Chapter 1: The Leave

A test for the best is happening... will Kawn prevail.

            It all started the day of the Dragon Festival. The town was decorated in the many colors that were appropriate for the occasion. Many of the townspeople were already congregating in the arena, at the center of town, listening patiently to the Master of Arms announce the contestants that will participate in the mock combat. They will fight among themselves to earn the right to be a prestigious member of adventurers to search for the scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus.

            “I will be late if I do not hurry!” said Kawn as he threw his pack on his horse. “You can come and wish me luck if you want to.”

            “I will be there then,” said his wife as she tossed her hair back. “I will be cheering so loudly that you will not lose.”

            “Marvelous Mrs. Renduit, I am off now.” he said as he straddled his horse. “I will meet you at the gate when the day is done.”

            “Then consider me there and get under way Kawn Renduit!” replied his wife as she walked back to the door. “I will prepare your favorite meal tonight.” She blew him a kiss as he turned and rode off towards the arena.

            “Our greatest warrior must brave the tests of the Dragon Lord. There are six tests to be precise. An agility test, a strength test, a test of luck, a charisma test, an endurance test and last but not least a test of knowledge and wit. A group or party will be composed of six members who test at least a fifteen out of eighteen. Who will endure the six days and claim victory? " said the Master of Arms. “Let the games begin!”

            “Name?” inquired the scribe in the stables.

            “Kawn, Kawn Renduit sir.” replied Kawn as he dismounted from his horse.

            “Kawn, you barely made it here!” shouted Kawn’s brother Balder.

            “Well, I made it did I not!” said Kawn as the stable boy took the reins of his horse. “Take good care of that horse boy!”

            “Yes sir!” replied the stable boy shakily as he led the horse to a fresh stall.

            “Come pick your weapons Kawn. The contest has just started” Balder remarked as he grabbed his brother’s arm and led him towards the armory.

            “So how well do you think you will do Balder?” inquired Kawn as his brother led him down the corridor towards the armory. "Do you think we will win the whole thing?"

            “I think I will do fair. I will be one of the people to go or my name is not Balder Renduit.” he replied as they approached the door to the armory. “Here we are now. Just step inside to pick the weapon to lead you to victory. The Halberd in the corner is mine.”

            “Very well, I got my eyes on that b*****d sword on the wall for myself. You know I do not like Halberds anyway Balder.” replied Kawn as he approached the sword.

            “I know but I just had to give you a hard time before the contest starts. Our shields are waiting outside for us.” remarked Balder as he followed his brother out to the central arena. Kawn and Balder immediately parried attacks as they entered fighting floor.

            “We will handle these competitors rather easily and score high marks in the gauntlet!” shouted Kawn to his brother as he knocked down three contestants at once.

            “Yes! That is the plan. I could use the money from the quest to fix my house or perhaps purchase some land here near you!” said Balder as he knocked another contestant out by knocking him over the head with the flat side of his short sword.

            “I thought your favorite weapon was the Halberd? Why are you favoring that short sword brother?” jabbed Kawn as he blocked a blow with his shield.

            “I will show you why it is my favorite weapon and I will not hold back!” shouted Balder as he sheathed his short sword and pulled out the halberd that was strapped across his back. With a few swings he quickly disarmed four contestants and quickly tapped each one on the helm with enough force to render each unconscious. “See! This is why it is my favorite!”

            “Good... good, we have some skilled people out there!” said the Dragon Lord to the announcer with a smile on his face. “Over there! Do you see him? That Man has talent!”

            “His name is Kawn sire. Kawn Renduit is the best warrior of the Ramadaggan division at Draconia. He was honored six times for his bravery in battle and for the most victories in a single campaign.” boasted the announcer. “My brother had the privilege of fighting with him before he died in the Battle of Frug.”

            “Watch him! I want him when he is finished with his tests. That is, if he lasts the entire six days and survives the final elimination round. That is the kind of man that I want to lead the party, once they have been assembled, on the quest for the scepter. Inform Bio that I will be requiring his services after the tests are complete.” said the Dragon Lord.

