The Tale of Sir Brennen of Kelgrey • II

Their journey took them out of the foothills after about a day, and the grass on the plains kept them company for two more before they saw smoke on the horizon. She was weary from the hurried pace of the trip, but he insisted that they continue on, though they should arrive at the castle well after dark. So she rode heavily and did not protest when he snagged her reigns and led her horse on himself. Sleep could find her anywhere now, even in the saddle. She lifted her nose from the horse's mane and cracked one eyelid briefly to confirm the lights in the distance that signified people--people who were waiting for them. At least they would go through the village after everyone was asleep, so no one would see her like this...

When she was jostled awake again the lights didn't seem any closer and she suppressed a groan. She was more than ready for this journey to be over and to be safe behind high stone walls. Muscles screamed their soreness from the endless riding, and her back continued to remind her that even the mattress in the tower had been softer than the ground she had slept on. She had given up talking to him after the first day's travel; he spoke politely enough but did not seem eager in the least to make himself a companion, even in the most casual sense of the word. Her infatuation with him had slowly simmered down to a quiet resentment, though she supposed she couldn't blame him. Some, perhaps even many of those "other girls" could have been much prettier than her. Perhaps she was far beneath him in his own eyes. He probably had women screaming his name all the live-long day...what would he want with a single filth-ridden, stinky girl?

"Princess."

She jerked up, only to look around in disorientation at the buildings that surrounded them.

"We've arrived."

Ah, now she recognized the town. It was completely dark, not even a candle in a window at this hour. The lights she had seen earlier still blazed in the turrets and lit up the battlements of the castle that rose beyond the smaller structures. Her father's castle. She reached and tugged the reigns back from his hand; he gave them up without a word. It felt as if the last of her strength was deserting her as she sat up straight and lifted her chin, determined that not even the empty streets should see her as less than royally dignified, no matter how late the hour. So they came to the outer defenses, and then to the moat. The drawbridge was lowered, she noted with some concern, for it was her father's usual practice to raise it at night, once the gates were closed. This had been done, but the enormous doors began to slowly open as a cry went up from one of the gatehouse towers and more torchlight flared on the masonry. She kept her head held high as they walked their horses over the bridge, under the portcullis and into the courtyard, but then all thoughts of decorum and poise left her at the sight of the woman hurrying down the stairs ahead and she flung herself off the mare and into her mother's arms. Tears ran unbidden down her face and she just wrapped her arms around her tighter until she felt her father's come around them both. Then all was only joy, and sleep.

***

Morning was all joy, and no sleep. The sun had barely risen, only to find the stable hands busy with preparations to send off the knight and his two horses. One stableboy was quite startled when a hand brushed him gently aside to test the knots on the mare's packs, then move to the girth of the gelding.

"Sir?..." the boy asked, not recognizing the other servant and concerned that the great knight would not like having his horses handled by just anyone. But then the man turned and gave him a reassuring smile before thanking him for the care he had taken, and the boy flushed to realize that it was the knight himself he had addressed so boldly. But even after such a blunder, he couldn't help his curiosity.

"But where's your armor, sir? Our knights always wear such shining armor..."

Sir Brennen looked down at him and smiled again. "So do I, when the battle is thick, but here in the stable it would be far too hot. For another, Drusus wouldn't be very pleased if he had to carry me and my armor over many miles. Though I'm sure Nenna would not be at all unhappy with that." As he spoke he patted the mare's neck affectionally, but she only ducked and snorted, expressing her displeasure at being relegated to the role of pack mule. He laughed at this and the boy followed his lead, obviously still uncertain of this knight who was so unlike the knights who lived in the castle. At that moment another servant ran towards them, slowing to a walk a few meters away so as to not spook the horses, and, when he had caught his breath, informed Sir Brennen that he was summoned this moment by the king.

"Watch the horses for me?" The boy's eyes lit up at this request and he stood a little straighter as Brennen left the stable and followed the servant indoors and through several corridors to the great hall. There was no trumpet call at his entrance, as he had feared (for such had been done for him in other halls), neither was there a great gathering of nobles, most likely due to the early hour. Only the king stood at the other end, standing as if in contemplation of the vast tapestry before him. At the sound of the heavy doors closing he turned around and beckoned Brennen forward. The knight approached him, bowed, and prepared to speak, but the lord of the castle spoke first.

