Dragon's Call & Other Stories of Magic and Mystery

Knights' Tale

Nobles, courtiers, and peasants gathered in the courtyard, pennants snapping in the wind as the trumpeters announced the arrival of King Endrik.

"Today begins the final trial for the hand of my fair daughter, Princess Leonore," the king began. Only a slight stoop to his shoulders and a smattering of gray in his beard revealed the age of this once-warrior king. His voice was still powerful and strong as it floated to the ears of all onlookers.

"The valiant knight that succeeds in this trial will marry the princess and win half of my kingdom. Sir Wolfram and Sir Gaven, both of you have proven your might and valor where so many others have failed. You have found your way through the labyrinth and returned with a golden apple and have fought the mighty dragon and returned with a single, silver scale."

The crowd cheered the two men standing near the king on the platform. The first, Sir Wolfram, towered over the other and stood even taller than the king. His silver armor shone in the early morning sun, blinding any onlooker who stared at him for too long. Still, he drew the eye, his size and form causing maidens, matrons, and even a few of the men to feel faint. Here was a man who seemed destined for legend.

Almost lost in his shadow stood the second of the two challengers. Sir Gaven was slight and wore only light, leather armor. Where Sir Wolfram wore a giant battle axe on his back, Sir Gaven had nothing but a dagger. His features were pleasing enough, but lacked Wolfram's rugged good looks. If he hadn't been a challenger for the hand of the princess, one might have thought him a passing minstrel rather than a knight. No one would discount his chances now that he had succeeded at the first two trials, but the betting in the crowd was distinctly in Sir Wolfram's favor.

"Our court wizard has prepared this final trial. He has erected a mountain, made of glass, and placed our beloved daughter and princess in a tower at its pinnacle. The first of these knights to reach the princess shall prove himself worthy of her and shall gain half of our kingdom as well. We wish you good fortune and god speed, sir knights!"

Cheers rose again as the two men mounted their steeds, a huge war horse for Sir Wolfram and a light charger for Sir Gaven. The crowd parted to allow the men to proceed out of the castle and depart for the glass mountain, towering over the forest surrounding its base. A few children ran after the horses, cheering and shouting, but fell away soon, returning to chores and lessons. They would wait with the rest of the kingdom for the return of the conquering hero.

Once on the open road, Sir Wolfram's larger horse left the smaller, lighter steed far behind, cantering through the forest toward the goal. Sir Gaven made no attempt to spur his own horse out of a light trot, allowing the larger knight to charge ahead.

Sir Wolfram arrived first, his giant steed's heavy hooves clomping over the path leading to the base of the mountain. He spurred the horse to a charge and they made it ten, fifteen, even twenty yards up the steep mountainside, before the horse lost traction and they slid back down. Sir Wolfram merely circled around and tried again, this time gaining thirty yards up the slick slope before sliding back down. Undaunted, he dismounted and slipped the reins over his horse's neck, leaving him to graze while he approached the mountain on foot. On his own, he was able to climb a little further than he had while mounted, but the end result was the same, he slid back down the glassy surface within a few dozen yards. The slope was too steep and too slick for him to get purchase. He merely shrugged and unstrapped his battle axe from his back, drew on heavy gauntlets, and began the laborious task of carving hand and footholds in the slope.

When Sir Gaven arrived, he looked on, making no attempt to climb the mountain. As the sun rose, he turned away from the slope and found a shady spot among the trees. He dismounted, released his light charger, and sat down on a stump. Making himself comfortable, he sat and watched Sir Wolfram swing his axe into the mountainside again and again. After a while, he went to his horse, removed his tack and saddlebags, and pulled out a compact, leather bound book. He returned to his stump and, leaning his back against a handy tree, he opened the book and began to read.