Post by theantichris on Nov 9, 2009 0:20:02 GMT 10
Title: Dragonslayer
Rating (and Warnings): PG, none
Fairytale/Nursery Rhyme adapted: The Three Enchanted Princes, very loosely.
Word Count: 1350
Summary: How Kel fought a dragon. Or not.
Notes: I mess with canon security arrangements a bit, and one character gets a brother. Also, I have no idea where the second person came from.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, and he--
That's not right. Try again.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast--
Hmm, better. Go on.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast, who rescued a princess--
Oh, and you were doing so well. Try again.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast, who fought a dragon--
Uh-uh. Try again.
Well, why don't you tell us your version, Grandmother? Go on, set us straight. (You ignore the sarcasm. You're too old to pay attention to young people's high opinion of themselves. Not too old, though, to remember, the colours bright in your memory. Those days are clearer than last week, sometimes.)
Esric draws back with bad grace, but the children cluster around, bringing cushions, a blanket, several prized rag dolls, one sticky peppermint and - glory be - a mug of tea. They look up at you, expectant.
Well. This was all a long time ago, understand? I was a young'un, no older'n Sebbi here, and New Hope wasn't a town yet. 'Twas more of a camp, or a fort, or some such.
More of a camp than a fort, really, and the memory of that still pinches and stings when you're not expecting it. Getting old wasn't anything new, in a way - it just meant that the pains came from new places. Your joints, mostly.
And the knight in charge, who was strong and brave and steadfast, with everything proper about her, was Lady Keladry of Mindelan.
Don't you mean Sir Keladry, one of them interrupts.
Hush, you. Do you want to hear it or not? You mock-glare at them, causing the older ones to giggle and the younger to shrink guiltily against their siblings. Our lady was a lady knight, and don't you forget it. The first to train as a girl in a century, and outdid all the boys while she was about it.
She'd done what no one else could do in building Haven into a town, a home, and then what no one else would do in saving it.
Now, then. This is how it was.
***
'Have you word from Sir Merric's squad?' the lady asks a gate guard. 'They were supposed to report in an hour ago.' You crane your neck around the cart you're crouching behind, trying to see her face, but she has her back to you.
Your brother's with that squad.
'No, lady.' The guard shakes his head. 'They rode out, but we've not had track nor trace of them since.'
'It looks quiet, but...' She speaks quietly enough that the guard doesn't seem to hear, but you've always had good ears. 'Little fox', Innan used to call you, before you grew old enough to gripe at baby names. You wish he'd call you pet names again - somehow, you feel younger here at Haven than you did at home - but you don't know how to ask. You concentrate on the grain of the cart's sides, picking at a splinter on the hastily finished wood.
'Dom!' Lady Kel's voice rings out, startling you, and the sergeant runs up. You like him - he pulled a copper from your ear in the mess hall - but he has a soldier's face now, with no laughter in it. 'You're in command. I'm taking Third Squad and going after Merric.'
He salutes. 'Take care out there. It looks quiet, but...'
'Raiders like nothing more than a quiet afternoon. I know. We'll be careful. And we've better scouts than they do, don't forget.'
The sergeant grimaces, and the guard, after a moment, joins him. 'I know they're helpful, but what can I say? I'm a simple fighting man. Magery makes me nervous.'
Lady Kel laughs. 'I'll send Nari when I find them.' She strides off in the direction of the barracks, and the sergeant and guard return to their posts.
It's time, before you lose your nerve.
***
It's always easier to get out of the camp than in, and camp kids know, better than most, the need for escape routes. This place seems safer than any you've been since home, but you've still made it your business to know where there's a tunnel to the outside. You've never used it, and you hope there isn't a magic on it to keep humans out. The mage-lady said it was for Haven's animals, but you're almost sure she saw you listening. There's something in her eyes that makes you think she knows other folk aren't always safe to be around, that the camp kids might need a bolthole, and sure enough, the tunnel lets you through. Not without a deal of muck on your breeches, but it's been months since you last had thoughts to spare for such things.
You slip into the trees and wait for Lady Kel's squad. Once they get a safe distance ahead, you'll follow. You've been hunting since you could keep up with Innan; you can keep out of the way of human scouts. Lady Kel's dog Jump and a pair of cats see you, which you half-expected, but just as you're getting ready to climb down from your tree, the dog flicks his one ear and turns firmly away, saying, plain as porridge, I didn't see anything. The camp animals don't give you shivers like they do to most of the adults - no matter how smart, you know where you are with creatures - but you have to stop yourself from making the Sign to see a dog talking clear as any of the camp folk and clearer than some.