"I thank you, Sir Brennen, for my daughter's safe and speedy return, and in gratitude for such a service, I would give you this." He held out a scabbard, an ancient one of such fine material that many years had barely touched it. Emeralds glistened from the design and inscription that wound around it; a lovelier thing Brennen had not seen in many years. But he shook his head and pushed it back towards the king.

"Keep your heirlooms, my lord. I only request a simple payment, such amount of gold as to buy my family food and keep us warm when winter winds blow."

The king pursed his lips then and looked down at the scabbard. "Is my daughter's life to be worth no more to me than a few pieces of gold? But I see you will not be swayed. Name your treasure, honorable knight." With this he snapped forward a man who had been waiting in the shadows, and on his command exited quickly. "My steward will have such as you desire brought to your horses." He paused before the corners of his mouth went up just the smallest bit. "The amount will be considerable, and you have a long journey. Are you sure you require no escort?"

Brennen smiled easily and replied, "No, my lord, my own sword shall be sufficient to defend your generosity. With your leave..." The king nodded and he bowed once more before departing the hall and moving back towards the stable. He had only had a few hours of sleep the night before and longed to be back home where he might have a real rest and wash every bit of the dried dragon blood from his skin. But he had only covered half the distance across the courtyard when he heard the call. Turning, he saw the princess rushing over the flagstones, holding her clean gown up from around her ankles as she ran.

"Sir Knight!"

He waited until she reached him, bowed and then turned and continued walking, unwilling to be rude but more eager to begin the long day's journey. She kept pace with him and he did not mind, not until she spoke again.

"You are leaving so soon?" Her voice was one he had heard many times, tainted with surprise, disappointment, and a very light sorrow. Her eyes attempted to search his from her clear, clean face, but he looked away as soon as opportunity arose. Thank heavens, the stableboy was walking his horses out to him, Drusus prancing and ready to be off, Nenna sullen under her burden of armor and gold. "I have a long journey to make still, your highness, and I must start as early as possible." The horses reached them and he swung into the saddle, ready to take his leave.

"Wait!" Her voice halted him once again, and he looked down to find her eyes glistening and her hands outstretched, offering a small linen cloth, elaborately embroidered. "Please, take this as a token?"

He gave her what he hoped was a fatherly smile and spoke as politely as he could. "The king has already overburdened my coffers, and I fear I cannot take such, your highness. Thank you, though, and may your days be long and happy." With a final nod, he spurred his horse, and the charger leapt for the gates, pulling the mare along behind. It seemed he always left dragon-towers and king-castles the same way: running. But the town lay before him, and beyond that, open plain, and with that in his mind's eye he left behind the castle and the princess standing in the courtyard with tears in her eyes, watching the gate long after he was out of sight.

***

Seven days was the time of the journey from that castle to Kelgrey, and that was traveling light and fast, on a rested horse. Brennen's horses were not rested, so he instead struck for long days at a steady pace, switching the packs often and sometimes walking. He made camp late every night with defense in mind and rose early, keeping to the vast plains and off the rough roads that cut through this part of the countryside. They were not fit for the large caravans to travel on, being narrow and uneven, but smaller tradesman sometimes took them, braving the shadows of the mountains and the bandits who dared to dwell in them. Dragons had also been known to descend on those who rode those ways, to take prisoners or wealth to increase their hoard, so the wagons were often escorted by additional soldiers or hired guards. Despite this, the way was not crowded enough to offer a single man with much gold safe passage, and Brennen cut his way far south and east. An empty horizon was a friendly horizon, until the end of a journey.

Some bandits still ventured deep, however, and on the fourth day of travel a small party struck him. The horses managed to gallop swiftly for a while before they had to slow and Brennen was forced to turn and fight. He slew three of them before one managed to catch the mare's reigns and spur her off, signaling to the remaining two thieves to follow. Brennen pursued them on the gelding for a day before he caught them and managed to reclaim his own, and this only because they had seen the quality of the mare and wished to keep her, despite her condition. Seeing their own flea-bitten mounts, Brennen could understand their desire. He left the fresh horses to watch over their fallen masters and continued on his way.

