Sir Ulrich rode down the road towards the Castle of Lord Dalaran has he ran into Sir Culwech. “Sir Culwech, what a pleasant surprise to see you here.”
“Aye, tis a nice turn of events. Say, what brings a knight such as you out in these parts?”
“King Ector tasked me to find a Lord not from here, Dalaran I believe. He’s been holding maidens against their will, defiling them and what not. You know, usual knight business. Would you like to accompany me?”
“Why not. Normally I tend to tend to my own travels, but it is nice to get some action every so often. Do you know how to get to this lord’s castle?”
“…No. I’ve trying to get some townsfolk to tell me. But they simply tell me I’m a fool or an idiot, and then run back into their houses or hovels or huts. Not very friendly are they?”
“Ah, you just need to give them time. Or you could start aimlessly killing, whatever suits your taste.”
“I think I’ll pass on the random killing, thank you.”
Culwech shrugged, “Meh, to each their own.”
The two knights rode towards a burnt hut, bodies of the fallen littered the road and ditches. Ulrich made a cross upon his chest as Culwech examined the scene. “Hmm, foul work is afoot here.”
“Is this the work of bandits?”
“Doubt it, they don’t spend much time burning huts in these parts. No, tis the work of the Lord of these parts. I’ve heard that he’s slaughtered whole villages for the slightest of offenses; men, women, children, everything.”
They left the scene to find a Red Knight standing near a well polishing his armor while the Knight’s squire tended to their horses. Sir Culwech turned to Sir Ulrich, “Good knight, let us travel another road. This is a knight from The Order. You are young, but lacking experience that would greatly aid you. Men of his sort are hard to defeat, and nearly impossible to kill.”
“True, but I am in need of a drink. And will try my luck and fortune.”
Sir Culwech tried once more to convince Sir Ulrich otherwise, but the young knight approached the Red Knight, who now began to sharpen his blade with a stone. “Good sir knight of The Order. May I ask a request?”
The Knight’s head rose quickly, “To you wish to fight to the death, and test your skills of war against mine.”
“In all honesty, I was hoping to have a drink from the well that you are next to.”
“Oh, be my guest, you are more than welcomed.”
Sir Ulrich and Culwech refreshed themselves at the well when suddenly a woman ran out of the forest. “My lords, save me! There is a mad knight who wishes to defile me.”
“How rude,” said Sir Ulrich as he rushed to remount his steed.
No sooner had he lifted himself up did the pursuing knight emerged to grab his intended victim. Culwech barely had time to grab his spear, seeing that he could not reach the maiden in time, aimed his spear and threw it with such accuracy that it pierced the knight’s heart. Ulrich turned to the Welsh knight, “Excellent throw!”
“Thank you, we try to keep things lively in our lands.”
A voice came the woods, “Yes and I heard that the Welsh do not joust with spear, but with maces upon poles.”
“Tis a funny jest, coming from a man whose name means ripped coat,” Culwech said sarcastically.
At that moment, La Cote Male Tail appeared from the woods. His armor was silver with gold etchings, and a long pole axe in hand. “I see you found the fair maiden that I was looking for.”
“Yes,” replied young Ulrich, “And Culwech here killed the knight hunting her,” he turned to Culwech, “Do you really joust with pole maces?”
“No you stupid bastard, we just like to test our skills whenever possible. Sir Breunor, how fares you this day?”
“Very well my friend, now that this maiden is safe from harm, and I am reunited with a good friend. But I wonder, how come the knight was chasing after the maiden? Unless his libido was his sole fault.”
The Red Knight walked up to the Knights, “She’s a witch, and the dead man is from the country of Dore.”
The older knights stood up straight at the name of Dore, Morgan’s kingdom. “By Jesus, how far we are from that foul place?” asked Culwech.
“Maybe a day’s ride,” said the Red Knight as he put on his helm, “It is well to know now that this lord you are hunting is a vassal of Morgan and her paramour Mordred. To wage war against him would be most unwise.” He then nodded to his squire who told the witch that she was to follow him back to their castle.
Sir Culwech and Breunor appeared to reconsider the idea of advancing as the young Ulrich spurred his horse forward. Crying the king’s law over the traitor’s, Ulrich rallied the two knights to follow as the Red Knight looked on. The Red Knight’s squire mounted his steed and asked his lord, “The King’s enemies are my enemies. He gave me a second chance, a new life, to prove myself as a man and as a knight. To come back now empty handed would be a thousand shames unto my house and my lord.”
“And what if you die Ulrich?” asked Culwech.
“Then I die a man, if that be my sole solace.”
Sir Ulrich, Culwech, Bruenor rode off to the castle as the Red Knight and his squire watched. The squire walked to his master, “Do they know what they will bring with the death of Dalaran?”
The Red Knight turned to the squire, his face changing from a young man to old, “No, my apprentice. They do not, the fall of many houses will begin this day. Much loss of life, and yet, millions of souls will be given a chance of their own spring. Here we see a change of the world, not seen since the last servants of the head dragon journey down these parts.”
