Author Games: A Knight's Valor

Group Five: Finn Silverstein, Edmund, Willow Alden

Like a domino affect the wild crowd falls silent as three more shadowy figures step out into the sunlit arena. A girl curtseys to the King and Queen, her height makes her moves clumsy and awkward. Next to her two males' bows. The smaller of the two boys almost falls face first to the floor when he bends too low. None of them move as the King strides forward and ties a single piece of black material over piercing blue eyes the tallest member of the group. A muscular male with neatly styled caramel brown hair who goes by the name Edmund.

The Queen also stalks forward taking the other male by the hand. For a moment confusion fills his beady brown eyes before he quickly masks it with a face of indifference. Together they disappear behind a large stone wall. They reappear a few seconds later at the top of the wall where the Queen promptly begins to tie the unkempt, skinny male in thick, heavy ropes. When she is finished she leans over and whispers into his ear. Whatever she says is inaudible to the people that surround them. So close to his ear strands of dirty blonde hair sway gently as she breathes. When she straightens up she disappears again leaving Finn alone on top of the wall.

While the two males were taken to their places the final member of the trio stood watching inquisitively with large grey eyes as if she is trying to memorise everything that is going on. The King turns towards her with arms outstretched. "You all know what role you play in this challenge. Good luck and may truth and honour prevail." His deep voice echoes though the vast space, bouncing off the large wall into the ears of each member of the eager audience.

Willow gently takes Edmund's arm and leads him towards the base of the wall. His long arms reach out testing the air in front of him. When they come into contact with the wall he visibly relaxes. A sigh escapes his lips almost inaudible to his guide. Willow cocks her head one side, confusion filling her grey eyes.

Finn peers over the edge of the wall and shouts down to his blind rescuer. "Reach up with your right hand. There should be a handhold just above your head. There is another one for your left hand but It is quite a stretch."

Rubbing her eyes Willow takes another look at the wall. "He can make that it's only just to his left." She calls up.

"It's over an arm's length away." Finn argues.

Willow shakes her head. "I know your view might be different as you have a bird's eye view but I can see one closer and easier to reach than the handhold you are talking about."

"She's lying." Finn calls down. "Don't trust her."

Looking up Willow stares at Finn bewildered "I'm not lying!"

"She is!"

Edmund quickly finds the handhold for his right hand. Gingerly he lifts his left hand randomly grasping at the wall. "I can't find the one that you are talking about.... Hang on I found it. You just probably cannot see it from your position."

Shooting questions at Finn with her eyes Willow's brow furrows in concern. The recipient of the unspoken questions ignores them and instead turns his attention back to the wall. "There is a foothold for your left foot about a foot off the ground just in front of it. Can you find it?"

Edmund slowly moves his foot and finds the foothold. "Got it." He yells up.

"Right now its but of a step up but there is a foothold for your right foot about a meter up. You might need to jump up to reach it."

"But I can see another one lower than that which will be easier to reach." Willow interjects.

"No. No. No. Stop right there. She's lying. Trying to trip you up. She doesn't want you to rescue me!" Finn yells desperately.