Master Grimshaw came in and informed the passengers that they would be arriving at Three moon lake shortly. As they traipsed onto the deck of the boat they could see a vast blue expanse of the lake in front of them, It was so vast that you couldn’t see the shoreline of the other side.
Mal felt shocked and a little fear in this unknown situation. For someone that had never seen a river a mile wide before the vastness of the Lake was earth-shattering. Mal took a deep breath and walked to the bow of the boat and stood there defiant against her fear.
What her friends didn’t know was this is exactly how Mal felt the first time that she reached the outcrop above the village. It’s also why Mal always walked to the tip of the outcrop and stood on its edge. She had vowed at a young age that she would face down her fears and defeat them, never would she let her fears rule her.
They sailed on into the lake for the rest of the day the only thing they could see where boats travelling on the lake all going in different directions and the mountain range that ran down the centre of the country far on their left. Some were fishing boats while others were merchant’s vessels.
They had been sailing across the lake using only the wind to power the boat for five days. They had spent most of the time making new arrows, and since the helical twisting feathers had delivered an easier shot when Mal had tried the arrows at the Master Bowyers range.
Mal had suggested that they try making the arrows with the new fletching. It had taken more than a day to get the hang of making the arrows. As the feathers had kept moving before they could be tied on securely and glued in place. It was Darr that finally found the trick of it and had taught each of them.
Everyone was on the deck when Captain James came over to Lord Turok, “My lord we are not making the best time I’m afraid. The wind is not favouring us at all. I recommend we set sail to Carse on the east side of the lake it will take about another day to get there at this rate and if the wind picks up we can continue past. You should have no problem getting horses there and you would probably make better time on a horse,” he said dejectedly.
“I agree Captain, please make for Carse,” turning to Grego and slapping him on the shoulder, “Don’t worry son you will soon be back on dry land.”
Grego had been feeling ill since they got on the lake proper as the boat was swaying more due to the wind making the lake choppy the first three days.
Now the lake was calmer but the boat still rocked. He hadn’t eaten much either which was unlike him. His friends had been concerned that he was coming down with something until Captain Talbot had mentioned that what he was describing was sea sickness and that he would start feeling better once they got back on dry land.
Grego was silently praying to get to dry land as quickly as possible. He swore he wouldn’t complain of riding a horse again.
As it turned out the wind dropped even more during the night and they woke to see the city of Carse still on the horizon. It took the rest of the day to limp into port. The city of Carse was surrounded by buildings that had outgrown the city walls. A small stone keep stood on a granite hill that overlooked the harbour.
As they approached the harbour a small boat made its way towards them with an officious looking passenger on board. As the boat, he was on approached he called out to the ship “Make way for the harbour pilot”.
A rope ladder was thrown unceremoniously over the side of the boat for him to climb. Once the pilot was on board he was led to the first mate. With a harbour pilot leading them into the dock they were safety docked within the hour.
They disembarked the boat as soon as possible and Lord Turok took them to a respectable tavern near the South Gate.
Lord Turok offered a young child a silver piece if he would go and get the mayor and tell him that Lord Turok was waiting for him at the inn.
Walking into the tavern, it didn’t seem as clean as the Golden Peacock, and the tavern keeper wasn’t as friendly until he saw the gold in Lord Turok’s hand.
“Welcome to the Hand Maidens Rest, My Lord”
“Lodging and food for my party.” Ordered Lord Turok.
Once he had paid for lodging and food they sat down to eat the first hot meal in almost a week. Three serving girls came out with plates of Steaming tubers and other vegetables. Followed by a large plate of roast beef and tankards of ale to wash it down with.
By the time everyone was fed and their thirst sated the town mayor finally arrived. “You wish to speak with me, my Lord?”
“Yes, there have been goblin attacks along the spine of the world. I and these men narrowly escaped death and are on an important mission to get to the king and report. I will be needing thirteen horses and two pack mules provisioned so that we can leave first thing in the morning, Captain Talbot will liaise with you over the details.”
“Yes, my lord” replied the mayor.
Captain Talbot and the Mayor left to see to the horses. Lord Turok sipped his ale and played a game of pebbles with Mal. Mal had improved considerably and the game took nearly an hour to complete with Mal only losing by two pebbles.
“I’ll have to start reducing your handicap Mal, Eight pebbles for the next game I think. You have improved well but for now, I’m tired, we have an early morning. Everyone get to your rooms as I want to be on the road first thing in the morning and woo betide anyone that can’t sit a horse in the morning because of too much ale,” With that, he got up collected his game pieces and tying it back to his belt he left.
