Three Knights (I)
During the thirteenth century, three valiant knights held renown throughout the countryside. Their behavior came to define the title gentlemen and their names became synonymous with hero. They righted wrongs holding tightly to only their honor. Scribes worked tirelessly to record each act on the everlasting pages of parchment. Also, within the people’s hearts there beat the strong conviction that they were safe with a sword in each of these men’s gauntleted right fist. Their names were Sir Philip, Sir Edward, and Sir Otto.
These three knights had attended and graduated together from the finest school of chivalry, the Malmont Academy. During their tenure there, the stone halls of Malmont were heavy laden with their famous bronze shields upon which were engraved these hero’s finest deeds.
During tests of daring and strength, there was none equal to Sir Phillip. He possessed amazing might and speed, and often used them to bring his foes to their knees. Phillip would examine his foe only as long as he had to, then attack with incredible resolve and quickness. The sudden onslaught of Sir Phillip’s charge was like a peal of thunder, the sharp point of his iron tipped lance like a bolt of lightning. He was rash and relentless.
“Never let an errand go undone, never let a task gather dust, never allow a wound to fester.” Sir Philip’s mentors and teachers stressed victory through diligence and persistence.
On one particular occasion, Sir Phillip was called upon to hunt a hated criminal. This thief had appeared from the Fovoham Forest months ago and committed numeral burglaries and assaults. When pursued by the local sheriff, the thief would flee into the forest and disappear among the thick trees and brush. Even the king’s royal inspectors failed to capture this evil perpetrator.
Sir Phillip arrived upon an urgent request from Fovoham’s mayor.
The knight arrived in town with a contingent of royal inspectors and carrying his own banner. “Fear not nobles, commons, and clergy! I shall not depart from you presence until the wrongs that have besieged you have been avenged and you have been rewarded.”
The criminal heard the fanfare surrounding Sir Phillip’s arrival and thought to himself, “I will very quickly make an example of this fool. I will continue my activities and the dense Fovoham will protect me.”
That night while the town wrapped itself in sleep, the thief crept into town with the presence of a ghost. Never had he been so careful and so cautious. He slipped from narrow alleyway to cobblestone street with only stray cats noticing his passing.
“Where are the guards? Where are the royal inspectors keeping watch? Could this Phillip be so naïve and proud?”
At the inn were Phillip was lodging, the thief used a rain barrel to reach the ledge of Phillip’s window. Inside he found Phillip asleep, his armor stacked in one corner, provisions on the crude dresser, and his broadsword and battle axe next to his bed.
The criminal entered the shadows and considered his options. “I could kill him now and be forever known as the assassin of the mighty Sir Phillip or I could shame him. I could continue to rob and bring scorn on this stupid lout then in a final act I will steal his life.”
With that, the villain took Sir Phillip’s banner from it place against the wall and returned to the Fovoham Forest.
The next morning, Phillip noticed the missing banner immediately and understood what had happened. He dressed, ate, and called the royal inspectors to him.
“This criminal had taken my banner in an effort to bring shame upon my honor and prove my ineptness.” Many among the royal attendants seemed surprised. “He will sooner prove the sun unable to heat this earth than my hand unable to bring justice. Come.”
The royal inspectors rode out of town with Sir Phillip at he lead. Many of the townspeople noticed that Phillip was without his banner but all kept their silence. They feared that even the mighty Phillip would fail them.
Upon arrival at the Fovoham forest, Sir Phillip spread the royal inspectors about the forest’s edge forming a guarded perimeter.
From somewhere within the forest’s shadowed heart, the shout of the thief came. “Fool! As long as I am hidden by nature’s blanket you will never find me! Within my forested fortress I cannot be discovered!”
Sir Phillip said nothing and would not be daunted. He removed his battle-axe from the back of his saddle, and in a few short moments had felled the nearest tree. Phillip then moved on to the next tree, and leveled that tree as well. One by one the sturdy axe of Sir Phillip brought down the tall trees and leveled each shrub. The robber dared not leave the forest, so he continued to hide in the dwindling wood.
On a brisk fall day, Philip arrived at the last oak. He had been chopping down trees for two long months and now with the criminal forced to take shelter among the oak’s highest branches, Sir Phillip’s powerful arms cut completely through the tree with one swing. The tree tottered for a moment before it fell. The force of its impact killed the thief.
Hence, the Fovoham forest, den of thieves became the Fovoham plains, a fertile cropland that fed the people for generations.
January 12th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
That was pretty good I look forward to reading the next two
And congratulations on the baby girl !!!
January 15th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Good story… On to the next part.