stable boys, masons, and other workers who happened to watch.
Matthias dismounted and ran with Sir Robert to his aid.
“Leave me alone. I can stand by myself.” Gilbert brushed the straw and dirt off his tunic. He’d never let his shortness stand in the way before, and he wouldn’t today either. This mission meant too much for the kingdom. He looked at the crowd.
A man shouted from the back, “Better quiet down. With all the thistles and dragons invading our country, who’s to say King Gilbert won’t use King Ivan’s evil tactics to gain control.” The laughter turned to silence.
Responding to insults only made matters worse. Gilbert learned that lesson long ago. He looked away.
Matthias turned to the people. “Come now. There is work to be done.” He stood close while Gilbert attempted to mount his horse again. After climbing the ladder to reach the stirrup, Gilbert swung his leg right up onto the saddle with ease. Matthias then mounted his palfrey.
Gilbert took a deep breath to settle his nerves. “My people,” he spoke loud for all to hear. “I’ve made some bad choices in the past. As your king, I will work to do better. Give me a chance to help you and our kingdom.”
A few citizens loosened their frowns. It was a start. And that was good.
He turned to Ben and Matthias and two guards who also mounted their horses. “Let’s go.”
Sir Robert escorted them to the East Gate.
Pausing at the arch, Gilbert handed the knight a small rolled up scroll. “I’m confident the kingdom is in good hands with you in charge. We’ll return as soon as possible. I’ve prepared this message as verification to any who question your authority.”
“Thank you, sire. I’ll try my best. May the Great King speed your journey.” Sir Robert took the sealed parchment and tucked it into his tunic.
The stable boy looked at the coin in his hand. “I’ve done what you told me,” he said to the stranger in the black hood. “The saddle shifted just enough to make him fall.”
“You did well. Good work tightening the cinch afterward without anyone noticing. There’ll be more than that one coin the next time I ask your services.”
Chapter Fourteen
Gilbert nudged Promise forward. His backside slapped the saddle in a rhythmic pattern as the trainer taught. He couldn’t decide whether holding the reins or the mane felt more secure. The stirrups were slightly too low. Gripping such a wide and strong war horse’s body with his thighs proved difficult.
He thought back to a lesson given by the trainer and remembered a few tips on how to ride a larger horse more comfortably. He focused on keeping his back aligned with the horse’s and gripping with his knees to balance himself.
For the first time in his life, fields, birds, woods, and wildlife came within touching distance. Rocks along the edge of the canyon were bigger than elephants. The reds, yellows, and browns seemed more vibrant than the paintings in the castle. He’d never tasted such freedom.
He reached his arms out to touch the wind. A floral breeze stroked his face. Wildflowers scented every breath. Shades of green grasses carpeted the earth, sunrays radiated warmth, and birds sang overhead. He had missed out on so much all these years.
Matthias caught up to him. “Should we slow the pace for a time, sire?” His breath heaved in and out.
Gilbert looked behind him. His friend, Ben, lagged with the packhorse. “I suppose we should.” Gilbert pulled back on Promise’s reins. She didn’t respond. Sir Robert had warned about destriers not following this command. He pulled back several more times, hoping she’d figure out what he meant, but she didn’t respond. He lowered the reigns and said, “Slow down, Promise.” She complied immediately. That was impossible. She couldn’t understand those words.
He turned to check on Ben’s progress. Having a close friend meant as much to him as becoming a knight. Ben was the only one bold enough to treat a prince like a friend. He leaned forward and whispered, “Slow down more, Promise.” She obeyed.
Ben caught up a few steps later. “How goes it, sire? Pokey and I have shared some exciting stories on this dusty trail so far.”
“Pokey, eh? I thought the stableman gave her a different name.”
“I guess the stableman was wrong. Just a few moments ago, Pokey told me about the exciting tim
e she had watching a spider spin a web. She said a pig wanted to take care of the spider’s babies. We’re talking real engaging stories.”
“I see.” Ben felt comfortable acting weird and that was what made their friendship fun. “I wanted to talk to you about my plan.”
“All right.”
“I’ve learned about an old building north of here. Somewhere in the lower levels, scrolls from the empire are hidden in a buried chest.”
