A Knight's Pledge

A Knight's Pledge - Chapter One

Chapter One

Years later…

“Something must be done milord.”

“I know that Hudson, but what could we do? We’ve sent many a knight to his death fighting that scourge.”

Hudson bowed reverently, “With all due respect milord, but there’s still one knight in the Realm we haven’t asked.”

The Lord of Light sighed.

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this though, Hudson.”

Hudson acknowledged with a tilt of his head. “I’ll see the arrangements made immediately milord.”

The Lord of Light waved his hand at his faithful assistant and slumped in his throne. Hudson hurried to the door.

Dyson groaned and clutched his head to ease the pounding in his ears. When it wouldn’t abate, he lifted his bleary eyes to the window. A shadow filled the space and he realised the pounding had been the door, not his addled head.

Dyson sat staring at the door wondering, A. who would be daft enough to seek him out and B. why wasn’t the door being answered.

He took stock of his surroundings and remembered the staff walking out on him. By the complete shambles of his abode, it must have been a while ago. He couldn’t remember when but he recognised that his house shouldn’t look like the local refuse dump.

He swayed as he stood. The pounding continued on the door and shouting now accompanied it.

“Dyson! Dammit man, let me in!”

A spark of recognition flared in the depths of his whiskey soaked brain as he staggered to answer the summons. Sunlight seared his retinas as he flung open door. His old friend Hudson stood on the walk looking determined and a bit worried.

A slow smile spread on Dyson’s face, (slow because his skin felt as if it would split if he went any faster) “Hudson! Haven’t seen you in an age old friend!”

Hudson quirked a brow at him in response, “You shunned everyone Dyson, no one has been stupid enough to come near you.”

Dyson frowned. Memories tried to surface but were held down by the layer of whiskey he’d consumed last eve (something akin to oil and water). His confused expression must have touched something in Hudson.

“Can we go inside, Dyson?”

Dyson glanced over his shoulder at the shambles behind him and ducked his head. “It’s a mess. Sit out here?” He gestured to some rickety looking chairs on the porch and Hudson took a seat. Hudson took a deep breath but said nothing, as it reluctant to start the conversation.

Dyson muttered, “Just spit it out.”

Shoulders slumped, Hudson began. “We need your help.”

Dyson shook his head, “No way. Find someone else.”

“There is no one else. They’ve all gone.”

“That’s not possible. There are plenty of men in the village happy to help the Crown. Go and ask one of them.” He scowled. The Lord’s support must be floundering if Hudson’s asking for his help.

Hudson leaned his head on the back of the chair. “Dyson, there is no one left to fight for the Crown. They’ve all been deployed over many cycles and never returned. Their wives and children have been running the villages. The oldest boy is only eight and we can’t send him away.” Hudson let out a sigh that held the weight of the realms in it.

Dyson sat silent. Could there really only be him left to fight whatever threatened the Realm? “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m still persona non grata around the Realm. I’ll never live that mistake down. Never be pardoned for it. Not that I ever expected to be. I figured I could drink myself to an early grave and save everyone the burden of my presence.”

Hudson shifted his head to look him in the eye, “Well, it was a really dumb thing you did.”

Dyson nodded. There wasn’t anything to say in his defence. Never had been. Trying to deflower the princess on a drunken bet had been the singularly most stupid thing he’d ever done. And he’d done some pretty stupid stuff. He was just glad he’d never have to see her again.