The Green Jewel
Hey guys,
I just randomly started writing today and i did just over 2000 words, i ahven't really proof-read it yet, but i thought i'd post it up here if you wanted to read it! Comments are more than welcome! Thanks guys!
The air had the smell of rain as Einar ran along the edges of the beach, he was enjoying his leisure time as he had gotten little of it since being chosen as an apprentice to Knight Master Botand of Wakanda. The muscles of his body ached, much as they had done for the last few weeks, but he was constantly assured by the old apprentices that this would soon pass as his body hardened into that of a seasoned warrior, “No pain, No gain” was a favorite saying of the old, gray soldiers who had long since retired from the war games of the younger men of the town. Einar grimaced as he thought of his drills that he had been practicing all week, he had, much to his mortification, left a shield in the snow after a days practice on his way to the mess hall, this had earned 5 long days of steady drilling under the watchful eye of Owen, the oldest apprentice. The Knight Master himself had made an appearance and drilled young Einar harder in 2 hours than Owen did the whole five days, he had been glad when the fifth day had come and he was allowed to enjoy the two days of leisure at the end of the week.
He was now slightly regretting his walk on the beach, the tide had come in early and he now had to scramble over the rocks, he had been, earlier in the day searching for stones for his sling and now carried a small sackful with him, he decided that heading up the beach was a good idea, because his mother would be a sight if she saw him drenched and muddy the way he was, he sighed and thought to get it over so that he could by put by the fire with a hot meal and a good nights sleep. The mess hall of the apprentices and the dim quarters they shared during the week made him more homesick than he thought it would. He started along the muddy track towards the village, staying close the the lights of the rude huts that housed the serfs and making his way towards the craftsman's quarters, his father, the head blacksmith of the village had been disappointed when he chose not too follow in his footsteps, but proud that his son would someday be a warrior, and if he showed enough promise, part of the Duke's personal guard.
None of this, however, currently concerned Eniar, the wind was becoming bitterly cold and the snow starting to fall again, he started to hurry, ignoring the lights and making for the straightest path, with ran through the nobleman's part of town, keeping his head down low and his eyes on the ground, he ran hoping not to run into on of the stiff-nosed nobles that surrounded the castle and the village. He was halfway home when he heard the thundering of horses hooves and quickly jumped off the path and bowed low, in it should be a noble of the court, as they galloped past he looked up curiously. He found it odd that they would be rushing at this time of the night, it was close approaching night and the last of the sun was giving way to the moon's more gentle rays What Eniar found still more curious though, was the fact that The huge group of horsemen were curiously Clad is great robes of Black, with hood drawn, they circled the man in the middle of the group, but had not the bearing of warrior, nor were their horses equipped for battle, there were no swords of shields to be seen. Eniar shrugged this off, it wasn't his business to know what Noblemen got up too, it was their business and he was nothing more than an apprentice on his way home. He moved off, jogging to get home faster, thinking of the fire and hot meal awaiting him, ready even for his mother's biting words of worry and distress at his muddied clothing and body. A dry voice in his mind nagged him about the scene he had just saw and told him to not dismiss it quite so quickly. He soon reached home however and after his mothers quick tongue has lashed him for the lateness, wetness and muddiness, she dumped him into the warm water of the washtub, feed him and sent him to his warm bed. All thoughts of cloaked and hooded black riders were driven from his mind and he soon fell into a warm contended sleep, not dreaming and not stirring to the first light of day.
