Sir Zanny

Chapter 1: A Humble Beginning

Zanny had lived his entire life in the small village on the outskirts of the kingdom. His father was a blacksmith, and his mother tended to the small garden in front of their humble cottage. Zanny had grown up around the forge, spending countless hours watching his father work the bellows, shaping metal into intricate shapes and forms. From a young age, he had learned the trade of blacksmithing, and as he grew older, he had become a skilled apprentice, working side by side with his father to create weapons, horseshoes, and all manner of metal goods.

Despite his love for the craft, Zanny couldn't help but feel a sense of restlessness. He longed for something more than the simple life of a village blacksmith. He dreamed of adventure and excitement, of traveling to far-off lands and battling fierce monsters.

As he worked in the forge, sweat pouring down his brow, he would often imagine himself as a great warrior, wielding a sword of gleaming steel and fighting for honor and glory.

But Zanny's dreams would soon become a reality, as he stumbled upon a secret that would set him on a path he could never have imagined.

It all started one evening, as Zanny was making his way back from the village market. He had been sent to pick up supplies for the forge, and he was hurrying home before the sun set. As he passed by his parents' cottage, he heard muffled voices coming from inside. Curiosity getting the better of him, he crept closer, trying to make out what was being said.

At first, he couldn't hear anything clearly, but as he strained his ears, he caught a snippet of conversation that made his heart skip a beat.

"The king will be pleased," his father was saying. "We've done well to keep this secret for so long."

Zanny's mind raced with questions. What secret were his parents keeping from him? What connection did they have to the king?

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he crept up to the window and peered inside.

His parents were sitting at the table, poring over a stack of papers. They looked up as he approached, their faces tense and serious.

"Zanny," his mother said, her voice soft but stern. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard you talking," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "What secret are you keeping from me?"

His parents exchanged a worried glance, and Zanny felt a knot form in his stomach.

"It's not something we can talk about right now," his father said. "But we promise, we'll tell you everything soon. Just trust us."

Zanny felt a sense of disappointment and frustration well up inside him. He had always been close to his parents, and the fact that they were keeping secrets from him made him feel as though he didn't know them as well as he thought he did. He knew he couldn't force them to tell him the truth, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he left the cottage and made his way back to the forge.

For the next few days, Zanny tried his best to push the conversation with his parents to the back of his mind and focus on his work. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

One afternoon, as he was hammering away at a piece of metal, he heard a commotion outside. Curious, he stepped out of the forge and saw a group of knights riding into the village. They were dressed in gleaming armor, their swords at their sides, and they looked every bit as imposing as Zanny had imagined.

As they rode past him, one of the knights slowed down and looked at him intently. "You there," he said, his voice booming. "What's your name?"

"I'm Zanny," he replied, feeling a sense of unease at the knight's scrutiny.