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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Adventure
- Published: 05/14/2024
The Gauntlet (King & Sage) Part III of III
Born 1990, M, from Trail, BC, CanadaThe King of Tazul was a hard man.
Kalpithe had wed his daughter, Princess Haifa only a few seasons back -- before that fateful day, our hero would never have envisioned being related to the Great King, himself.
It was a combination of fear and respect that he held for the man.
It was hard to imagine that anyone felt different about the King. Indeed, his subjects were careful in what they whispered -- in constant fear that the palace walls had ears. Executions occurred often in the kingdom -- the King of Tazul would sometimes openly joke that, 'trivial matters were concluded much faster that way'. His birth-name (Daneth'yar) was rarely spoken aloud, since he demanded the respect of a title such as; sire, leige, or lord.
Or as most referred to him -- simply, King.
Lately, Kalpithe had been tasked with minding the accounting of the serfs. He collected taxes, marked grain stores, handled small disputes, and the like. This was a byproduct of a ruler who often undertook raiding campaigns -- far into the season of frost. Sometimes, even when there was ample snow, and ice-packs on the mountains. The King was still pursuing his glory, and had yet to produce a male heir, so he rode like a man half his age -- his fervor for riches and treasures had only grown in recent years.
Daneth'yar chose Kalpithe to marry his sole offspring; his daughter Haifa, due to his parents connections and her advanced age of twenty-four seasons. This was old for an unwed Princess, although the Kingdom to the north had a Duchess that was middle-aged and never married. Those northern folk were strange indeed. The King found Kalpithe to be acceptable. He was the child of a prosperous horse trader -- one of great renown -- even the palace held some of his stock. A fine pinto, two clydesdales, and the kings favourite riding horse; a powerful black mustang.
That was the horse The King of Tazul was currently astride of -- as he shouted his demands to Dreizen.
"Come out from your hole, you slippery magic-user and hand over the gauntlet. I command you as your King, superior, and the ruler of all these lands."
"You rule nothing but a pile of rocks! Your palace is soon to be gone, washed away by the sea and the ocean you have angered. Begone foul one. Before I bring the wrath of the wild on you!" Dreizen said the words, yet they seemed to come from all directions, and none -- at the same time. Kalpithe had never heard someone talk to the King that way. He would have objected but feared the power of his new friend a bit more than the kings righteous fury.
It's funny how quickly things could change.
"Dreizen, you make a mistake. I know of the witch's plan -- I have been to see; she is now slain. You have no cohorts, anymore. The men of the Willow have all fled westward. You are an old man, fighting a battle that was lost long ago. Be sensible, return the gauntlet and I will let you, and your forest, rest in peace."
The king's men sniggered. This was an inside joke -- Daneth'yar's choice of words were purposeful. He did intend to leave the forest in peace... after he burned a large swath where the woodsmen were known to dwell. This was apparent to all present.
The King's words left Kalpithe aghast.
Kalpithe knew that the towns-people relied on the tinctures that were made from the plants that grew in these parts. His own family had often traded with the villagers who lived near to the marshes -- a necessity when sicknesses (of the equine variety) would infect the livestock. These strange infections were usually carried by nomads who passed through Tazul, travelling from far off lands.
The King must know this too, thought our hero, but he simply does not care.
Oh, what a wicked man.
"Would you run off the one who can mix your healing potion, the only sage, that maintains you in perpetual youth...and insures your offspring lives?"
Dreizen queried of the King -- his tone suggesting caution. It was evident that he was responsible for Daneth'yar embodying the fierceness of a wildcat -- at least in part.
Kalpithe grabbed Dreizen's sleeve, whispering close into his ear. "That is my wife, you are speaking of. Her malady is well known, are you the one who makes her daily remedy?"
Dreizen nodded swiftly, his eyes glinting in the gloom of the bushes they were currently using for obsfucation. His expression was remorseful and a bit tired.
"So then, why is he threatening you over the treasure -- this gauntlet -- that so many seek? Does he not fear the death of his only offspring... It makes no sense. The King has always been formidable but never an outright tyrant!" The last bit was said with a sharp exhale of breath from Kalpithe.
The shuffling of nervous hooves could be heard. Dreizen held up a hand, silencing his travelling partner for a moment. The King was about to speak.
"This is your final warning Dreizen, and then we start spreading pitch and lantern oil. You two; ready the torches!" The King pointed at the two men closest to him, motioned for them to dismount and begin preparations. The two guardsmen acquiesced; readying their tools and tinderboxes.
Dreizen leaned closer, explaining what Kalpithe needed to understand. "The witch was the one who made the remedies, I imbued them with the power of the forest -- through the use of the so-called "Gauntlet". The King wishes to have the power for himself. What he fails to see; is that the power comes from the trees themselves, and an earnest will to protect the woodlands. Without that; there is no power."