Everyone left as they finished their ale and headed to their respective beds. Leaving Mal, Tomi and Grego to finish their drinks.
“How are you feeling now, Grego?” Asked Mal.
“A lot better after some hot food and a nice ale. Though this stuff is a bit weak in my opinion” he replied.
“You are right there it doesn’t have quite the same kick of Kuhool, but I must admit that I do like the taste.” Responded Tomi with a slight smile which disappeared all too quickly when he went back to brooding about his lost sister.
Mal watched as he gripped the tankard until his knuckles started going white. If you didn’t know what to look for you wouldn’t have noticed that his moods were more dark than light at the moment. Mal hoped that Tomi would snap out of it sooner rather than later.
In the morning the tavern keeper had food ready to break their fast. Warm oats cooked in rich cows milk with dried and spiced fruit added a delicious flavour to the food. It was an indulgence they from the mountain had never had before and the whole party were ready to leave in good spirits. The tavern keeper informed Lord Turok that Master Grimble had brought his best horses into the back yard, earlier and that they had been fed and watered.
Fifteen horses consisting of a golden stallion and twelve mares and two pack mules almost filled the back yard of the tavern. Making it hard for everyone to get on their horse and since these were all new horses everyone just took the first that came to hand except for Lord Turok who had the stallion.
“Is everyone ready?” Said Lord Turok looking around at the mounted men. Seeing no objections he continued “Captain Talbot, lead on”
They rode up to the town gates where a yawning guard stood with the gate open. “Safe travels my lord,” he said with a small bow to the party as it left the town. The horses’ hooves made a lot of noise on the gravel and dirt road. After having travelled on the river and then the lake for the last eight days. A journey where the only noise of travel was the creak of the boat they had been on. The noise of the
They passed small hamlets and farms all of which had signs of life about them mostly of baying cows looking to be milked or the landholders working in a field. The land was fairly rough here on the edges of the wilderness. The mountain range that the boys had grown up in stretched along to their left as the travelled down the side of the lake. Mal pictured the map he had seen in Bearon and estimated that they would have three days of travelling to the next large city Princetown, which lay on the south of the lake near a river that would eventually lead to the capital Caplo. From memory, there were a number of villages between Carse and Princetown that he assumed they would be staying in.
They ate cold rations on the move, rotating between walking and riding and only stopped in villages for the night. By the time they got to the villages, their backs and thighs were sore from travelling. No-one wanted to stay up drinking. So once they ate a hearty meal they headed for bed.
Princetown is the second city of Caplo it is a large sprawling city built on the largest river that flows out of the Three Moon Lake, it was founded as a defensive measure to protect the capital in times of war from anyone trying to take troops down the River Aer. It was built across the river to control the important trade route and to defend the capital from armies sailing across the Three Moon Lake and then sailing unimpeded right down to the capital. In times of war, they could raise chains that would hinder any ship trying to pass. The walls were massive fifty feet high in some places with guard towers located at regular intervals. The road ran straight along the lake to a well defensible gate. Not that the gates had been used in years to repel any attackers since the north of the country had been gradually settled over the last one thousand years.
They had to wait for several merchants to negotiate past each other at the gate a process that seemed to take too long. Lord Turok was tired and hungry and wanted to get to the Keep deep in the city and speak with Prince Rupert. Ruler of this city brother to the King and nephew to Lord Turok by his marriage to the Prince Rupert’s aunt, sister to the previous Queen who had died twenty years ago with her husband when the ship they were on went down in a winter storm, Lord Turok had become the Prince Regent and raised their five children as his own until they had each come of age. King Charles had taken the throne on his eighteenth birthday allowing Lord Turok to return to his lands and secure the northern borders.
Finally, the gate was free for traffic to flow again. The walls were thirty feet thick, Arrow slits lined the walls and the ceiling had holes in it for some reason. Captain Talbot who was riding beside Mal noticed her looking at the ceiling and said, “This is the mountain gate and those” he said pointing at the archery slits and holes in the ceiling are called murder holes. When the invading army breaks through the outer gate they have to then break through the second door. All the time with people shooting them from the left and the right and pouring boiling oil on them from above.”
Continuing on, “The boiling oil kills and maims a lot of the invaders and when the second charge comes as it always does they light the oil to destroy as many of the invaders as possible. Notice that the inside door is metal so that it won’t burn” he said as the passed the two metal doors.
