Chapter Five–The Reception

The great hall in the royal castle was overflowing with mead and ale and breads for the visiting dignitaries for the Tournament of Games. Brave knights and fair maidens from all over the known world had descended upon Arkovia for this historic event.

 

While at the celebration, Morgan cast a glance in the direction of a lovely lady with flowers in her hair, wearing a light blue gown. This was Fair Maiden Briana, the lady of the tournament. Briana had been the daughter of a Tredonian nobleman; the gossip of the moment was that she was the betrothed of Merchant Prince Raibeart of Tredony and due to become the princess consort.
On one knee, Morgan handed Briana a rose she'd picked from around the forests in Arkovia. "Why, you are quite lovely," she told her.

 

Surprised by the flower, Briana took a step back. "Thank you, kind champion. May I ask your name?"
"Morgan the Brave, my lady. Champion of Arkovia and captain of the Arkovian royal guards."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, kind sir."
Morgan didn't have the heart to tell Briana that she was no 'sir.' She'd fooled most everyone, why not let the ruse continue?

 

Morgan made it a point to try to enjoy the festivities -- the lute player singing melodies, the draughts of ale and wine flowing from the casks, the rich breads coming out of the royal ovens -- but she was a woman of action and duty. Celebrations, even for a brief period of time, weren't becoming to her.

 

She caught a glimpse of Queen Alys partaking of a draught of ale alone and decided to approach her about what to do next.

 

But first, she told the queen about her defeat of Count Innocent. "Well done, my champion, as I expected," she said, "but your next round will be even tougher."

Chapter Four pt. 2–Tournament of Games

Morgan walked to the village, alone, under the cover of darkness, to pick up her supplies for the tournament. Her first thoughts were, why would the crown send them to the village shoppe? Would she have to pay for them out of her own pocket? Then she realized that the crown had sent a note of payment to the village for the supplies, glistening royal armor and a glittering royal broadsword with jewels on the handle.

 

After Morgan returned from the village, she found Count Innocent at one of the training dummies. "That's the only fighter you're going to be able to beat," she taunted.

 

Really?" replied Count Innocent. "Well, we shall see about that."
You are so done, Morgan thought to herself. Once Her Majesty finds out about your treachery to Arkovia, the next place you're going is the Pit.

 

Morgan and Count Innocent began the contest. "You've excellent technique, for a woman," Innocent began, "too bad it's the end of your road."

 

Count Innocent lashed Morgan across her jaw, coming mere inches from her mouth. Shaken for now, Morgan wiped herself off and stood straighter.

 

Slowly but surely Morgan began to gain an advantage over the Tredonian fencer.

 

"I don't know who you think you are," taunted Morgan, "but I dare say there isn't anyone in this tri-kingdom area more proficient with a sword than I."
"You are not a woman," shouted Count Innocent, "I don't know what you are."

 

Morgan let out another mighty lash, sending Count Innocent flying backward. She let out a primordial scream afterwards.

 

Finally, Count Innocent fell to the ground. Morgan was declared the winner of this evening's fencing competition.

 

Now that Count Innocent was, well, down for the count, Morgan received an invitation to celebrate in the royal castle.

Chapter Four pt. 1 –Tournament of Games

After leaving the castle, Morgan went to the training yard to its immediate south-west. The yard was a mess, and she instructed her guards to prepare it for the tournament.

 

After returning to the castle Morgan then conversed with Torrance, the town crier, who had the schedule of events. "Your first match is in a couple hours."
Hours? Morgan thought to herself.

 

Morgan greeted the guests coming into the castle for the tournament. One smarmy chap slithered, "So, you're Arkovia's champion eh? We'll see about that."

 

Torrance and the guest jouster were plotting military strategy in the meeting room. "Um, shouldn't your forces rally forth when confronted with his?" Morgan mused as Torrance advanced his playing piece.

 

Morgan met her squire Horatio at the training yard. She decided if she was going to be occupied with the games, someone would need to take her place. "Faster, Horatio, you don't want your challenger to stab you in the gut, right?" she yelled as he sliced his sword on the training dummy.

 

Then she challenged him to a sparring match, which she promptly won. "You're going to have to work on your footwork if you're going to become a knight," she said.

 

While walking off to the village to pick up her royal equipment, she spotted Horatio chatting with a mysterious stranger. She later found out he was Count Innocent Nagel of Tredony.

 

She only caught the tail end of the Tredonian's conversation with Horatio and wondered what the heck he was doing. Was Horatio unwittingly committing treason against the crown? She decided this "Innocent" character wasn't so innocent, after all.

