Legend

With Stars in His Eyes

Sir Brandon was enthusiastic.

He was entering the keep earlier than usual today. He emulated confidence as he strode through the entryway. The guards greeted him with a nod and a wave. Brandon simply waved back, his gusto ablaze like a fire. He winked at some of the noble ladies, who giggled a little as the knight in shining armor entered the court.

The court was empty except for a few servants cleaning the area. Blue banners with gold lions hung from the ceiling, glowing with power as sunlight struck it, coloring it through stained-glass art pieces, detailing the plights and epics of warriors, heroes who were immortalized forever in this great hall. Brandon had looked to them as idols, as futures that he could have. He spent most of his life getting to where he was now. His family had chipped in here and there, but the glory was well-earned and he was able to do more than claim to be the child of a noble family. Brandon, looking now to the throne, could now focus on bigger aspirations.

King Thomas the Third had been a very unlucky man, his only son taken away by disease a few years ago and his wife much earlier. Due to his insistence to avoid remarriage, he had no posterity to pass his domain to. He was truly the last of his kin. Despite the problems that would normally arise in such a succession crisis, Thomas had been very adamant that, based on the actions and behaviors of those around him, the next successor was already in the kingdom and he would find them before his reign would end. 

It could be anyone, Brandon realized. It could be anyone he could rely on, anyone he trusted, anyone who could get work done. Maybe….

“Brandon,” a voice called out. Brandon, his deep mental train taking him from reality, jumped a little and looked to his side. He sighed in relief as he recognized the person by his side.

“You have to stop scaring me like that, Matthew,” Brandon muttered, shaking his head. “I wanna live, you know.”

Matthew chuckled a little and replied, “Just make sure you're on planet Earth next time.”

Matthew was King Thomas' middle-aged advisor and sage in the court. He was usually summoned for critical decisions to be made, mainly due to his skill in foreknowledge and seership, but today, he seemed to be less tense than usual. He was still in his white robe with blue pendants around his neck, draping in front of him. He also was still carrying his small birdcage with his seemingly unkempt, but peculiar crow.

“What are you doing here, knight,“ Matthew asked, a little more serious this time.

“I'm here for the knights' call-up,” Brandon simply responded. He had been practicing this response for a while.

“Right,” Matthew replied with a smile. He already knew what was going on. “What are you really doing here?”

Brandon rolled his eyes. He never could get past Matthew and his lightning-like intuition. If a man were to try and kill anyone in the court, Matthew would already know and the poor saboteur would never even reach the courtyard.

“I seek an audience with Lord Allison,” Brandon sighed.

“You're asking her, aren't you,” Matthew asked, a little annoyed.

“You don't have to be obvious about it.”

“I didn't even have to use my powers for that,” Matthew responded. “Everyone knows you're trying to win his daughter's hand, which makes sense. She is one of, if not the, most beautiful women in the kingdom.”

“I already know that,” Brandon said, his smug confidence returning. “That's why I'm asking.”

“Brandon, I get you're used to having your way in life. Your family is one of the most powerful we have,” Matthew continued, a little worried for his friend, “but you can't possibly believe it will be this easy! Have you even spent an evening with her?”