Mal thought that the streets of Bearon where tightly packed. The streets of Princetown made Bearon look practically deserted. It took a lot of shouting at the people to get them to move out of the way so that Lord Turok’s party could make any headway. Princetown was about five times bigger than Bearon. It took thirty minutes to travel from the North-Eastern Gate to the main gate of the Keep. As they approached the gate a guard called out to them.
“Lord Turok good to see you again I’ve sent a note to Prince Rupert to let him know you have arrived. Looks like you were able to persuade some of the mountain men to become rangers, Welcome lads” he said to the mountain men.
As they entered the courtyard servants came and took the animals from them. As they handed over the reins Prince Rupert came into the courtyard, “Uncle” he called grabbing Lord Turok in a huge bear hug.
Prince Rupert was in his early thirties dressed in very fine clothes. His hair was raven black and his blue eyes sparkled with mischief and knowledge. Turning to the rest of the party he said, “Welcome friends, let us get you some food and drink. Uncle, I received your note how bad is it?”
“Worst I’m afraid, the initial assessment was of maybe two or three hundred goblins in the mountains. What we saw leaving was evidence of thousands of goblins. I’m marshalling every lord in the North. I fear that we will have a nasty fight on our hands to get them out of the mountains.”
They entered the main hall of the keep, long tables lined the sides of the hall with benches on either side and a fire burned brightly in the large fireplace in the corner. A raised dais directly opposite from the door they had entered contained a long table and high backed chairs on it.
Prince Rupert took Lord Turok to the table on the dais and served him mead while a page brought a plate of tubers and a chicken. As they spoke quietly other pages appeared with mead and food for the travellers.
Mal hadn’t realised how tired she was from all the travelling until she had been sitting for an hour and the heat from the fire combined with the mead finally let her body relax.
Captain Talbot was talking quietly with the Captain of the Prince’s guard. Every once in a while the Prince’s Captain would look over at Mal or one of the others and shake his head. As Mal looked around she noticed that as the Prince’s guards had started to come in as the evening wore on.
Some knew Lord Turok’s guards and sat with them drinking ale and mead. Mal started to notice that more and more hushed conversations were taking place and eventually a head would turn to look at Mal.
Eventually, an elderly man came over to the table, he was dressed in fine clothing and addressed Mal Directly. “I have accommodation ready for you and your men, Lady Mal”
“Thank you, err” replied Mal still irritated about being called a noble.
“I’m the Prince’s Chamberlain, Call me Master Silverstone or Chamberlain Silverstone whichever you prefer,” he replied “If you need anything during your stay just send a page for me, this way please,” and he went back out of the keep proper and led them over towards the stables.
The tired group followed him to the stables over to a door beside the stables and Master Silverstone said: “This is Lord Turok’s apartment when he comes to stay, just up here if you please.”
They went up a flight of stairs to a hallway containing five doors.
“Now let me see it’s been a while since I was in this particular suite. Ah yes, that’s right this door leads to the lounge area“ he said swinging the door open to show a room with comfortable sofas and a table with chairs around it.
Continuing he said, “These doors are sleeping quarters for his men it should comfortably fit your men as well, These last three rooms are for you, Captain Talbot and Lord Turok. If you need a page there is a rope by the fireplace in the lounge, just pull it once and a page will come as soon as possible, I’ll have some more mead or would you prefer ale sent up. Other than that lady and gentlemen enjoy your stay you have free run of the keep.”
As he started to leave he stopped and turned to the group. “It occurs to me that you might not know the rules of a keep. They will probably seem so foreign and strange to you, so I’ll give you a few to get you started. The first is that the upstairs floors of the keep are off limits except for the Princes family or those with specific reasons for being there. The second is that we break our fast and have our meals in the main keep, though food can be brought here if Lord Turok prefers. The third is don’t ever unsheathe a weapon or draw blood in front of royalty the punishment is harsh anything from flogging to losing a hand. The fourth is that when any of the Princes family enter a room you should stand this goes for any Lords and Ladies as well, and only sit when given permission. The fifth and this is important is if you can’t handle drink don’t drink.” With that, he bowed and left them in the lounge.
Shortly a page arrived with a basket of bread rolls, cheese and thin slices of meat.
“Would you prefer ale, mead or some wine mam?” He asked Mal.
Mal looked at her friends who were all looking at her strangely, “Ale I think.”