* * * *
The morning dawned bright, clear and cold. The snowstorm and blown itself out the night before and the drift was piled against the castle walls and around the small village that surrounded the castle. It would be cleared tomorrow by Duke Galahad's faithful retainers and while his advisers told him he was weak for giving them two days off every week when other noblemen gave their servants only one day a fortnight, he would never relent and ask one of his retainers to shovel the snow until tomorrow. As he thought about this his mind wandered back to the guests who were currently bedded in the south quarters of his castle and his mind, again, became troubled, they bought gloomy news, the appearance of their kind could indicate other one thing, and it had been many decades since the had been seen near Wakanda, it seemed now, that peace was at an end and The Duke would soon have to be thinking about defenses, not only practical defenses but magical defenses of the castle and lands. The Duke had called for Botand and Gwydion two hours before the sun rose, and he paced his thrown room awaiting their arrival, they would oversee his defenses. Many of the more practical advisers of Galahad's were suspicious of Gwydion, not understanding the Duke's need to have a magician in his service, it seemed however that Galahad was more at the service of Gywdion than the other way around.
“Excuse me your Grace,” The Page had appeared at the door of the large room, bringing the Duke out of his thoughts
“Yes, my boy, what is it?” He asked, his always tried his best to be civil to everyone, for everyone was human and his love for his retainers made them far more loyal than being stiff-nosed and tight fisted with them.
“The Knight Master and uhh... the magician are here to see you, should I send them in?” he asked, seeming confused for the magician had no clear title in the court and in most other realms would have been considered only a cut above the serfs in societies eyes. The Pages contempt was concealed on for the Duke's benefit.
“Yes, do send them in, dear page, I thank you dear Page, now return to your quarters and the warmth of your fires” came the Duke's reply.
“Thank-you Your Highness,” The Page sounded grateful, for he was in courtly garb and it was not warm, consisting a light hose and doublet.
The Knight Master and The Magician both came stomping in, looking for all the world like they would gladly hang the Duke for a chance to return to their warm beds.
“What is the meaning of this Galahad?” Botand roared. “I was looking for a good nights sleep at this week's end, training new apprentices is not an easy job.”
“Curb your rash impulses, my bravest knight,” replied the Duke. “I have called you both here out of great urgency.”
“Out with it then,” Gwydion said. “I am cold and wet and rather hungry.”
This was a silly statement to be made, the magician was a man who enjoyed life's many pleasures, and his stomach showed it too the world, it's roundness increasing under the magicians customary red robes every year.
“I currently have guest in the south quarters who are of great concern to me, their likes have not made themselves present in Wakanda for many decades.” Galahad's concern was etched on his face, quieting the grumbles of two most respected advisors. Aware of his hold over them, he continued. “They are priests of Thean, so marked by their black robes. I am unsure how high they are as they have kept their faces covered.”
The Magicians face contorted into a look of panic, it was unusual for the magician to show any emotion, except anger at being hungry, so the Duke knew his words had given the effect he had wished. What the magician showed in panic, however, the Knight Master showed in simple confusion.
“I don't understand,” he said. “Why are these black robed men so important?”
“They usually come carrying words of prophecies and mission from Thean, who is their God and King, the last time they were seen there was a great war involving the whole kingdom, the only thing that you would know of it, good knight, was from history books. It was nigh on a century since it happened.” The magicians voice was filled with concern and thought.
“Then we must to action, defenses must be looked at, I must get along to training the apprentices so they may have some hope of surviving and fighting a battle,” Botand looked around as if hoping that all his apprentices would be there for him to issue orders to.
“not so fast, good knight,” Galahad said. “Let us take counsel with these priests before we do anything else, I have arranged counsel with the priests for Noon today, wish for you two too accompany me, for if the news is grave, you will be in charge of my defenses.”
* * * *
As noon came around three nervous men sat around the conference table in the Duke's tower, The Knight Master had chosen a spot so that any grave news given would be over heard by the servants and sent or the village, rumours spread like a fire is summer around the village and he did not wish instate any type of panic among the citizens of Wakanda.
Shortly after their arrival The priests filed into the tower, the men rushed to their feet asthey entered and bowed gracefully.
“Welcome to our humble town, good priests, I trust you have found everything in order,” the Duke stammered his way through the sentence, cursing himself for showing his nerves.