“Buried treasure sounds good. What about it, sire?”
“It’s much more than a buried treasure. I heard the scroll has secrets from the old empire that tell how to eliminate dragons from a kingdom.”
“Come on, sire, you really think there’s a hidden scroll that has important secrets like that? Why hasn’t anyone found it and told everyone?”
Gilbert shrugged. “I don’t know. Why are other treasures found today? What if there really was a scroll that tells how to get rid of dragons? Emperor Stephanas could have hidden it in one of the castle buildings before he died. We could find it, tell everyone the secrets, and become heroes.”
“That would definitely get the people to like you, sire.”
“I thought so too.”
“How far north is this old building?”
“Near our border.” Gilbert faced him, confident in his plan.
“This old building is in Aerlis, not Malum, right, sire? You wouldn’t take us into that dark, gloomy country, would you?”
Gilbert turned away. “It’s one league farther than the border. Our mission is to save the kingdom.”
Ben sighed. “All right, your majesty. I am here to serve you.”
Off to the right sat a small, sparsely populated wood. The limbs hung bare. At this time of year, thick leaves normally covered branches. Aerlis was dying. “You still think we shouldn’t go? Look at the trees.”
Ben’s eyebrows dipped. “Sire, I can understand your desire to find the scroll, but I’m not so sure a risky trip into a land laden with dragons is worth it.”
“Risky, yes, but solving the dragon problems and restoring Aerlis are worth it. The journey to Uncle Roland’s castle would take days longer, delaying the restoration of the kingdom. He might not have the answer anyway.”
North of the canyon, Matthias pointed out a small community of farmers. “The horses need a rest, sire. There’s a creek on the far side of this village. We can cross then take a break.”
“Good idea,” said Gilbert.
As they rode, men and women leaned out of windows. They stopped their work and stared around corners. They pointed and whispered. Word spread fast, bringing more citizens to the road. They rubbed dirt off their faces and tugged at ragged clothing before bowing. Three children ran out of a hut laughing and playing. They grabbed each other’s hands and swung around, falling to the ground and giggling. A man spoke quietly to them. The children’s mouths opened, and they huddled. He grabbed one child’s hand. The others dutifully followed. The group raced to the road and bowed.
Pots over warm fires brewed the noonday meal. Ben took a deep whiff, cocked his head then took another deep whiff. “What are they making, sire? I’ve never smelled that odor before.”
Gilbert inhaled. “I have. I can’t place where, though.” He sniffed again.
Matthias scanned the outlying land. “We’ve not served any meal with this bitter scent at the castle. What an odd spice. They’re all cooking the same thing.”
Ben whispered, “No one from the community is saying a word.”
Gilbert nodded to the citizens. “Good day.” None responded
A little girl danced in the field of ragged weeds, picking a bouquet. She stopped to brush strands from her face. Her eyes brightened when she looked at Gilbert. She skipped to the road, holding her collected treasures high. “These are for you.”
A woman pushed through the crowd toward the girl. “Charlotte, what are you doing? Quickly. Get over here.”
Before the mother could pull her away, Gilbert accepted the gift. “Thank you, Charlotte.” He looked at the bundle. “Thistles.”
An elderly man raised his head. His shoulders had curled, and his skin wrinkled from age. “Beggin’ your pardon, sire.”
“Yes?”
He tugged his hat from his head. “Charlotte meant no disrespect, sire. The children are too young to remember the sweet roses that once grew here.”
Gilbert looked beyond the people and their houses to the countryside. “Roses grew in this area? Your land is practically barren. How long has it been like this?”
“Roses used to bloom as far as the eye could see in Aerlis. Not that long ago, the plants died in droves. There wasn’t a weather or soil change. Once they disappeared, thistles popped up like a plague. At first, we pulled them up like any other weed. When that didn’t work, we sent all the animals into the fields to eat them and tromp the soil then tilled the field and planted good seed. The thistles grew back even more, choking the good plants. Nothing stopped them from taking over our crops. Some families moved to Vista where the roses still bloom, and they could grow their crops. The rest of us chose to stay home.”