When the page left, her friends ribbed her about everyone calling her Mam and Milady,
She responded “It’s because my father is a village elder. Which by the way makes you Sir Darr, Sir Grego, Sir Dareon and Sir Tomi”
Laughing out loud Darr responded “I could grow to like that Sir Darr”
“Not sure if I do,” said Grego
“I wouldn’t stress it too much it just marks you around the same level as the page that brought us our bread here Sir Darr”
The others shared a good-natured laugh even Tomi’s mood lifted for a while. Mal thought that it was good to see Tomi starting to get over his grief or at least that his grief hadn’t supplanted his normal free spirit. Everyone had lost someone a friend or extended family member. Tomi’s sister had only been ten when the goblins killed her.
There was a knock at the door and since Darr was nearest he opened it to see a familiar face staring at him.
“Fran?” He said with a grin before opening the door wide for Fran to enter. Mal’s cousin stood in the doorway. It had been two years since Fran had been back home and only for a short period of time. Fran had spun tales of adventure and mystical creatures like Elves and Dwarves to the children of the village. Clasping his hand in friendship Darr welcomed him into the room.
Releasing his arm Fran asked “I hope that there is some ale or mead left in that jug, I’m parched”
“There should be some left we can always get more. It’s good to see you Fran but what brings you this way?” replied Mal.
“Lord Turok’s messenger reached Prince Rupert two days ago. Myself and some of the other rangers have been called into the spine to see how far the goblin invasion has gotten,” replied Fran.
“So Prince Rupert knows already? What about the king will he send help?” Enquired Mal suddenly hope blossomed in her mind.
“Yes and yes, the kingdom claims ownership and protectorate status of the land of the spine up to the border with Murgo.”
Grego muttered “We are free folk, not kingdom folk” and Darr and Dareon murmured their agreement with this statement.
“The kingdom has long ago agreed that the ‘People of the Spine’ are a free nation inside their borders. Its the same with the Dwarves that live inside the spine or the Elves of the western forest. They are inside the borders of Calpo. And are considered free states with their own leaders and laws.”
“Ah, Dwarves and Elves, I think your head going a bit soft to believe in fairy tales” mocked Grego.
“Grego, there are more races of beings than human, Goblin’s, Kobold’s, Orge’s, Fairies, Trolls, for example, all exist. There is an Elf in the court of King Charles called ‘Selvina’ she’s an advisor to the king and is a great beauty. They say she is a magician of great power, gives me chills thinking about that type of thing, to be honest.”
“Really?” Said everyone at once.
Laughing Fran started to tell them of his adventures and some of the creatures he had met. As the evening went on talk turned to their travels from home to here.
“It sounds like you have had an adventure. I can’t believe you defeated an ogre, Mal that’s unbelievable. You are all that people can talk about.”
“Really? How do they even know about it?”
“Guys, every storyteller and bard, is trying to write the tale of your heroics. The most popular one is ‘The Ballad of the Mountain Princess’ It’s written by the King’s Bard who got to read Lord Turok’s reports directly. Let me see if I can remember any of it “ tapping his chin he though for a minute. “I think it goes something like this.
Mal youngest daughter off the Ruler of the mountain people defender of the poor and needy went a hunting with her trusty comrades Darr, Tomi, Grego, Eir and Dareon. Six days and six nights they tracked the king of the mountain stags’ until finally they triumphed and slew the mighty beast.
Throwing the carcass onto her shoulder Mal princess of the mountains headed home, but alas the night descends on the mountains faster than a man or woman can run. So the brave young folk camped out that night. Only to be woken by the sound of battle.
Rushing to the edge of a cliff there a thousand meters below they saw their village being attacked grabbing their bows they loosed arrow after arrow of deadly rain into the ranks of the goblin horde that was trying to crush the village.
When the quivers ran empty they jumped down the mountain in mighty bounds their anger at this outrage fuelling their bodies to reach the village as fast as possible as if by magic their feet flowed over the ground.
First to arrive at the village was the mighty Mal a princess warrior of renowned, sixteen goblins lay dead at her feet before they knew that the mountain folk had arrived. Mal and her friends fought through the beasts to the Hall of her father,
Standing side by side with Lord Turok, once prince regent of the kingdom and ambassador for the kingdom. The two slew goblin after goblin defending the children and the old of the village until the princess and her friends fought through to relieve them.
They battled the horde for twenty days and twenty nights until the last goblin lay dead at their feet. Only then could they turn their attention to the survivors.
Then a young child in a glistening white snowy dress walked between the fires as she sees her brother and calls out to him ‘Tomi’ as she rushed to his arms a vile and monstrous goblin rose up and grabbed the girl.