            “As you command sire.” said the announcer watching the contestants in the contest below as they tried to outwit and beat each other. A horn sounded signaling the end of the warm up battle and the dead and wounded were tended too as everyone watched as the gauntlet was erected before them. Enchanted planks and weapons flew through the air and formed the deadly obstacle course that the contestants would go through. The crowd cheered as the last pieces moved to their final positions. A horn sounded once more and the gauntlets obstacles started moving. The contestants quickly climbed on to the platform to queue up for the test. First up was Spike Hammermore. He ran down the ramp and the crowd cheered as he vaulted over a large blade as it came out of the floor. He then rolled under the razor sharp pendulum and prepared to leap across a gap when he suddenly found himself impaled on a large swing spike ball. “Better luck next time Spike!” boomed the mc as the crowd let out collective sigh. The next few contestants did not fare as good as Spike as they kept getting hit by the pendulum and large sword. A few got past Spike only to miss the platform or get charred by the erupting flames further down the gauntlet. Kawn approached the starting block to start his turn when he heard a familiar voice in the crowd.

            “Come on Honey! You can do it! beat this gauntlet!” shouted Letha as she was cheering on her husband.

            “This guy looks like he is going to join Spike on the ball!” shouted a drunk in the crowd behind Letha.

            “Well, I have been watching him and I noticed that he was watching the other really close so maybe he has a system to cheat using magic or something!” said the drunk man’s friend as he took a long drink from his mug of beer.

            “Excuse me Fellas! Are you calling my husband a cheater?” asked Letha curtly to the drunks.

            “Maybe we are and maybe we ugh… are!” said the drunk as he raised his mug. Letha quickly kicked the mug causing it to shatter in the man’s face knocking him down and covering him with beer.

            “Are you sharing his answer too?” Letha asked the other as she prepared to do the same to him. “No one calls my husband a cheat!”

            “Ughhh… No Mam!” He said as he quickly moved along to a new seat.

            “You can do it Kawn! It is going to be easy for you!” shouted Letha. Kawn quickly vaulted, rolled and lunged past the weapons and traps. He watched as Spike swung by on the ball and leapt to the next platform. He dodged the streams of fire that shot from this angle and that angle and ran to the end of the course to the final area. There was a set of throwing knives on a table and a series of targets on a spinning wheel.

            “Kawn is poised to break the record for the gauntlet. Can he do it?” boomed the MC as the crowd watch in suspense. The crowd quieted when he picked up the first knife and threw it to take out the first of six targets. The crowd cheered as the knife hit its mark and the target fell. Letha watch proudly as her husband took out the next three targets. “Kawn is currently holding the record! Can he score all of the points?” Boomed the MC. Kawn breathed deep and threw the fifth knife and missed the mark. The crowd was disappointed with the miss. “Too bad. He has two targets remaining and only one knife left. So much for the perfect score now! At least he hold the record.” announced the MC.

            “You can do this Kawn! Concentrate!” whispered Letha to her husband. Kawn shook of the miss and took the final knife in his hand. He watched the targets rotate on the wheel and noticed a pattern to their cycle and threw the knife. The crowd was on their feet cheering when the knife hit the first target and then ricocheted off it to hit the final target as well scoring all the points.

            “Amazing! Simply amazing! Ladies and Gentleman! a perfect score for the gauntlet! The first perfect score!” shouted the MC in disbelief. The crowd went wild as Kawn held up his arms in victory.

“I knew you could do it!” Letha thought to herself as she watched the rest of the games. The rest of the contestants took their turns at the gauntlet and only one other placed close to Kawn’s score.

“We need the families of the dead and wounded to meet their family members at the clerics station before dusk. This really pertains to Spike’s family. You left him on the ball last year for two days!” announced the MC. The horn sounded and the gauntlet disassembled and was gone once again.

“Five days of festivities and games to play! Five days before we find the results of everything! I am ready to enjoy myself this time” shouted Dofert.

“I thought we were going to Kawn’s house for dinner then returning to the inn.” said Raglan.

“You can! I am going to enjoy myself and party while I can! Just like last year.” said Dofert.

“Last year you got your butt kick by a couple of Dwarves!” interjected Ramblan.

“NO! I kicked their butts!” retorted Dofert.

“No, we kicked their butts. You were knocked out by the Dwarven lady you called a man.” snickered Ramblan.

 “Whatever! I am still going to enjoy myself at the festival” said Dofert.

“Taran and I will go to keep you out of trouble.” said Ramblan.