A boy tugged on the old man’s tunic. He whispered loudly, “Grampa, tell him about the dragons.” The old man held his knobby finger to his mouth to shush the child and shook his head.
Gilbert let them keep their secret. He went down the line, greeting the other men. He held the bouquet of thistles close to his chest. “Citizens of Aerlis. We are on a mission seeking an answer to the kingdom’s problems. Keep hope.”
Chapter Fifteen
Impatient citizens formed a line that strung from the castle’s Great Hall through the corridor into the atrium and out the doors. “Sir Robert, are you ready to hear the citizens’ issues?” asked a guard.
The newly appointed regent sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Yes. Send them in one at a time.”
The guard signaled the first citizens to proceed. A man and wife bowed. “Regent Robert, thank you for seeing us today. I am Paul, and this is my wife. We live northeast of the castle.”
Sir Robert nodded. “How may I assist you?”
“We wish to inform you of dragon activity in our community. Our son has vanished.”
Although Sir Robert had witnessed the queen’s capture by one of those monsters, he didn’t think it would happen to one of the citizens. “Are you saying a dragon took him?”
“Two nights ago, our son went to the stable to check on the horses. He never came back. We asked everyone in the community to help search for him, but no one found him. I walked every inch of our land late that night then returned to the stable. The moon shone full and bright, casting light through the window. On top of the hay in the middle of the floor were piles of dragon droppings.”
The woman dabbed a tear dripping down her cheek.
“How can you be sure the droppings were from one of those creatures?” asked Sir Robert.
“I am a farmer and know my animals. These were droppings I’d never seen before.”
“But did you see or hear one?”
“My lord?” The woman turned to her husband, speechless.
Paul put his arm on her shoulder. “No, but in our mind, there’s no other explanation.”
Sir Robert sat back in the chair. He had no answer for these poor people. “King Gilbert is traveling to Vista to learn what to do about the invasions. We’ll try our best to find your son.”
The man and wife bowed and left. If all the citizens had problems like this, he wouldn’t be able to help any of them. Initially, he thought their requests would be simple. Judging by the faces of those in the growing line, their issues would be like this dragon problem.
The next two in line wore gray cloaks with hoods drawn over their heads. Rather than stepping up to report their concern, they turned and followed Paul and his wife.
Sir Robert called for the guard and whispered. “See what those two in the hoods are up to.”
“Yes, regent.”
The morning dragged by. Sir Robert listened to concerns from countless citizens. All the issues involved dragon sightings, damage, and missing people.
When one of the guards requested permission to approach Regent Robert, he nodded approval, happy for the break.
“The hooded individuals did not appear to be from Aerlis. Witnesses reported the two spying on citizens Paul and his wife all morning. The spies fled north on horseback. A hood flew back from the head of one momentarily, revealing a female with black hair and an ornament with the crest of Malum. We gave chase but lost them when they veered off the road. I have a search party continuing the pursuit.”
“Very good, Captain. Are citizens Paul and his wife well?”
“No more than scrapes and bruises. Apparently, the hooded pair knocked them down, threatened them then fled.”
“Keep me posted.”
Gilbert and his team approached the river on the north side of the last village. Promise stepped into the flowing creek. She lowered her head and drank.
Matthias pulled alongside, his horse splashing through the water, stopping to drink too. “We’d planned to rest our horses here, sire. The road to Vista is just ahead.”
“That’s right. Did you notice the hooded man and woman sitting by the fire on the bank? Should we rest somewhere else?”
Matthias squirmed in his saddle and rubbed his lower back. “They appear harmless, sire. Probably taking a break, like us.”
The guards’ horses stepped out of the water onto the other side behind Ben and the packhorse. Gilbert eyed a place to rest and prepared to dismount when the hooded strangers called to him. “King Gilbert, right? Come and share our meal. We made too much and don’t want to throw it away.”
Gilbert looked to Matthias and Ben for their thoughts. Ben whispered, “Warm freshly-cooked food from their pot or cold bread with cheese from our supplies. Sounds like a tough question.”
Matthias dismounted. “If you have enough.” He turned and whispered to Ben, “One of the guards tastes everything before Gilbert.”