The Heroes of Illumis, part 1

The morning sun was high overhead Illumis by the time the young knight and the blue robed jewelmancer arrived at the majestic hall of the adventurer's guild. "Prince Clemont said he'd meet us here, right?" the knight asked.

"Of course--a good prince always keeps his word." the jewelmancer smiled as she heard the familiar notes of a whistle playing the tune "Beating around the Bush" filled the air as their third companion, a songweaver, arrived.

"And woe betide the king or queen that reneges on their word." the songweaver grinned when he finished his song.

The jewelmancer smiled. "One need only hear a Matt tale to hear what happens if they do, Brock. Especially if you are the one telling it!"

"Which reminds me...I learned a new story while visiting the country town of Boseto...wanna hear it?" Brock asked his companions before putting away his whistle and taking out a circle shaped silver harp inlaid with sapphires and emeralds.

"Is there an epic quest in it?" the knight gasped--he always liked Brock's tales of epic adventures.

"Well, there are knights involved..." Brock smiled before beginning "Long ago,in a land not too different from this one, there lived a little girl named Holly. One day, Holly's father came home with wonderful news; the Five Jeweled Orders of Knights would be riding by on parade."

In character as the father he explained "They are on royal business, and will be at the town square tomorrow morning at the tenth hour. Everybody in town will be there--Grandma Liath is going to ask them to help search for her little Mareep that has gone astray; and the mayor will tell them of the Mightyenas that come in the winter. No matter what, the good knights are always glad to help,"

As himself, he went on "Holly knew all about the knights.Her father was never tired of telling, or she of hearing, how they fought and killed a dragon or some other monster that had troubled the people; searched for mystical objects with untold power, put out the wildfires in times of drought, and fed the hungry if times were hard. Yet for all of their great deeds, they were still humble and kind men and women, and were not above singing at a feast if a songweaver was not available, or playing with a child. And many nights, though Holly was growing up to be a great girl, her mother sat by her bed to sing an old lullaby that always seemed to comfort her--which went something like this..."

After playing a calm introduction, Brock sang Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
Five jeweled knights go riding by.
The sapphire dressed in royal blue;
He's the leader, strong and true.
One is clad from head to toe
In diamond armor white as snow.
One in crimson bright is dressed,
With the fire of courage burning in his breast.
One in topaz yellow and one in emerald green,
Cloth of gold and satin sheen.
Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
Five jeweled knights go riding by.

When the last note died, he smiled. "You can imagine how Holly had longed to see those jeweled riders! She wanted to go to town right away, but her mother said that they would go once all the chores were done the next day."

He next played a somber chord. "But the morning sun had hardly risen when her mother woke up with a splitting headache, and her father sprained his foot. So there was no one to take Holly to the town square."

"Not even a neighbor?" the knight gasped.

"Not even a neighbor, for Holly and her family lived far away from civilization, and the enchanted forest lay between them and the town." Brock replied. "Holly knew herself, without a word from anyone, that she could not go; but as she paced the living room floor waiting on them, she overheard her mother and father talking."

"It is not for the pain in my face that I grieve," he explains as the mother; "but for the disappointment of our little girl."

"Yes," he agrees as the father, "I would bear my pain, and more, if it meant she got to see the gallant knights."

As himself, he continued "When Holly heard what they said, she dried her tears and went about her work with a smile. All day long she was busy, for the Miltanks had to be taken to pasture, and the Torchics needed feeding, and the eggs needed gathering; but at sunset her chores were done, and she sat in the doorway of the house and looked toward the town, the towers of which just barely peeked over the trees of the enchanted forest."

"And then, milord?" a voice asked.

The jewelmancer whirled around to see who had spoke and gasped. "Prince Clemont!" The three friends dropped what they were doing and bowed low as the young blonde haired prince approached them.

"At ease, songweaver--my quest for you can wait until your tale has ended." Prince Clemont assured Brock.

Brock nodded, and plucked a few uncertain notes to remind himself where he was in his story. "Oh...highest of all were the spires of the temple that stood in the square; and as Holly watched it change from clear to gold in the sunset glow, she thought of them and wondered where they had gone when their business was done. Someday they would come again, and then she would see them, her father said; and she had already begun to look forward to that time. 'Perhaps they will come when the Mightyenas do in the winter,' she thought to herself; but suddenly, she spotted a horseman in glittering blue armor riding at a stately pace. Behind him came another, and another, until she had counted five in all--the jeweled knights!"

The jewelmancer couldn't resist cheering over the harp's triumphant chord. "They came with prancing steeds and shining shields, and ornate armor that resembled jewels." Brock went on. "The sapphire knight bore a banner blue as the sea, and the diamond knight held a little Mareep in his arms. A dragon's scale hung from the ruby knight's saddle, and two had signaling whistles by their sides."

He nearly whispers "Not a word was spoken. As silently as the stars shine they passed the door where Holly sat in awe; and as quietly as the sun goes down, they vanished into the forest again before she could move or call them. But just as the green of the emerald knight faded away into the green of the trees, Holly swore by the Holy Family that she heard a strain of sweetest music!"

He then cautioned "But there were those--Holly's mother and father included--who believed that the little girl, tired from a long, busy day, had fallen asleep, and dreamed a beautiful dream. As for Holly, she kept the vision in her heart; and when as the years went by she had children of her own, she told them of the knights in the old lullaby..."

He sings again Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
Five jeweled knights go riding by.
The sapphire dressed in royal blue;
He's the leader, strong and true.
One is clad from head to toe
In diamond armor white as snow.
One in crimson bright is dressed,
With the fire of courage burning in his breast.
One in topaz yellow and one in emerald green,
Cloth of gold and satin sheen.
Hush, little baby, don't you cry,
Five jeweled knights go riding by.

Prince Clemont led the applause at the last note faded away. "Well told, Sir Brock, but now I have a tale of my own to tell you three--a tale of woe."

"I am at your service, milord." the knight replied as he and his friends knelt before the prince again.

"Ruby Knight Ash...Sapphire Jewelmancer Misty...and Songweaver Brock...recently my father has been troubled by wild magic, and great monsters being summoned in the western marshes." Prince Clemont explained. "The royal wizard has determined it is a cleric of an evil spirit causing these disturbances, and my father is appealing for any and all brave heroes to stop this rogue cleric."

"We'll do it!"  Misty replied.

"In return for gold and supplies." Ash agreed.

Brock, meanwhile, started to sing again as the three friends followed Prince Clemont back to Castle Illumis. Oh, who would go to fairyland?
The moon is shining bright, oh,
And who would go to fairyland
Upon a summer's night, oh!
Across a field of fragrant fern
All sparkling with the dew, oh!
Come trip it light to fairyland
And I will go with you, oh!
To fairyland, to fairyland,
Who seeks may find the way, oh,
And we shall see the fairies dance
Before the break of day, oh!

TO BE CONTINUED...