Beyond the Legend- (novel excerpts)

Beyond the Legend- excerpt- Chapter One

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Chapter 1 

The smell of death and destruction that had been left in the wake of this final war between father and son was almost unbearable. Neither of the two surviving knights, in all their vast experience, had ever seen such a fiercely devastating battle with both sides completely wiped out. Their dearest friends, brothers, knights, squires, footmen, every last one of them gone forever from this world.

Already well past the mark of noon, the sun had begun its slow and steady descent from the sky. Though it would be several hours before the blanket of night covered the earth the two surviving knights hastened their horses towards home and their new king.  As they trudged through the war torn land, they came upon a young woman searching through the dead. Though it was common in those days for the peasants to scavenge through the battlefields for whatever useful treasures they could find, it was quite unusual that there were no mass of peasants on the field. Only one tiny lady and this girl was clearly looking for someone

specific. She was small, barely larger than a child, with long red hair. She was all wrapped up in a dark blue cloak that was undoubtedly far too large for her. Sir Lucus inquired of her as they came near. “My Lady, for what do you seek here so intently among all these slain men?”

 Without looking up from her task she answered. “I search for my own fair lord, Sir. I dreamed that he would be here, still holding on to the last breath of life. I must find him.” Sir Lucas took pity on the maid, believing her to be so grief-stricken that she had gone mad.

“I fear, dear lady, your wishful vision may betray you. There are none that survived this battle, save us.”

Bravely, she held her head high and drew her large cloak closer around her neck as the wind began to stir. She brushed away the bright red curls that had blown across her face and fixed her deep green eyes on the battered knight. “I know he is here and still with a beating heart. I pray you,  my lords, allow me to continue my search in peace.

“If you were to tell us your master’s name, perhaps we could help in your search.” Sir Lucas asked.

“Alas my lord, I cannot. He was not of the Arthur’s army but of his enemy’s. You would be bound by duty and honor to execute him if you found him. I beseech you sir, return to your home and your new king and allow me to continue on my way.”

“We will leave you then to your bleak task.” Sir Bedivare sighed softly. He politely leaned down from his horse, took her hand in his and kissed it lightly. “I pray that your dream comes true, poor Lady. Farewell.” Nudging their horses the two men rode north toward Carisle leaving the young woman to continue her hunt.

It seemed to her that her efforts were unprogressive. She had searched for hours all across the small valley checking each man’s face, one by one. Yet there were so many more bodies on the hill and in the woods. Exhausted and discouraged she dropped to the ground near the edge of the tree line weeping incessantly. Frustrated she cried out. “Why are you doing this to me? Now that I have realized the purpose for my life, you set me to fail? Why? He is not here, father! I can’t find him.”

As she buried her tear streaked face in her cloak, she heard a painful groaning from deep within a patch of trees and heavy brush directly behind her. She swiftly rose to her feet, gathered up one of the horses wandering nearby and hurried into the woods.  Following the faint cries of pain she found him, the one for whom she had been so frantically searching, propped against a tree lingering at the threshold of death’s door.

 He lay against a tree stump, barely breathing, in a pool of blood. His lips were blue and his skin was as pale white as snow. Yet, even now in his weakened state she could see his unyielding strength. As she brushed the long black hair from his face, he gazed up at her. His steel blue eyes pierced her own as he begged her to end his pain. “Mercy,” his lips moved but no sound came. She could feel his agony penetrate through her fingertips into her own soul as she gently lowered him on his side and placed his head on her lap. “The king is dead, my lord, and the battle over. I’ve come to take you to safety.”