The Red Knight turned to the squire, “Go my apprentice, go to your Ector, tell him what is to be, and tell him to marry his bride quickly. His age of peace will soon be marred by torrents of blood and darkness, she will prove herself as the sole pillar of strength in this near eternal night.”
The squire began to ride off before turning around, “You know Blaise, I am no longer an apprentice sorcerer.”
“Yes my boy Merlin, but you still forget. I was there when giants and gods met and felled each other. I showed you only a glimpse of the universes of life itself. You are still young in that respect, but do not fear. Your story is far from over. And your Ector’s will achieve greatness far beyond his father’s limits.”
Merlin, now transformed to his usual attire and appearance bid adieu his teacher and rode quickly back to the king. Blaise returned to the form of the Red Knight and rode after the knights.
Ulrich arrived first to the castle of Dalaran. The porter of the castle greeted him, and asked his business. Sir Ulrich told the porter to tell the lord his mission and wished to engage the villain in battle. The porter left and quickly the lord came out, his armor shining in the sun.
“Who here dares challenge me?” the lord barked.
“I, Ulrich, son of Wulfsten, knight of the Round Table and servant to King Ector of England, have come under his order to have you cease the kidnapping and defilement of the maidens of these lands!”
“Well then, let’s see if you can support this claim with skill of the lance.”
Without hesitation the lord charged at Ulrich, who met the lord in kind. Their lances broke five times against their shields. The two older knights watched in amazement as the young man withstood Dalaran’s assaults. Sir Breunor leaned to Sir Culwech, “The boy is appears to be showing signs of considerable pain,” said Sir Breunor.
“Aye, he seems to be taking it well though.”
“Should we ready our spears?”
“Aye, I’ll take the lord, you take the rest of them.”
Sir Breunor turned to Sir Culwech, “How gracious of you.”
On the sixth charge, both riders were knocked off their horses. Ulrich grabbed a mace from his horse and charged at the lord who charged with his sword. The two combatants struck each other without a care for themselves. Blood began to cover their armor. Ulrich began to show signs of exhaustion, stammering between blows.
Lord Dalaran taunted the young knight, “Dare to yield whelp, I’ll make your end quick if you do.”
The knight replied, “Will you yield and submit to King Ector’s rule.”
“Never, Morgan is my queen.”
“Then I have no other recourse but to slay you.”
The lord laughed as he charged at the knight. But Ulrich showed a renewed burst of energy smashing his mace straight into the underarm of the lord’s left side. Dalaran fell to the ground crying in pain as Ulrich ripped the lace from his helm and lowered his mace to the lord’s temple.
The two knights watching looked at each other with amazement with Sir Ulrich’s winning blow. Sir Culwech turned to Sir Breunor, “
“Do you yield?” Ulrich asked with wrath.
“I’d rather burn in hell.”
“Allow me to help you with that,” said Ulrich, as he swung his mace into the lord’s skull.
With the lord’s death, his lady ran out and wept as she held his body. Ulrich and the other knights watched as the lord’s servants and ladies came to see the spectacle before them. Ulrich walked into the castle, the servants stunned by the sight of the knight, still covered in blood walking past them. Sir Culwech and Sir Breunor came up to prevent anyone from trying to attack Sir Ulrich when a convoy of women dressed in rags and scraps of clothing running out of the castle.
The covered their eyes from the sun, some appeared to have been in the dungeons for years, some crying with their hands extended to the heavens for mercy. Ulrich walked out of the castle with a shovel in hand. He approached the lord’s wife, she screamed, “You killed my husband. My is worth nothing, nothing.”
Ulrich threw down the shovel next to her, “Then you bury him.”
“Have you no heart? No mercy?” she said.
“You lord’s queen killed my mercy, when she killed my wife and three children. He chose this end, not me. If you care to take his cause, I’d be more than happy to reunite you to him.”
She was deathly silent, Sir Culwech approached Sir Ulrich, “We need to leave. Now.”
Ulrich took a deep breath before mounting his horse. The riders began leaving the castle as Ulrich stopped and turned back to the lady, still weeping for her husband. Sir Breunor called out to him as he rode back to the lady. Dismounting his horse, he picked up the shovel and began to dig a hole into the earth.
“What are you doing?” asked Sir Breunor, riding back to Sir Ulrich.
“I made this woman a widow, the least I can do is to help bury her husband. You two take the women back to Camelot, I’ll finish my business here and return shortly.”
The Red Knight emerged from the woods and saw the scene, and told the two knights he would watch over the young man until he had returned to Camelot. Sir Culwech and Breunor left with the freed ladies as Sir Ulrich continued preparing for Dalaran’s final rest. Once finished he ordered the castle to be under the allegiance of King Ector, and that the lady being under his care, since he claimed the castle as his own now. Ulrich and the Red Knight left the castle and the young knight was greeted as a man of high honor in Camelot.