by Brad Clark
“Yes, there is still much food left!” Marik replied heartily.
“No, not that. To my home.” After a moment, he added softly, “Or what I call home. This place is not for me. I do not belong here.”
“The princess has called you to be her Champion! You cannot abandon her.” He felt his words coming out flat and uninspiring. He didn’t even believe it himself.
“Her Champion?” Conner said, turning away from the gulf and towards Marik. “I am a nobody. A commoner. I stumbled across her in the forest. I am no more her Champion than…than…”
“Then what? Than who? It is her choice. You really don’t have much say in the matter!” His words were meant to be lighthearted, but Conner did not take it that way.
“Oh? I am not bound to her. I do not owe her anything.”
“No. You don’t,” Marik replied. “But before you leave, before you make a decision, think about something. Think about your life, and this world, and maybe what you can give back to it.”
Conner gave Marik a funny look. “What do you mean?”
“I know you might feel like nobody now, and well, in the scheme of things, right now, I guess you are nobody. But I think you have a chance to do something that not many young men have, and that is to make a difference in the world. Think about it, what would you do if you just went back home. You would live your life. Hunt for food, maybe find a wife and get married. Raise a family. But what if you had the chance to do something more, to be something more? Why do you think the nobles send their boys to the castle to be trained towards knighthood? Mostly because they know that they have done something productive in their own lives and they are trying to get their boys to do the same. But now you have a chance to do the same. You can do more than what you could have imagined."
”I cannot be a knight," Conner said. "I have no noble blood."
"You don’t need to be a knight to make difference," Marik said. But even though he said the words, he didn’t know if he really meant them. Being a knight did make a difference. Everyone respected a knight and looked up to them. They didn’t have to prove themselves to anyone. He fell silent, unable to keep up the argument. How could he convince this commoner to be more than what any other commoner could be, when the rest of the world would be against him?
Conner waited for Marik to argue more, but the conversation had stopped. They both knew that without noble blood, he was always going to be a commoner. He looked again out to the ocean, out to nothingness. The black sea merged into the black sky at the horizon. There were some stars, but mostly the high clouds obscured them. The moon was hidden, so there wasn’t much light other than what the torches lit. He knew there was more out there than what he could see. Marik had said that the Taran Empire could actually be seen from the cliffs. And beyond the empire, what was past that? He did not know. He knew the empire covered most of the continent, but there had to be an end to it, right? He had a sudden need to see the world, to see what he did not see, to know what he did not know. He had wandered the forests and hills and woods of Karmon, but there was so much more to the world. There were cities many times the size of South Karmon. There were buildings that would make the castle here look like an ant hill. He wanted to see the land on the other side of the gulf. An itch started and he knew he couldn’t scratch it. But he would always be just a commoner. A peasant. A servant of the king.
“I am just a common hunter,” Conner replied meekly. "It is who I am. All that I am."
“And there is great hunting around here. And up in the mountains. Each fall, we take a long trip up into the mountains and hunt elk. That is an amazing time. You can always do the things you like to do, but what about doing things you were meant to do?”
“Meant to do?” Conner asked.
Marik let out a long sigh, still unable to get the words out of his head. “This is a conversation best suited for Master Goshin.”
“Who is that?”
Marik let a smile sneak out. “Someone you will likely meet in the near future. Someone very wise, much wiser than me. Someone who can make his words mean something.”
Conner watched Marik struggle. He could tell that the ranger wanted to say more. His eyes told him that there was more to say. But he had heard the words and he listened. He knew that he was good with the bow, better than anyone else that he knew. He always had been. He could run for miles without tiring. Farther than anyone else that he knew. He was strong, even though he didn’t look like it. He wasn’t the strongest he knew, that would be Orag, who farmed next to his aunt. But he could chop wood as quickly and as long as anyone else he knew. He loved to hunt, loved the time alone in the woods. But was there more? If there was, what was it?
“Do you really think there is something here for me?” Conner asked.
“Of course” Marik said. “But you have to make yourself ready for whatever it is. Stay. Stay here and learn. Learn what you can and then you can decide what to do. Even if it is for the summer season, just give it a try. And if it doesn’t work out, then you can always return to your village.”
"I do know now..." Conner said. He cut off his words as he caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
“So this is where you are hiding!" Princess Elissa said from the edges of darkness.
His heart stopped at the sight of her. She was dressed in a long shimmering blue gown that exposed her shoulders and lifted her young bosom. It was not the gown of girl, but of a woman, and he was stunned.
She walked to him and touched her lips to his cheek. “Thank you, again, my Champion. So what are you two talking about? You both look so serious!”
“Conner is considering leaving,” Marik said softly.
Elissa stepped back, astonishment clearly on her face. “Is this true?”
Conner looked at his feet. “I do not know how to be your Champion,” he said softly. “I am not worthy. I am just a commoner.” He looked up, and waved at the garden and the castle. “I do not belong here.”
The look of horror on Elissa’s face quickly went away. She stepped forward and took his hands in hers. She ignored his sweaty palms. “My dear Conner, you are strong and brave, and that is all that you need to be my Champion.”