On the twelfth day he passed a marker indicating he was come into the domain of the town Kelgrey, and on the thirteenth the horses smelled smoke. By that evening he could see small clusters of buildings on the horizon and the tallest turrets of his own small castle. The fourteenth day found him home at last.

The gates swung open swiftly at the morning light to allow him entrance and through all the activity in the courtyard his ears heard only one thing.

"Father! Father!"

The Tale of Sir Brennen of Kelgrey • I

Hello?

Oh yes, come in. Have a seat. Would you like something to drink?

No? That's what they all say. I'm beginning to think if I want to get rid of this prune juice I'm going have to force it on people and then no one would want to visit me... Oh silly me, I shouldn't say things like that out loud. It gives me a bad reputation you know. So how was your walk over?

Yes, I think it's a long way too. Well, I like it out here, it's quite cozy, and as far as being secluded I like having trees all around me. And waterfalls.

What was that? No, the books don't get wet. I don't have that many to begin with. All the stories are in my head. Oh, is that why you're here? To hear a story? Well, I suppose I have time. Let me think a moment.

You want one about a prince you say? Why's that?

Ah, another lonely heart. Well I can cheer that right up.

Hmm? Why do I keep repeating what you say? Habit, I suppose. Perhaps one day I'll tell someone your story.

Of course it's interesting! Just because there aren't any princes in it doesn't mean it can't be exciting. I should know. I haven't met a prince in years and look at me!

Oh. Well, I suppose not everyone would happy leading my life. But that's why I lead it and not them. The waterfalls keep me company you know. They talk to me.

What waterfalls? What waterfalls? Can't you hear them? They're all around us! You've got one falling over you right now! And isn't it delightful.

Oh don't make up an excuse to leave. That's what most everyone does at this point. Do you want to be everyone? I think not!

No, I am not presuming to put words in your mouth. Now shut it and listen. I have just the story for you. It's not about a prince, but it's still wonderful. It doesn't take place in this year, though, or the last one. In fact, I believe it begins long, long ago...

***

We'll start in the mountains, for that is where the first action takes place. Actually, we'll start in the upper chamber of a tall tower, one of those that can only be reached by one of those ridiculously dizzying spiral staircases that is mandatory in such structures. For in this chamber lived a woman, about 16 years of age or so, with longish, blondish hair and a pale complexion. She had only lived there for a few days, but the few days were beginning to wear on her, first because she had not had an opportunity to bathe in twice that time, and second because she had not been able to change her dress. The combination led to a very smelly room, the pungency of which was only alleviated by the breeze that constantly swept in through one open window and out the other. Add oily hair along with starvation, and this woman was fairly miserable. So miserable, in fact, that she wasn't even wrinkling her nose as she attempted to tear through the rabbit that had been dropped unceremoniously through one of the windows a few hours earlier. Yes, at first she had rebelled against the idea of eating the creature raw, but the sad reality was that she had no fire and no knife and simply had to make do with her fingers or starve.

Princesses in towers. Her mother had told her a story of such a thing once, a long time ago, but those princesses had always sat at their windows and gazed out to the sky, waiting anxiously for their princes to come rescue them and carry them away. She glanced at the window and then glanced away. All there was to see out there was a slightly smoky sky and craggy black mountains. Damsel in distress, check. Tower, check. Dragon, check.

Rescue? Nope. Still lacking that last vital ingredient to the fairy tale. There really wasn't any use hoping. The only prince in her life was her younger brother, and at 8 years old he was hardly going to be galloping to save her. A bone broke beneath her fingers with a sickening crunch and she recoiled from the rabbit's carcass, horrified with what she now saw in herself. A king's daughter, eating something even the palace dogs would turn their noses up at. Her dress was torn and stained, her eyes red from tears.