You're about a mile into the forest when the soldiers halt. A dog whines, then falls silent. A cold breeze tickles your cheek. You creep closer, setting each foot with care, cobweb-light. A broad-shouldered knight - Sir Merric - brings his horse by Lady Kel's. Innan is behind him, and suddenly you feel as if the breeze is lifting you like thistledown.
'-cut us off,' Sir Merric is saying. 'We had to drop most of the squad's weapons and double back.'
'The captured weapons?' Lady Kel thumps a fist on her saddle-horn. 'Of course. To a Coldfang, they're stolen. Gods curse all clever Scanrans.' She turns to face her squad. 'Who here was issued captured weapons?'
Half a dozen men raise their hand.
'Drop them, now, and move out, on the double.'
You gasp, forgetting silence. Your knife is Scanran - it was too thin with sharpening for the soldiers, so the quartermaster let you have it. You shiver, as much from uncertainty as from the suddenly biting cold. You look down to see frost-flowers forming at your feet, and nearby, a branch cracks with the sudden weight of icicles.
'On the double, I said!'
The soldiers are already moving, but you're frozen in place, your scalp prickling. Then, through a gap in the trees, you see it - scales, and spikes, and silver teeth, and it's coming for you...
Jump barks. Once, twice, then Lady Kel is turning, riding straight for you. The thing forges blindly on, until you can feel its breath scouring your skin like the worst winter blizzards, but the lady is on it, striking downward with her heavy axe, then turning to strike again. The horse's hooves flash, and silver blood sizzles on the frosted grass.
You know you're safe when your fingers start to pain you, blood burning as it enters frozen flesh. Lady Kel is wiping her sword, then advancing on you, face stern, and you'd be afraid of what she might do to you, but all you can think is that her face looks like the summer sun.
***
The kids goggle at you as you wrap your fingers around the mug, seeking warmth against the remembered cold.
You think that's something. Wait'll I tell you about the killing machines.
Killing machines, Grandma Loey?
You try to call up Lady Kel's face from that day, since you suspect nothing less is going to get them to bed tonight.
Another night. Old bones need rest. That's enough to get the older ones moving, but Sebbi stays at your knee.
Promise?
Promise. She has big hazel eyes, Innan's eyes, and you could never say no to her. Now shoo.
Rating (and Warnings): PG, none
Fairytale/Nursery Rhyme adapted: The Three Enchanted Princes, very loosely.
Word Count: 1350
Summary: How Kel fought a dragon. Or not.
Notes: I mess with canon security arrangements a bit, and one character gets a brother. Also, I have no idea where the second person came from.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, and he--
That's not right. Try again.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast--
Hmm, better. Go on.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast, who rescued a princess--
Oh, and you were doing so well. Try again.
Once upon a time there was a brave knight, strong and steadfast, who fought a dragon--
Uh-uh. Try again.
Well, why don't you tell us your version, Grandmother? Go on, set us straight. (You ignore the sarcasm. You're too old to pay attention to young people's high opinion of themselves. Not too old, though, to remember, the colours bright in your memory. Those days are clearer than last week, sometimes.)
Esric draws back with bad grace, but the children cluster around, bringing cushions, a blanket, several prized rag dolls, one sticky peppermint and - glory be - a mug of tea. They look up at you, expectant.
Well. This was all a long time ago, understand? I was a young'un, no older'n Sebbi here, and New Hope wasn't a town yet. 'Twas more of a camp, or a fort, or some such.
More of a camp than a fort, really, and the memory of that still pinches and stings when you're not expecting it. Getting old wasn't anything new, in a way - it just meant that the pains came from new places. Your joints, mostly.
And the knight in charge, who was strong and brave and steadfast, with everything proper about her, was Lady Keladry of Mindelan.
Don't you mean Sir Keladry, one of them interrupts.
Hush, you. Do you want to hear it or not? You mock-glare at them, causing the older ones to giggle and the younger to shrink guiltily against their siblings. Our lady was a lady knight, and don't you forget it. The first to train as a girl in a century, and outdid all the boys while she was about it.
She'd done what no one else could do in building Haven into a town, a home, and then what no one else would do in saving it.
Now, then. This is how it was.
***
'Have you word from Sir Merric's squad?' the lady asks a gate guard. 'They were supposed to report in an hour ago.' You crane your neck around the cart you're crouching behind, trying to see her face, but she has her back to you.
Your brother's with that squad.
'No, lady.' The guard shakes his head. 'They rode out, but we've not had track nor trace of them since.'