Tomi grabbed his sword rushing to save his sister but he was too late the goblins vile hands crushed the life of the innocent young girl. Screaming her name he struck down the vile beast the gods lending him the strength he cleaved the goblin in two.
Lord Turok swore vengeance against the goblins and aid to help the mountain people who had lost family defending him and his men. Clasping arms the Kingdom and the Mountain swore vengeance. Thunder rolled across the sky as the gods blessed them in their task.
Princess Mal and her friends swore to accompany Lord Turok on his journey and swore their lives to protect him and get him home safe mounting their horses they led Lord Turok and his honour guard down the mountains.
Five days of battles with goblins the Princess and her men left a score or more dead they approached the first farm of the lowlands only to see a group of goblins about to kill a young woman.
Tomi in a fit of rage kicked his horse into a gallop screaming his sisters’ name he stood up on his horse bow in hand and like a dark angel sent arrows of death to pierce the black hearts of the goblins freeing the woman.
But the chase was on not one but two armies of goblins had heard of the deeds of these brave young men and vowed to their black heathen gods that they would sacrifice them in their unholy rites.
Charging across the countryside they raced to warn the kingdom that this was not a simple skirmish but a full invasion if they didn’t warn the kingdom to prepare then the North would be lost.
Time and time again Mal volunteered to stay behind alone and protect the party. To give them time to reach Targon and to warn them of the vile beasts.
When the eventually reached the village the mountain men took one look at the village which was un-defendable. The villagers didn’t want to leave thinking that they could defend themselves but Mal stood upon a cart and spoke so eloquently that as if a god had inspired her all of the villagers agreed to leave so eloquently did she speak.
With a two day journey ahead of them and two goblin armies behind it was now a race. As time flowed it was oblivious that they would not make the city. Circling the wagons that held the old the sick and the Princess and the mountain men said ‘No More! No More shall die. Here we draw a line none shall pass’
They stood on the back of the wagons clear and visibly defiant against the goblin hordes that rolled over the grassland towards the six young people of the mountains, who calmly waited to deliver death to the horde.
With one fluid motion, the mountain men raised their bows of death in unison with the Princess and delivered that death upon the goblins, creatures that did not know fear suddenly knew it the sky parted so that the sun could shine upon these god touched warriors and strike fear to the devils that approached.
The six stood in front of the attacking goblin army, felling them in droves with their mighty bows and when at last they fired their last arrow. They shouted ‘Vengeance!” grabbing their swords they stepped forward as one to met the goblins.
Goblins died by the score and as the hours rolled on the mountain men fought on. None fought harder than the Princess leader of the mountain men. The Ogre King stepped forward knowing that all was lost unless he could slay the Princess before the valiant relief column of guards approaching from Bearon coming after Lord Turok’s messenger reached them riding hard to try and save the villagers and mountain men alike.
Twenty foot tall with hands as fast a bolt of lightning the Orge snarled and spat swinging his mighty club killing any goblins that got in his way. He faced off against the mountain princess. Such was the anger of the Orge King that no goblins would come within arm’s length of him for fear of his mighty club.
The Princess dressed in simple clothing with no armour only her simple sword faced the Orge King and laughed a mocking laugh. Not waiting for the Orge to attack the Princess took the fight to him.
As nimble as an elf the princess danced around the Ogre as if touched by the gods she dodged the Orge taunting him all the while until eventually, a single woman did what a group could not do and slew the beast. With the death of their King, the goblins fled.”
Fran looked around at the faces of they spellbound by the story. “Of course the Kings Bard Master Gregory says it much better”
“I would not discredit your rendition in any way, mister …” said a voice from behind.
Turning to look they noticed Lord Turok and Prince Rupert standing in the door. Rushing to stand they bowed to the prince.
“Fran Your Highness, you honour me” replied Fran.
“Nonsense, credit due where credit is due,” said Prince Rupert.
“Your Highness, I feel that I must point out that story is liberal with the truth it sounds like it was only us mountain folk where in actual fact there was fourteen of us and the villagers” interjected Mal
“Mal a little poetic licence is part of a bards’ right. Fran, I must say your rendition made me want to jump on a horse and find a goblin to split down the middle.” I think you missed a calling.
“Just heard it a lot, my prince.” Replied Fran.
“I’ve spoken with my uncle and we will have a boat ready to take you to the king in the morning. I feel that I should warn you all that when you get to the Kings court the Bard Master Killian there will probably pester you all for every detail you can remember including those you have probably forgotten and he will write the most epic story of your deeds. Good night gentlemen and your highness” he said bowing to Mal.