Ingood Steed

Ingood Steed

© 1987 Lorne Laliberte

I was returning to my King, valiant from a worthy adventure which would have made quick work of a lesser knight. My skill with sword was barely 'nough to have kept my countenance, and I sported many a wound from a recent battle--two dozen of our enemy's best troops, and I swear upon it, thought to ambush me on the forest path. Would that my 'prentice were there; 'twas a fight of legend-making proportions, I'd say.

Well, to keep to the trail would be suicide should my foes choose to avenge their fellow soldiers, and innocently it was that I stumbled upon the beaten castle wall, standing hidden deep within the trees. The wall itself left much to be admired; even the stones were cracked and weathered. Still, curious being my nature, I led my tired mount round the near corner to the main entrance, where I blunted my battle-axe halving the heavy wooden gate. This saddened me, for I'd already lost my sturdy halberd in the earlier fry, so I decided to plunder the castle and thus raise my spirits.

Indeed, the castle was deserted, and rich enough with gold and silver, if one looked in the right places. But with no 'prentice to carry my pack I could do naught in the way of true pillaging; no knight would stoop so low as to make his steed carry such a burden. Were I ill-tempered, this may have provoked much outrage on my part, but being good-natured I decided to leave the remaining bounty for the next stranger to chance upon.

Then I heard the voice.

It was, of course, the voice of a young maiden. Would that I'd been wiser, to avoid that girl! But after many raging battles and days of solitary riding, it would do me well to have someone tend my wounds. And, if it were that the womanly voice came from a damsel in distress, why, such would be a fair prize to show 'pon my return.

I found the girl in a nearby bed chamber, and at first glance she seemed fair 'nough, though somewhat poorly fed I'll admit. She was well-bred, and obviously so, for when she first saw my grisly form she screamed quite convincingly. This pleased me, as it meant I could ask a higher price for her in my home market than I'd previously thought.

Now don't be mistaken--I had no intentions of molesting this maiden. She was fairly attractive, but obviously thin-boned, and far from matching my own lady Alana's beauty. You see, I, unlike some knights who occasionally digress from their noble duties, have pledged my honor to a true lady, and will keep it to the day I die.

This screaming lass obviously had no knowledge of my pledge, and thrashed about wildly when I carried her out through the gate. As 'twere, the prospect of dealing with this ungrateful wench was fast losing its appeal. Still, I could not abandon a distress'd damsel, lest I violate my Oath as a knight.

Of course, the Oath no longer applied once she kicked my noble steed square in the face. Before I knew it, my hand found the hilt of my sword and gleaming steel flashed in a wide arc.

I had naught time to mount my shaken stallion when a voice boomed from atop the battlements. "Hold! What evil hath been done to interrupt my burdened sleep? No, it cannot--who has slain you, my beloved?"

Now I, being a nobleman, answered his question quite calmly, and began to explain how this lass had rightfully deserved her punishment. In truth, I could not have denied it, as the damsel's head was still rolling o'er the stones.

At that moment, the stranger leaped from the parapet and floated down toward me. 'Twas when he stopped and hovered in midair that I realized this was no normal man; aye, his long dark garment betrayed him. This man with the ancient beard and the wrinkled brow was most definitely a warlock.

Now, the Oath also states that no harm shall come to a wizard or the like by the sword of a knight, which is sensible enough as a good magician is becoming a rare find in my day. (Speaking with the wisdom of retrospect, 'tis probable I should have bent the rules this once; but what's done's done, and all.)

Well, this wizard being a slight bit perturbed by his beloved's untimely death, it seemed only natural that he cast a spell o'er me in revenge.

'Twas a difficult spell, and thus gave me a brief time before it could be implemented. So I had to write quickly:

"To whatever kind soul happens upon this parchment, let it be known that a great knight has been taken by the wizard in this castle. With great speed, I implore you, take word to the King, and beg that he sends his magician with a compliment of soldiers to free me. Again, as I know not my fate, I beg of you - God speed."

I fix'd the paper to a tree with my dagger, and immediately there was a great noise, and a smell of burning fur. I did not--nay, I could not under the spell turn even to speak to my horse, but instead stepped quickly into the castle.

By my honor, next time I will be slower in listening to my betraying curiosity.

* * *

The great knight's horse watched as a beautiful girl in a long, satin dress stepped with an unusually masculine gait into the castle. The large beast looked around for his master, but gave up quickly and, to repress his sudden hunger, began to nibble on the sweet paper pinned to the nearest tree.