A sound caught her ears from outside; it sounded like the dragon screeching. The wind intensified for a brief moment and she rushed to the window, squinting her eyes in an attempt to see through the smoke to the ground at the base of the tower. Could it be...a horse! A man on a horse! Rescue! The sound of scales on rock scraped through her thoughts as the dragon hurtled down from the towers peak onto the man below, fire blazing from it's jaws. No matter how hard she looked, she could barely see anything from then on for all the smoke. Fire swirled and occasionally she thought she saw the glint of a sword or some armor, and the dragon's screeches constantly pierced her ears. If they were low, she finally deduced, then the creature had the upper hand, but if they were high and keening, the man had struck a good blow. The battle went on for some time, but just when she was about to give up watching and go back to her rabbit, the dragon let loose a horrific bellow and there was a great crash. The smoke cleared somewhat after that to reveal the glittering remains, the scales all rubies and amethysts in the sunlight. She also caught the tail end of a gray cloak in her vision before it disappeared under the stones of the tower and realized with a gasp that her savior was coming up here.

She looked frantically about the room, saw the gutted rabbit on the floor, the flea-bitten mattress that passed for her bed, her own bloodstained gown and matted hair... And then came the knock on the door. Her voice stuck in her throat, her thoughts no longer of rescue but of utter humiliation. She made a vain attempt to wipe her mouth clean just before the handle turned and the door creaked open. And there he stood.

Thoughts of her own appearance fled when she saw him in the doorway, standing very tall for having just climbed the spiral staircase, armor glistening with golden dragon blood. He was very attractive in a rugged sort of way, with piercing gray eyes swept with locks of brown hair that strayed from under his helmet and strong hands that still gripped the hilts of his mighty sword--

"Well, come on then."

She started from her assessment at his voice, an oddly rough tone in it as he sheathed the sword and motioned for her to proceed him down the staircase. For a moment she stood dumfounded, until he spoke again, more harshly this time.

"Princess, that dragon is dead, but I do not know if there are any more in the near vicinity. We must hurry."

Prompted into action by his tone, she gathered up her skirts and moved quickly down the staircase, swaying a little at the bottom from dizziness. The man did not even pause, but brushed past her in the direction of a small cave. Running a little to catch up, she found him untying two horses, one a large black charger and the other a smaller bay mare. He handed her the reigns of the mare and swung up on the other one, guiding it out of the rocky crack and onto the rough path that led down the mountain. She stood dumfounded for a moment, holding the reigns uncertainly until he glanced back.

"Are you coming?"

Her mind cleared enough to scramble into the saddle and urge the horse up to a trot in order to keep up with him. The journey went much like that--trot a bit, walk a bit, trot a bit, walk... Bit by bit they made their way out of the mountains, and all the while she stared at the shield strung across his back. He didn't say anything to her and she didn't dare say anything to him. Under the rough tone was probably someone kind and charming...he was probably just tired from his battle...coming up with excuses for someone was rather easy, when he just saved your life. But the longer they went without speaking, the more she began to doubt herself. Come to think of it, he was probably a bit too old for her...and he didn't seem to be very good natured. Stubborn, too, and very stiff, a bit dull...

"We'll stop here for the night."

Stop? Oh, it was a ways to her father's castle. The journey didn't take very long in the claws of a flying dragon, but on the back of a horse through the mountains she supposed it could take several days. A small spark of hope ignited again: now he would have to talk to her! But the silence held as he lit a small fire, and she heard nothing as he left to find food and returned with two small rabbits, and nothing was said while he roasted them. Finally, as they were picking the last bits of meat off the bones and eating the last of the bread he had produced from his saddlebags, she managed to voice the question.

"Why don't you ever say anything?"

He raised an eyebrow and tossed a bone into the fire. "You haven't been very talkative yourself." She grew red at this and ducked her head, but then started at the new tone in his voice. "I'm actually rather surprised that it took you this long to say something. Most of the girls get over the trauma and start jabbering away at me as soon as I walk in the door." She looked up. He was grinning.

"Most of the... what do you mean?"

"This is my job, your highness. Slaying dragons and rescuing damsels in distress, then getting them home safely. As you've discovered, it's far less glamorous than the storytellers tell people."

She thought of the room atop the tower and shuddered. "Oh yes, I understand exactly what it's like now. At least...the damsel's part."

He let out a little laugh. "We have a way to go tomorrow, so you had better get some rest. There's a bedroll on your horse." As she tried to find a comfortable spot on the rocks, she watched him care for the horses, and by the time he spread his own bed out on the other side of the fire, she had drifted off to dreams of his daring rescue, spurred on by the fact that he wasn't a rude, stubborn mule after all.