Dreizen handed his walking stick to Kalpithe.
He then announced quietly, "I will go face him -- and most likely perish in the process. You will make your way by air back to the palace, stopping of course at the witch's hut, on the way. There are a few bottles hidden behind the water-tap in the old orchard." Dreizen paused a moment.
Then he continued. "Use the Gauntlet while thinking of your time here. Focus on the tranquility you felt in the forest clearing. A "oneness" should come over you -- and then bless the elixer with that ambrosia. It's actually quite simp-." Dreizen was cut-off mid sentence.
"Dreizen, we are lighting the matches! Final warning. Come out now or say goodbye to your precious plants and animals, you detestable, vile, hermit!" The King's voice reeked with authority; lividly furious.
Kalpithe was struggling to keep up, yet the choice seemed simple. There was only one problem...
"But, I don't have the Gauntlet!" He blurted out, forgetting to lower his voice. Our hero absent mindedly clasped Dreizen's gnarled walking stick in his hand, gripping it harder due to the anticipation. No, it couldn't be.
"Yes, that's it. The old stick that you almost broke. Now, use the damn thing and change into a butterfly, eagle, or whatever suits you best. Just make certain to fly high above the smoke." Dreizen began to stand up, giving Kalpithe a wink while he did so.
Dreizen's parting words were as follows:
"It's your turn now, go become the hero; save the princess. But don't forget that you will have to go into hiding after, and continue to bring her the remedies. The King will soon weaken, and die -- as are the way of things.
You will mind the forest; she the kingdom. And there may be peace for sometime."
*****
Kalpithe soared above the treeline as he watched the smoke rise. Daneth'yar lay unconscious below, next to a host of dead and injured knights. The plants had come alive in a vicious battle, Dreizen had taken the form of a fearsome Kodiak in his final final moments, defying all those that opposed him. But in the end, he was run through by a lance. It was unavoidable. His final moments were braver than most great heroes.
As he flew, Kalpithe assured himself he was reserving the tears for when he was human again. This was one of those thoughts he could not rid himself of for quite sometime. It was rather bothersome.
*****
Only one woman in the village alehouse claimed she had seen 'a sad looking moth' on the night of the fires.
No one believed her.
*****
The End
The Gauntlet (King & Sage) Part III of III(Lee Fenton)
The King of Tazul was a hard man.
Kalpithe had wed his daughter, Princess Haifa only a few seasons back -- before that fateful day, our hero would never have envisioned being related to the Great King, himself.
It was a combination of fear and respect that he held for the man.
It was hard to imagine that anyone felt different about the King. Indeed, his subjects were careful in what they whispered -- in constant fear that the palace walls had ears. Executions occurred often in the kingdom -- the King of Tazul would sometimes openly joke that, 'trivial matters were concluded much faster that way'. His birth-name (Daneth'yar) was rarely spoken aloud, since he demanded the respect of a title such as; sire, leige, or lord.
Or as most referred to him -- simply, King.
Lately, Kalpithe had been tasked with minding the accounting of the serfs. He collected taxes, marked grain stores, handled small disputes, and the like. This was a byproduct of a ruler who often undertook raiding campaigns -- far into the season of frost. Sometimes, even when there was ample snow, and ice-packs on the mountains. The King was still pursuing his glory, and had yet to produce a male heir, so he rode like a man half his age -- his fervor for riches and treasures had only grown in recent years.
Daneth'yar chose Kalpithe to marry his sole offspring; his daughter Haifa, due to his parents connections and her advanced age of twenty-four seasons. This was old for an unwed Princess, although the Kingdom to the north had a Duchess that was middle-aged and never married. Those northern folk were strange indeed. The King found Kalpithe to be acceptable. He was the child of a prosperous horse trader -- one of great renown -- even the palace held some of his stock. A fine pinto, two clydesdales, and the kings favourite riding horse; a powerful black mustang.
That was the horse The King of Tazul was currently astride of -- as he shouted his demands to Dreizen.
"Come out from your hole, you slippery magic-user and hand over the gauntlet. I command you as your King, superior, and the ruler of all these lands."
"You rule nothing but a pile of rocks! Your palace is soon to be gone, washed away by the sea and the ocean you have angered. Begone foul one. Before I bring the wrath of the wild on you!" Dreizen said the words, yet they seemed to come from all directions, and none -- at the same time. Kalpithe had never heard someone talk to the King that way. He would have objected but feared the power of his new friend a bit more than the kings righteous fury.
It's funny how quickly things could change.