“You will learn the sword,” Marik said from behind. “You are smart and if you are willing, then you can learn to be the best.”
“I am not a noble, I do not have the blood of knights in me.”
Elissa squeezed his hands. “I am not asking for your blood, but your heart.”
They locked eyes for a long time. He could not look away. Before this moment, he had not known what love was, but now he did. Without knowing why, he tucked this moment away. It was a feeling that he would never forget, never want to forget. He was in love with Elissa, and he did not know why or how. His heart was bursting with what he felt for her, and no words could ever express what he felt. Suddenly, he knew what he could do. He knew that he could be her champion, to watch and protect her, to be for her whatever she needed of him.
Then you have my heart, he said in his head. The words passed between them without a sound, and he knew from her eyes that she heard him. He squeezed her hands, gripping them firmly.
After what seemed only an instant for them, but seemed an eternity for Marik and the guards who stood in the darkness, they released hands. “I have guests to return to,” she said quietly. “But this feast is as much for you as it is for me, you should come and be announced to the city.”
“I think Conner is feeling a little overwhelmed, princess,” Marik said softly. “He is unused to this attention.”
“Very well, then, my Champion,” she said with a smile. “I shall attend my guests, and you enjoy the feast. And tomorrow, we will walk the labyrinth together. Just you and I. There is a wonderful prize at the end, you know.”
Conner smiled back and replied, “So I’ve heard.”
They watched her leave. The guards who escorted her fell into step behind. At the edge of the darkness, her head turned a
nd Conner could see her face and her smile.
"Food," Marik said, slapping Conner on the back. "It is time for food."
Chapter Nine
It was a cold morning, probably one of the last really cold ones until fall returned. Frost covered everything with a light shimmering glaze, reflecting the light of the full, bright moon. The sun, still yet to rise, cast a red glow on the far away horizon. As it crept up towards its afternoon peak, it would bring a pleasant warmth to the spring day. But for now, there was a chill in Brace Hawkden’s body. He checked his horse over one last time. With a tug here and a pull there, he ensured that the saddle was tight. He patted the horse on its cheek and it responded with a snort, its breath visible in the cold air. Brace wore an old brown cloak that had been stitched and patched more times that he could count. It was his favorite cloak, but too many battles had rendered it almost useless. But now, needing something to disguise his appearance, it worked for him. He wore nothing that indicated he was a Knight. But he did keep his sword, but it was wrapped in thick cloth and strapped tightly to his saddle. It was the one item that he could not leave behind. He borrowed an old hunting bow and a handful of arrows from one of the castle’s cooks. They wouldn’t serve well in a fight, but if he needed to bring down a deer, they would work fine enough.
“It is an early morning,” Marik said from behind.
Brace turned, surprised. “Sir Marik? What are you doing up this early?” His words were sharper than he wanted as he was taken aback at being discovered. It was not that he was trying to be deceitful in leaving so early, he just didn’t want to make his departure well known. The last thing he wanted to do was to be asked a bunch of questions.
“Perseus has a split hoof and I was going to tend to him,” Marik replied. “Your dress seems a bit casual.”
“I have some business to attend to,” Brace said curtly. Again, saying more than he wanted. Marik’s appearance had really thrown him off.
Marik said nothing, he just watched his friend continue to pack provisions into saddle bags. Clearly something was going on, Brace was not acting normal. Although Brace was not known to wear ceremonial garb like other knights, he would also never be seen in something so tattered and worn.
“It is to the north,” Brace continued. “I will be gone for a week or so. I left instructions for Dell to see to things while I was gone. But I will tell you as well, as I saw you and that Conner boy together last night. The king decided that it would be best if the boy trains with the squires.”
“Oh,” Marik replied cautiously. “Isn’t he a bit old?”
“Not the young squires-in-training,” Brace said, referring to the group of young boys who were not yet truly squires. “He is to train with those his own age.”
“He does not know swordplay, or horsemanship!” Marik countered. “Yes, he can ride a horse, but fight from a horse? He is far from ready. They will eat him alive!”
“He is to be trained in skills that will allow him to be the princess’ champion. I do not foresee him competing in jousting events, so I do not think it is necessary for him to learn to fight from a horse. But he will need to learn how to fight and be a warrior.”
“Learning with boys that have already been training for five, six years?” Marik asked.
“As soon as he is awake, he will see Master Goshin to be fitted with a sword,” Brace said firmly and with meaning.
“Master Goshin?” Marik repeated.
“It is the king’s wish,” Brace answered the unasked question. “You will see that Conner is taken care of. He is still hardly more than a boy. Young and impressionable. We must do what we can to protect him, the princess, and the kingdom.”
“Conner? Yes, of course.” He moved closer to Brace, interrupting the knight captain’s preparations. “He is a good young man, you know. He is more than worthy of this calling.”
“Worthiness will not save him in battle”, Brace replied sharply. With a firm hand on his shoulder, the Knight a Captain moved Marik aside so that he could finish filling the saddle bag. “But hopefully it will not come to that.”
“This conversation must go no further than you and me.”