“Everyhting was wonderful, thank you, Your Highness, but, even at the risk of discourtesy, I must hasten our counsel.” replied one of the priests, he had entered first and was sat down first, followed by the other two and the Duke took this to mean he was the leader.
“Wonderful,” replied the Duke. “Let me introduce the men beside me, to my left is My personal advisor, Gwydion and to my right, my Knight Master, Botund. I believe their prescence may be vital to my kingdom.”
“Hail, good men,” replied the priest. “I did not expect to find you residing here, playing nobleman to Dukes, Gwydion, legend of your powers have reached even the secluded ears of my order, and he shall hold high your opinion of what we have to say.” The insult seemed to be barely concealed, but if it offended Gwydion, he did not show it.
“This “playing at nobleman” as you so bluntly put it, is part of something much bigger as I'm sure your aware, master priest, I am flattered that you know of me, and in knowing of me, surely you realise that I can read signs just as well as you gentlemen can.” Gwydion chuckled and his paunch jiggled as he did so, he seemed to be sharing a private joke, or perhaps something more with the priests at the table. At this point the priests pulled down their hoods to show their faces. The duke gasped as this was done, for the markings on their faces and the colour of their eyes, showed them to be of the highest order.
“As you can see, dear Duke, we are important men, and we have an important mission, and as your magician so kindly pointed out, we have read certain signs and know that they concern your small holding of the kingdom. Dear Master knight,” the priests all turned towards Botund, making him look more uncomfortable than he already seemed. “While we may not need to engage in open warfare, your ideas will be beneficial to all here.”
“Well then, shall we get down the business, dear priests, we may talk a long while for I have instructed my servants to bring us refreshments.” The Duke was getting more and more eager to find out what these strange men wanted of him.
* * * *
Latham paced his room, picking up his books and scrolls as he tried to distract himself from his masters absence. Gywdion had been gone since dawn with only cursory instructions that Latham should continue his studies where they had left off yesterday and that he would be back at supper-time for their evening debate.
I just randomly started writing today and i did just over 2000 words, i ahven't really proof-read it yet, but i thought i'd post it up here if you wanted to read it! Comments are more than welcome! Thanks guys!
The air had the smell of rain as Einar ran along the edges of the beach, he was enjoying his leisure time as he had gotten little of it since being chosen as an apprentice to Knight Master Botand of Wakanda. The muscles of his body ached, much as they had done for the last few weeks, but he was constantly assured by the old apprentices that this would soon pass as his body hardened into that of a seasoned warrior, “No pain, No gain” was a favorite saying of the old, gray soldiers who had long since retired from the war games of the younger men of the town. Einar grimaced as he thought of his drills that he had been practicing all week, he had, much to his mortification, left a shield in the snow after a days practice on his way to the mess hall, this had earned 5 long days of steady drilling under the watchful eye of Owen, the oldest apprentice. The Knight Master himself had made an appearance and drilled young Einar harder in 2 hours than Owen did the whole five days, he had been glad when the fifth day had come and he was allowed to enjoy the two days of leisure at the end of the week.
He was now slightly regretting his walk on the beach, the tide had come in early and he now had to scramble over the rocks, he had been, earlier in the day searching for stones for his sling and now carried a small sackful with him, he decided that heading up the beach was a good idea, because his mother would be a sight if she saw him drenched and muddy the way he was, he sighed and thought to get it over so that he could by put by the fire with a hot meal and a good nights sleep. The mess hall of the apprentices and the dim quarters they shared during the week made him more homesick than he thought it would. He started along the muddy track towards the village, staying close the the lights of the rude huts that housed the serfs and making his way towards the craftsman's quarters, his father, the head blacksmith of the village had been disappointed when he chose not too follow in his footsteps, but proud that his son would someday be a warrior, and if he showed enough promise, part of the Duke's personal guard.