"Dreizen, you make a mistake. I know of the witch's plan -- I have been to see; she is now slain. You have no cohorts, anymore. The men of the Willow have all fled westward. You are an old man, fighting a battle that was lost long ago. Be sensible, return the gauntlet and I will let you, and your forest, rest in peace."
The king's men sniggered. This was an inside joke -- Daneth'yar's choice of words were purposeful. He did intend to leave the forest in peace... after he burned a large swath where the woodsmen were known to dwell. This was apparent to all present.
The King's words left Kalpithe aghast.
Kalpithe knew that the towns-people relied on the tinctures that were made from the plants that grew in these parts. His own family had often traded with the villagers who lived near to the marshes -- a necessity when sicknesses (of the equine variety) would infect the livestock. These strange infections were usually carried by nomads who passed through Tazul, travelling from far off lands.
The King must know this too, thought our hero, but he simply does not care.
Oh, what a wicked man.
"Would you run off the one who can mix your healing potion, the only sage, that maintains you in perpetual youth...and insures your offspring lives?"
Dreizen queried of the King -- his tone suggesting caution. It was evident that he was responsible for Daneth'yar embodying the fierceness of a wildcat -- at least in part.
Kalpithe grabbed Dreizen's sleeve, whispering close into his ear. "That is my wife, you are speaking of. Her malady is well known, are you the one who makes her daily remedy?"
Dreizen nodded swiftly, his eyes glinting in the gloom of the bushes they were currently using for obsfucation. His expression was remorseful and a bit tired.
"So then, why is he threatening you over the treasure -- this gauntlet -- that so many seek? Does he not fear the death of his only offspring... It makes no sense. The King has always been formidable but never an outright tyrant!" The last bit was said with a sharp exhale of breath from Kalpithe.
The shuffling of nervous hooves could be heard. Dreizen held up a hand, silencing his travelling partner for a moment. The King was about to speak.
"This is your final warning Dreizen, and then we start spreading pitch and lantern oil. You two; ready the torches!" The King pointed at the two men closest to him, motioned for them to dismount and begin preparations. The two guardsmen acquiesced; readying their tools and tinderboxes.
Dreizen leaned closer, explaining what Kalpithe needed to understand. "The witch was the one who made the remedies, I imbued them with the power of the forest -- through the use of the so-called "Gauntlet". The King wishes to have the power for himself. What he fails to see; is that the power comes from the trees themselves, and an earnest will to protect the woodlands. Without that; there is no power."
Dreizen handed his walking stick to Kalpithe.
He then announced quietly, "I will go face him -- and most likely perish in the process. You will make your way by air back to the palace, stopping of course at the witch's hut, on the way. There are a few bottles hidden behind the water-tap in the old orchard." Dreizen paused a moment.
Then he continued. "Use the Gauntlet while thinking of your time here. Focus on the tranquility you felt in the forest clearing. A "oneness" should come over you -- and then bless the elixer with that ambrosia. It's actually quite simp-." Dreizen was cut-off mid sentence.
"Dreizen, we are lighting the matches! Final warning. Come out now or say goodbye to your precious plants and animals, you detestable, vile, hermit!" The King's voice reeked with authority; lividly furious.
Kalpithe was struggling to keep up, yet the choice seemed simple. There was only one problem...
"But, I don't have the Gauntlet!" He blurted out, forgetting to lower his voice. Our hero absent mindedly clasped Dreizen's gnarled walking stick in his hand, gripping it harder due to the anticipation. No, it couldn't be.
"Yes, that's it. The old stick that you almost broke. Now, use the damn thing and change into a butterfly, eagle, or whatever suits you best. Just make certain to fly high above the smoke." Dreizen began to stand up, giving Kalpithe a wink while he did so.
Dreizen's parting words were as follows:
"It's your turn now, go become the hero; save the princess. But don't forget that you will have to go into hiding after, and continue to bring her the remedies. The King will soon weaken, and die -- as are the way of things.
You will mind the forest; she the kingdom. And there may be peace for sometime."
*****
Kalpithe soared above the treeline as he watched the smoke rise. Daneth'yar lay unconscious below, next to a host of dead and injured knights. The plants had come alive in a vicious battle, Dreizen had taken the form of a fearsome Kodiak in his final final moments, defying all those that opposed him. But in the end, he was run through by a lance. It was unavoidable. His final moments were braver than most great heroes.
As he flew, Kalpithe assured himself he was reserving the tears for when he was human again. This was one of those thoughts he could not rid himself of for quite sometime. It was rather bothersome.
*****
Only one woman in the village alehouse claimed she had seen 'a sad looking moth' on the night of the fires.
No one believed her.
*****
The End
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