“I am going to Kawn’s with Raglan then.” said Balder.

Five and a half days later he returned with seven men. One was Bio and the other six were the contest winners. “Here is Kawn along with the five other place setters sire.” Being in the Dragon Lords presence they quickly fell to one knee.

            “Give me your names in the order of your scoring!” demanded the Dragon Lord in his Booming voice. “You are dismissed Franklin!”

            “I am Kawn, placed first, sire!” said Kawn loudly to the Dragon Lord as if he were on the battlefield giving orders.

            “I am Raglan, placed second, sire!” said Raglan as loud as the first person did.

            “I am Ramblan, placed third, sire!” said Ramblan with a smile on his face.

            “I am Dofert, placed fourth, sire!” said Dofert while rubbing his bruised arm tenderly.

            “I am Taran, placed fifth, sire!” said Taran trying to keep from laughing at Dofert's bruised arm.

            “I am Balder, placed sixth, sire!” said Balder fidgeting nervously with the hilt of his dagger.

            “So, you six met my challenges and survived the elimination round. Tell me, are you all related in any way at all? If so you may choose an alternate to take your place on the mission that I am going to give you for I do not want a family to die out against their will.” inquired the Dragon Lord.

            “Yes sire, we are the Renduits!!” they rang out in unison.

            “Do you wish to accept this mission which I am about to bestow upon you and do you have any dependents? If so, I need to know so I can give them aid while you are gone.” said the Dragon Lord.

            “Yes, we accept the mission!” said Kawn assuming the role of the leader since he is the eldest of them and he came in first.

            “Good! I am pleased to hear that. Your mission as you already know is to retrieve the Scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus. I will supply you with what you will need for your journey such as six weeks of iron rations, weapons, fresh horses, and a large sum of dumes for your services. Bio!! Equip these men! Good luck gentlemen and may you have good journeys!” said the Dragon Lord as Bio led the party to the armory.

            “I will take that sword over there” said Kawn. Bio grabbed the old sword and handed it to him. Kawn was filled with excitement when he grasped the sword by the hilt. The rest of the group grabbed their weapons with less flare over the weapons in the room. “Let us fetch the horses and be off on the journey at first light.”

            “This way to the inn and the horses will be awaiting you in the stable around back fully packed and ready to go. The inn has already been paid.” said Bio as he pointed the Traveler's Inn.

            “Thank you.” replied Kawn as he motioned the others to follow. “We will take our own horses tomorrow.”

            “Very well then, I will inform the stable boy to prepare your horses then.” replied Bio as he turned to return to the armory. A solitary figure approached the party as Bio disappeared through the doorway.

            “Your wife wishes to see you before you leave sir.” said Raz, Kawn's squire as they started toward the inn.

            “Thanks Raz. Tell her I will see her before sunrise at the house.” said Kawn to Raz as he continued toward the inn. After making sure the group members were in their appropriate rooms he himself went to his and fell asleep on the cot. Two hours before sunrise, Kawn woke up and bathed in the bathing room in the main hall. After he was finished he ordered breakfast for the group that was to be served a half hour after sunrise and asked them to arouse his fellow party members. Kawn left the establishment, saddled his steed and rode off toward his house. “Letha? Letha, where are you?” inquired Kawn aloud as he search the front of the house for his wife's profile.

            “In here honey!” replied his wife as she approached the door to the house wearing seductive garb. “I got a little something for you when you are on your quest.”

            “Oh yeah?!” said Kawn as he jumped off his horse took his wife in his arms and went into the house. 

            Meanwhile back at the inn the restless party was just getting up off the mildly discomforting cots and went to the dining hall. When they approached, they saw a table set with six places. They quickly filled in five of the six places and started feasting on the meal that was set out for them. The meal composed of cinnamon rolls, eggs, a pitcher of brandy and milk. As they were eating, they noticed that Kawn was not sitting at the table so they stuffed themselves full of rolls, brandy, eggs, milk and called the innkeeper's bellboy.

            “Boy, have you seen our brother Kawn? The man whom we came here with last night?” inquired Ramblan with a deep, monotonous voice.

            “Why yes I have. He ordered your wake up calls, your breakfast and then he rode off towards the other side of town about two and a half hours ago. Why do you ask?” replied the bellboy.