“Understood,” Marik said.
“This is from both your friend and your Knight Captain,” Brace reiterated.
“Sir Brace, I understand.”
“Do you? If the king were to fall in battle, or get sick, then the throne will be up for the taking. It would be within Elissa’s right to claim the throne, but she is…well, she is a she. No woman has ever held the throne alone. And now, with him declared to the world as her Champion, it will not fall upon the Knights of Karmon to stand in her stead in battle, or in duel. It will be Conner. He is her champion who will stand in her stead, who will defend her honor. If this Champion is not worthy, is not skilled, is not ready to defend her honor, then at best we will have civil war, and at worst, the kingdom will fall.”
Marik was silent as he pondered the words. “The fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance,” he said softly.
Brace laughed at Marik’s serious tone. “That is why we have a job, my friend. The fate of the kingdom always is hanging in balance. It is our job to ensure that the kingdom survives.”
“Is that where you are going?” Marik asked. He did not know what his old friend was up to, but he just knew that things were not right with him recently. He was not known to disappear for days on end, and now this was the fourth time within the past few months that he left for an extended period. When Brace didn’t respond, but turned his head away, Marik added, “I will never question your loyalty, you know that. I have told you that countless times, and I will continue to do so. But…”
Brace hung his head. He was trapped, and now caught. He was thankful for his friend. He just wished that he could share everything with him. He would, but that would also put Marik in the same danger that he was. After a moment, he said, “Kings come and go, but the kingdom must survive. If we do our jobs, then King Thorndale will rule for many more years and our little kingdom will not only survive, but thrive. Remember, our duty is always to the kingdom first. Remember that.”
Marik took a step back to allow Brace to mount the horse. Without another word, and a slight tap of his heels, Brace guided his horse out of the stables. Marik watched as his friend left, waiting until he went under the gate and into the city. He didn’t like where the conversation went. His trust in his friend had been solid, but now he just wasn’t sure what to believe. Brace Hawkden was the bravest and most courageous man that he knew. He would never betray his king or his kingdom. But the words “kings come and go” resonated through his mind and he didn’t like the impression that he was left with.
***
The king watched from his tower. He had climbed the two flights of stairs from his bed chamber to see the moon rise from the horizon before the sun did. It was one of the few chances that he could spend time alone in his thoughts without having to think about the kingdom. It was cold, but he had a warm blanket pulled around his shoulders. His chief attendant, Arpwin, a man who had also served the king’s father, tended the looking glass that the king used to get a closer look at the moon. With the same gentleness reserved for newborn babies, Arpwin used a soft cloth to gently clean the glass at the end of the long tube. While performing his delicate ritual, he glanced up to see the king not looking at the moon, but out towards the garden.
Most of it was cast in darkness, but the center of the labyrinth was clearly visible. There was just a small tree, its green leaves reflecting the bright white light of the moon. Next to the tree was a simple stone marker.
“I do miss her,” King Thorndale said softly.
Arpwin set the looking glass into its stand, letting his king weep silently. His heart broke for his king, sad and lonely for so many years.
“In time, she will grow up and will have no need of a champion,” the king suddenly said.
“Princess Elissa?” Arpwin asked. “Yes, she will grow up to be strong,
like her mother. And father.”
“Not strong enough,” the king said. He let out a long sigh. “If only I had a son.” He turned to see the frown on Arpwin’s face. “Princess Elissa is a wonderful daughter. I love her with all my heart. But this kingdom needs an heir.”
Their heads both turned at the sound of a horse leaving the castle grounds. Hooves tapped over cobblestones, echoing through the courtyard and up to their ears.
“Sir Hawkden should return within a week or so with an answer,” the king said. He looked down, as if he were ashamed at the words that were about to come out of his mouth. Quietly he said, “And then I shall have one.”
“Sire?” Arpwin asked with a raised eyebrow. Arpwin was more than just the king’s faithful attendant. Although he spent most of his days tending to the king’s needs, he was with the king at his most vulnerable times. He knew more than the advisors because he knew the king better. He could read his moods and many times, knew what he was thinking. But it seems that the king was able to keep some secrets to himself.
“Sire, what have you planned?” There was a bit of astonishment, a bit of fear, and a bit of accusation in his voice. He loved his king and was wholly devoted to him, but he had thought that the rash and desperate acts of his youth were long past.
“If I were to pass on without an heir, this kingdom would be torn in two,” the king explained. “There’s that fat idiot Neffenmark to the north. I trust him as far as I can throw him, but he has just enough of an army to hold the north and keep the Thellians at bay. To the east, Lord Kirwal has the prosperity of his city, Tyre, but no army. If Lord Kirwal didn’t hate Neffenmark as much as I did, I would be afraid of them joining forces. But with no heir…” He let the words be left unsaid. He knew that with no ruler in the castle, Neffenmark would try to claim the throne as his, and ride his army against the city. There would be blood, and much of it. King Thorndale had no doubt that his knights would prevail, but many good men would perish. Someday he would have to do something about Neffenmark, but because he held the north against Thell, he was more valuable as a vassal than as an enemy.