None of this, however, currently concerned Eniar, the wind was becoming bitterly cold and the snow starting to fall again, he started to hurry, ignoring the lights and making for the straightest path, with ran through the nobleman's part of town, keeping his head down low and his eyes on the ground, he ran hoping not to run into on of the stiff-nosed nobles that surrounded the castle and the village. He was halfway home when he heard the thundering of horses hooves and quickly jumped off the path and bowed low, in it should be a noble of the court, as they galloped past he looked up curiously. He found it odd that they would be rushing at this time of the night, it was close approaching night and the last of the sun was giving way to the moon's more gentle rays What Eniar found still more curious though, was the fact that The huge group of horsemen were curiously Clad is great robes of Black, with hood drawn, they circled the man in the middle of the group, but had not the bearing of warrior, nor were their horses equipped for battle, there were no swords of shields to be seen. Eniar shrugged this off, it wasn't his business to know what Noblemen got up too, it was their business and he was nothing more than an apprentice on his way home. He moved off, jogging to get home faster, thinking of the fire and hot meal awaiting him, ready even for his mother's biting words of worry and distress at his muddied clothing and body. A dry voice in his mind nagged him about the scene he had just saw and told him to not dismiss it quite so quickly. He soon reached home however and after his mothers quick tongue has lashed him for the lateness, wetness and muddiness, she dumped him into the warm water of the washtub, feed him and sent him to his warm bed. All thoughts of cloaked and hooded black riders were driven from his mind and he soon fell into a warm contended sleep, not dreaming and not stirring to the first light of day.
* * * *
The morning dawned bright, clear and cold. The snowstorm and blown itself out the night before and the drift was piled against the castle walls and around the small village that surrounded the castle. It would be cleared tomorrow by Duke Galahad's faithful retainers and while his advisers told him he was weak for giving them two days off every week when other noblemen gave their servants only one day a fortnight, he would never relent and ask one of his retainers to shovel the snow until tomorrow. As he thought about this his mind wandered back to the guests who were currently bedded in the south quarters of his castle and his mind, again, became troubled, they bought gloomy news, the appearance of their kind could indicate other one thing, and it had been many decades since the had been seen near Wakanda, it seemed now, that peace was at an end and The Duke would soon have to be thinking about defenses, not only practical defenses but magical defenses of the castle and lands. The Duke had called for Botand and Gwydion two hours before the sun rose, and he paced his thrown room awaiting their arrival, they would oversee his defenses. Many of the more practical advisers of Galahad's were suspicious of Gwydion, not understanding the Duke's need to have a magician in his service, it seemed however that Galahad was more at the service of Gywdion than the other way around.
“Excuse me your Grace,” The Page had appeared at the door of the large room, bringing the Duke out of his thoughts
“Yes, my boy, what is it?” He asked, his always tried his best to be civil to everyone, for everyone was human and his love for his retainers made them far more loyal than being stiff-nosed and tight fisted with them.
“The Knight Master and uhh... the magician are here to see you, should I send them in?” he asked, seeming confused for the magician had no clear title in the court and in most other realms would have been considered only a cut above the serfs in societies eyes. The Pages contempt was concealed on for the Duke's benefit.
“Yes, do send them in, dear page, I thank you dear Page, now return to your quarters and the warmth of your fires” came the Duke's reply.
“Thank-you Your Highness,” The Page sounded grateful, for he was in courtly garb and it was not warm, consisting a light hose and doublet.
The Knight Master and The Magician both came stomping in, looking for all the world like they would gladly hang the Duke for a chance to return to their warm beds.
“What is the meaning of this Galahad?” Botand roared. “I was looking for a good nights sleep at this week's end, training new apprentices is not an easy job.”
“Curb your rash impulses, my bravest knight,” replied the Duke. “I have called you both here out of great urgency.”
“Out with it then,” Gwydion said. “I am cold and wet and rather hungry.”