            “No specific reason.” replied Ramblan to the bellboy as he turned to his brother to tell them what he thought was going on. “I think that he went home and right now his making passionate love to his wife before he goes off on this long arduous quest.” whispered Ramblan to his brothers.

            Back at the Kawn's house, “that should last you until I return” said Kawn pulling up his trousers and fastening them trying to look heroic at the same time. “What else did you have in mind for me before I leave on my journey Letha?” inquired Kawn as he bent over and kissed his wife.

            “There is some milk and brandy in the cold box you made, some rolls in the cupboard, and this!” replied Letha as she grabbed him by the collar and gave him a passionate kiss that would blow the top five most passionate kisses in the world, at that time, away. Here take this for luck and for love!” she said as she kissed him once more slipping something into his pocket. “I love you!”

            “I love you too. Here, take this necklace and wear it until I return from my jaunt.” said Kawn as he remove his necklace and placed it around her neck.

            “What is it?” inquired Letha as she gazed deep into its crystalline form.

            “It is the Crystal of the Guardian. It was given to me by my father when I was old enough to leave home and join the military. It will protect you, as it did me all these years, while I am gone. I will see you when I return from my jaunt. I will return as quickly as I can to see you again.” said Kawn as he grabbed a wine skin and filled it with brandy from a pitcher in the cold box. Then he grabbed a bag of rolls and kissed his wife goodbye as he exited his home. He stuffed his things in his saddlebags and mounted his horse.

“You have had it that long and this is the first time that I have seen it! It is beautiful and I can feel its ancient power! I await your return My Love!” said Letha as he waved goodbye and started towards the inn to meet his brothers. As he was riding he felt in his pocket for what Letha had stuffed into it. It was a lock of her long, flowing gold hair. He placed it back in his pocket as he approached the inn once more. His brothers were sitting on the porch waiting for him.

            “What have you been up to for the last hour or so?” inquired Raglan as his brothers started laughing at him.

            “I was at home making sweet love to my lovely wife before we started our jaunt for the Scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus. And now that you know, let us prepare to ride north to Randoa and have council with Amon the Wizard.” replied Kawn to his brother's astonishment.

            “I did not want to know all of that!” said Raglan blushing with embarrassment. As he and his brothers walked toward the stables to saddle their horses.

            “Well then you should not have asked!” snapped Dofert sharply. “We all should have done the same thing but no. Kawn was the only one smart enough to have a house here. By the way, why would a stranger leave a house for you anyway? We have no relatives in Ramadaggan especially around the time of the Battle of Ages.”

            “I do not know how or why either Dofert.” said Kawn “I just came to town with my wife and was informed that somehow I owed taxes on the place so I paid it. The weird thing was it was already in my name since the Battle of Ages and had my seal on the deed. No matter how it happened, we got a job to do. Let us do it.”

            “Yeah, let us get this done with!” shouted Taran as he started racing towards the stables. When they got there they found their horses packed and ready to go. They quickly mounted their horses and headed towards Randoa.

 

Author's Note

Content and Flow

Reviews

[csprohar]

The sword I am trying to present as a lost relic that has been lost for a long time and discovered quite by accident. As far as the armory goes I think at the time I wrote it There had been no real need for the armory over a space of some 2000 years in the story line. Most of this part of the story has been revisited since my initial transcribing in 1988. I will take your recommendations and try to rework it to make it more realistic. I think I placed the armory down in a doungeon type area in my mind.

[Hans von Lieven]

A good storyline, well written, it flows well. It would pay you to do a little more research on medieval technology and customs.

For instance the scene in the armoury is unrealistic and quite wrong. Far from being musty, foul smelling places, they were clean, often spacious, well organised rooms where weapons sat in neat rows, racks and in purpose built stands in battle ready condition. Some weapons hung on the walls. All was arranged for fast and easy retrieval in times of peril.

Medieval armouries smelled of oil, leather and wood.

It is unthinkable that a weapon such as Kawn's sword would be dusty and neglected.

The armourer would have known the history and importance of the sword. It would have been in excellent condition and have held a place of honour amongst the rest of the weapons.

Considering the importance of the quest it would be fitting for the armourer to have chosen the weapon for Kawn, told him its history and capabilities and hand it to him with his best wishes.

This way you can introduce the sword into the story in a fitting and historically accurate manner.

Hans von Lieven