Chapter Three

Knight-Captain Morgan was on a bear hunt in the forest when a messenger pigeon approached her having come from the direction of the royal castle. She let out a deep resigned sigh. "What does Her Majesty want now?" she asked.

 

Reluctantly suspending her hunt, Morgan returned to the castle. She decided to fix herself some soup made from the whale she'd harpooned off the coast and then thought that she needed to at least look presentable in front of the queen. So she put on her uniform and fastened her sword to her side.

 

Upon approaching the castle, Morgan discovered that Alys had completely overhauled the castle's decor -- and, she decided, for the more opulent, even if the endless pink wasn't her style. When she got in, she asked the harlequin Vivian, who was playing a jaunty tune on her lute, where the queen was. "Well, Her Majesty has already retired for the night. I suggest you come back in the morning."
But Morgan would have none of it. "Summon her!" she demanded. "I request an audience with her Majesty immediately. "

 

Alys emerged into the throne room looking every bit the queen she had become. She wore a gilded crown upon her head, and her hair was neatly braided into two side knots decorated with ribbons.
"Majesty," Morgan began, calling Alys' attention to her while kneeling before her throne. "You summoned me here -- why? Could this not have waited until morning?"
"No," Alys replied, "I promise that I will make this visit worth your while."
Morgan was now intrigued. Shaking her head, she then inquired, "What do you mean?"

 

Alys took the unusual step of removing herself from the throne to talk to Morgan. "Arkovia is hosting a Tournament of Games. Brave knights from all over the world will be descending upon this kingdom for the event, and we expect to field a worthy champion."

“Aye, Your Majesty,” nodded Morgan. 

Chapter Two

 

With Michael's exile from Arkovia, a young woman called Morgan became Alys' first knight. No one knew where she'd come from. Morgan first arrived in the kingdom, stowed away on a pirate ship, at the age of thirteen, dirty, disheveled, and disguised as a boy, her blond hair lopped off. In time, though, her skill with a sword outweighed the disadvantages of her small stature and her gender.
Alys implicitly trusted Morgan, far more than she ever trusted Michael even though he was family, and for her part Morgan was fiercely loyal to Arkovia and the crown itself. She took a silent oath to protect Alys from all who would harm her.
"Morgan, I need you to do something for me." Every time Alys called, Morgan was there. She had to be.

 

Morgan enjoyed her military strategy barnstorming sessions with Philip, the resident castle spy. "So," Philip began, "if we set up our troops along the coast, when Ivan Stormcloud and the Nimbans attack we'll be ready."
"How do you know they'll attack?" asked Morgan.
Philip grinned slyly. "This is Ivan Stormcloud we're talking about. This is what he does. Besides, I have methods of finding these things out."

 

One of Morgan's duties as captain of the royal guards was training soldiers. In the afternoons Philip and her squire, Moses, joined her upstairs in the barracks for a serious physical workout.
"Let's go, boys, stronger, faster! We have to be ready for the Nimbans!"
"I can't go another minute," grumbled Moses.
"You want to be a knight, right?" shot back Morgan. "You can't do so without a lot of work."

Chapter One

Alys watched in horror as her cousin kept coming up time and time again.

 

Finally, Michael emerged from the Pit victorious. Alys looked down in disbelief. She would need another plan to get rid of this menace to society.

Prologue Part 2

Michael pretended he didn't hear Alys and returned to his swordfighting practice.
"Didn't you hear anything I said?" repeated Alys.  "I sentence you to the Pit."
"I'm stronger than any of your Pit monsters combined," Michael laughed villainously. 
Alys was resolute.  "We shall see about that."

 

 

An arresting official took Michael away from the room. Alys closed her eyes and sobbed. She did not want to do this. Her own cousin.

 

She remembered Michael well. They used to play together a lot before she was sent away. Her uncle Rupert was a jolly fellow, with hair the same hue as his son. What had happened that made Michael this way? Why did he look at her with such callous disdain? Now, though, he must die. He killed her father, the wizard had told her as much.

 

Michael met his fate with the same arrogance with which he'd led his life. No way that damned Pit monster is going to get the better of me. I am stronger and faster. I am a Chosen One. Alys cannot do this. The Watcher chose me to live that day, not Edward.

 

As Michael was lowered into the Pit, a grand tussle ensued for nearly two hours between man and beast. Alys' emotions were mixed. Here had been her cousin, of her own blood and lineage, and on the other hand, he had ended the life of his own uncle and her own father, blinded by searing white-hot ambition.