This was a silly statement to be made, the magician was a man who enjoyed life's many pleasures, and his stomach showed it too the world, it's roundness increasing under the magicians customary red robes every year.
“I currently have guest in the south quarters who are of great concern to me, their likes have not made themselves present in Wakanda for many decades.” Galahad's concern was etched on his face, quieting the grumbles of two most respected advisors. Aware of his hold over them, he continued. “They are priests of Thean, so marked by their black robes. I am unsure how high they are as they have kept their faces covered.”
The Magicians face contorted into a look of panic, it was unusual for the magician to show any emotion, except anger at being hungry, so the Duke knew his words had given the effect he had wished. What the magician showed in panic, however, the Knight Master showed in simple confusion.
“I don't understand,” he said. “Why are these black robed men so important?”
“They usually come carrying words of prophecies and mission from Thean, who is their God and King, the last time they were seen there was a great war involving the whole kingdom, the only thing that you would know of it, good knight, was from history books. It was nigh on a century since it happened.” The magicians voice was filled with concern and thought.
“Then we must to action, defenses must be looked at, I must get along to training the apprentices so they may have some hope of surviving and fighting a battle,” Botand looked around as if hoping that all his apprentices would be there for him to issue orders to.
“not so fast, good knight,” Galahad said. “Let us take counsel with these priests before we do anything else, I have arranged counsel with the priests for Noon today, wish for you two too accompany me, for if the news is grave, you will be in charge of my defenses.”
* * * *
As noon came around three nervous men sat around the conference table in the Duke's tower, The Knight Master had chosen a spot so that any grave news given would be over heard by the servants and sent or the village, rumours spread like a fire is summer around the village and he did not wish instate any type of panic among the citizens of Wakanda.
Shortly after their arrival The priests filed into the tower, the men rushed to their feet asthey entered and bowed gracefully.
“Welcome to our humble town, good priests, I trust you have found everything in order,” the Duke stammered his way through the sentence, cursing himself for showing his nerves.
“Everyhting was wonderful, thank you, Your Highness, but, even at the risk of discourtesy, I must hasten our counsel.” replied one of the priests, he had entered first and was sat down first, followed by the other two and the Duke took this to mean he was the leader.
“Wonderful,” replied the Duke. “Let me introduce the men beside me, to my left is My personal advisor, Gwydion and to my right, my Knight Master, Botund. I believe their prescence may be vital to my kingdom.”
“Hail, good men,” replied the priest. “I did not expect to find you residing here, playing nobleman to Dukes, Gwydion, legend of your powers have reached even the secluded ears of my order, and he shall hold high your opinion of what we have to say.” The insult seemed to be barely concealed, but if it offended Gwydion, he did not show it.
“This “playing at nobleman” as you so bluntly put it, is part of something much bigger as I'm sure your aware, master priest, I am flattered that you know of me, and in knowing of me, surely you realise that I can read signs just as well as you gentlemen can.” Gwydion chuckled and his paunch jiggled as he did so, he seemed to be sharing a private joke, or perhaps something more with the priests at the table. At this point the priests pulled down their hoods to show their faces. The duke gasped as this was done, for the markings on their faces and the colour of their eyes, showed them to be of the highest order.
“As you can see, dear Duke, we are important men, and we have an important mission, and as your magician so kindly pointed out, we have read certain signs and know that they concern your small holding of the kingdom. Dear Master knight,” the priests all turned towards Botund, making him look more uncomfortable than he already seemed. “While we may not need to engage in open warfare, your ideas will be beneficial to all here.”
“Well then, shall we get down the business, dear priests, we may talk a long while for I have instructed my servants to bring us refreshments.” The Duke was getting more and more eager to find out what these strange men wanted of him.
* * * *
Latham paced his room, picking up his books and scrolls as he tried to distract himself from his masters absence. Gywdion had been gone since dawn with only cursory instructions that Latham should continue his studies where they had left off yesterday and that he would be back at supper-time for their evening debate.