'It looks quiet, but...' She speaks quietly enough that the guard doesn't seem to hear, but you've always had good ears. 'Little fox', Innan used to call you, before you grew old enough to gripe at baby names. You wish he'd call you pet names again - somehow, you feel younger here at Haven than you did at home - but you don't know how to ask. You concentrate on the grain of the cart's sides, picking at a splinter on the hastily finished wood.
'Dom!' Lady Kel's voice rings out, startling you, and the sergeant runs up. You like him - he pulled a copper from your ear in the mess hall - but he has a soldier's face now, with no laughter in it. 'You're in command. I'm taking Third Squad and going after Merric.'
He salutes. 'Take care out there. It looks quiet, but...'
'Raiders like nothing more than a quiet afternoon. I know. We'll be careful. And we've better scouts than they do, don't forget.'
The sergeant grimaces, and the guard, after a moment, joins him. 'I know they're helpful, but what can I say? I'm a simple fighting man. Magery makes me nervous.'
Lady Kel laughs. 'I'll send Nari when I find them.' She strides off in the direction of the barracks, and the sergeant and guard return to their posts.
It's time, before you lose your nerve.
***
It's always easier to get out of the camp than in, and camp kids know, better than most, the need for escape routes. This place seems safer than any you've been since home, but you've still made it your business to know where there's a tunnel to the outside. You've never used it, and you hope there isn't a magic on it to keep humans out. The mage-lady said it was for Haven's animals, but you're almost sure she saw you listening. There's something in her eyes that makes you think she knows other folk aren't always safe to be around, that the camp kids might need a bolthole, and sure enough, the tunnel lets you through. Not without a deal of muck on your breeches, but it's been months since you last had thoughts to spare for such things.
You slip into the trees and wait for Lady Kel's squad. Once they get a safe distance ahead, you'll follow. You've been hunting since you could keep up with Innan; you can keep out of the way of human scouts. Lady Kel's dog Jump and a pair of cats see you, which you half-expected, but just as you're getting ready to climb down from your tree, the dog flicks his one ear and turns firmly away, saying, plain as porridge, I didn't see anything. The camp animals don't give you shivers like they do to most of the adults - no matter how smart, you know where you are with creatures - but you have to stop yourself from making the Sign to see a dog talking clear as any of the camp folk and clearer than some.
You're about a mile into the forest when the soldiers halt. A dog whines, then falls silent. A cold breeze tickles your cheek. You creep closer, setting each foot with care, cobweb-light. A broad-shouldered knight - Sir Merric - brings his horse by Lady Kel's. Innan is behind him, and suddenly you feel as if the breeze is lifting you like thistledown.
'-cut us off,' Sir Merric is saying. 'We had to drop most of the squad's weapons and double back.'
'The captured weapons?' Lady Kel thumps a fist on her saddle-horn. 'Of course. To a Coldfang, they're stolen. Gods curse all clever Scanrans.' She turns to face her squad. 'Who here was issued captured weapons?'
Half a dozen men raise their hand.
'Drop them, now, and move out, on the double.'
You gasp, forgetting silence. Your knife is Scanran - it was too thin with sharpening for the soldiers, so the quartermaster let you have it. You shiver, as much from uncertainty as from the suddenly biting cold. You look down to see frost-flowers forming at your feet, and nearby, a branch cracks with the sudden weight of icicles.
'On the double, I said!'
The soldiers are already moving, but you're frozen in place, your scalp prickling. Then, through a gap in the trees, you see it - scales, and spikes, and silver teeth, and it's coming for you...
Jump barks. Once, twice, then Lady Kel is turning, riding straight for you. The thing forges blindly on, until you can feel its breath scouring your skin like the worst winter blizzards, but the lady is on it, striking downward with her heavy axe, then turning to strike again. The horse's hooves flash, and silver blood sizzles on the frosted grass.
You know you're safe when your fingers start to pain you, blood burning as it enters frozen flesh. Lady Kel is wiping her sword, then advancing on you, face stern, and you'd be afraid of what she might do to you, but all you can think is that her face looks like the summer sun.
***
The kids goggle at you as you wrap your fingers around the mug, seeking warmth against the remembered cold.
You think that's something. Wait'll I tell you about the killing machines.
Killing machines, Grandma Loey?
You try to call up Lady Kel's face from that day, since you suspect nothing less is going to get them to bed tonight.
Another night. Old bones need rest. That's enough to get the older ones moving, but Sebbi stays at your knee.
Promise?
Promise. She has big hazel eyes, Innan's eyes, and you could never say no to her. Now shoo.