I picture this story as an animated movie/mini-series. The cast I have chosen for this story, I am choosing them because I think their voices would fit the parts.
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If one was to read any newspapers from the Kingdom of Eldoria, the top story was that Marco, The King of Eldori, was sick and on his death bed. The other, was that Prince Alkanos, the King's only child, was returning home, from his studies with the Dragons.
It was noon, even though it was summer, the sky was grey with clouds that were thick and low, threatening to rain. The wind was beginning to pick up, causing a high pitched moaning sound if you were in the right place of the palace at the right time.
"Seems like an omen." Cordelia said, pulling her thin white dress sleeves closer to her arms. She crossed her arms under her chest. Cordelia was of middling height, with long voluminous blond hair and seafoam green eyes.
She had just came from the king's bedchambers where she had been playing the lute for the past few hours. The soft music seemed to put his mind at ease.
Her slippered feet quietly padded on the smooth stone floor. She stopped in front of a stained glass window, which showed a scene from the story of how the Pax Draconis (the peace of dragons) came to be. The orange from the dragon and the blue of the Good King's armor bathed the section in the pale light.
Cordelia always thought the scene was slightly skewed to making the King Marco more handsome than he had been during the peace talks. He was shown with shaggy, dirty blond hair, and was clean-shaven. In the window, Marco emanated some sort of divine providence. Everyone knew once the king could grow a beard, he always wore one, it was just always worn close and meticulously shaped.
She sighed, the same King who forged a peace between the humans and the Dragons, was now dying. The King was dying from something that not even his personal healers could cure. The healers were still scratching their heads trying to puzzle it out. Lost in thought, Cordelia wasn't looking out when she turned around, colliding into Volsair, the Captain of the King's guard, and Eldoria's Champion.
Cordelia and Volsair knew each other from their work as Champion and Court Bard. Volsair loved Cordelia's songs she sung and stories she told. On occasion, they went to a tavern, for a few drinks, with other servants for a night on the town. Cordelia hadn't missed watching a tournament, where Volsair would display his skill with weaponry and with horses. But alas, they were more than acquaintances but less than friends.
Volsair wore light armor. Volsair removed his helmet, his black curls falling into place. "I'm sorry. I didn't see you there. May I make a request for tonight's story?" He asked, his voice pleasantly deep sounding, like rain falling on the tiles of the palace balcony.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. What's the request?" Cordelia said. She couldn't help but notice his expressive brown eyes.
The side of Volsair's lips quirked up into a lop-sided smile, only for a moment. "I suggest the story of the Legendary Archer, Who Shot Down the Multiple Suns."
"That's a good story," Cordelia replied, sitting a hand on the pedestal closest to her. The stone felt cool to her skin. "I'm fine with your suggestions, but why tonight?"
"Because, I'm not going to be here tonight to hear the, On-Going Saga of the Woman That Had Her Execution Delayed by Storytelling," Volsair explained, "Also, the King wants me to deliver messages to the providences after his son arrives."
Cordelia's eyebrows raised slightly, "Oh. What about the Royal Couriers?"
Volsair gestured for her to lean in. When she did, he whispered in her ear. "King Marco suspects treachery. He trusts only me to deliver the messages. Also, if I get brushed off, they risk the wrath of the King," Then he stepped back. "That, and I don't want to miss the continuation of the story, and the inevitable cliff hanger." he said, with a grin.
"It's always nice to hear from a fan." Cordelia said, brushing her hair back, even though it didn't need it, with a smile.
"Well then, Miss Cordelia, I must be off," Volsair said, putting on his helmet, buckling it into place. "Duty calls." Then he continued on his way down the corridor.
Cordelia watched him until he made it to the next stained glass window. She felt a smile play at her lips, but she instead turned and went down the corridor, as she had originally intended.
Cordelia kept walking until she got to her room. Being a servant, Cordelia should have been sleeping in the rooms close to the palace kitchens. Instead, her room was away from the kitchens since she was King Marco's favorite bard. He had said it himself before he had gotten sick. She wasn't some floozy, she had achieved her quarter's upgrade, by merit alone.
Cordelia respected the long-passed, Queen of Eldoria, even when she was in the world of the living. Cordelia hadn't tried anything for the fear she would have gotten, quite literally, thrown out of the palace. Also, sometimes the dead do not stay dead.
The thick iron banded door closed behind Cordelia, she turned and locked the door. Cordelia's room was well furnished, not richly, but it was comfortable.
What she liked the most was the thin gauzy curtains that hung from her four-poster bed. Their color reminded her of the sea.
A close second was the two narrow windows that were on both sides of her bed. They were made regular glass, through which, she could see the courtyard. The flowers were in full bloom, bursting with color.
To the right, was a door that led to her bathing chamber.
She looked at her room, even though it wasn't much by royal standards. The rooms had been her's for over fifteen years. But, like the wind whistling around the glass panes in her windows, she had a feeling that things were about to change.
***
Prince Alkanos had been spotted at the city gates. He wore nondescript clothes with a molted green cloak, he kept the hood up obscuring his face in the shadow.
He carried no weapon, but his saddlebags bore the royal seal of The Kingdom of Eldoria, guaranteeing him safety. The horse he rode was a Red Bay, it was a royal courier's horse, built for speed and endurance.
"Good boy, we're almost there." Alkanos said patting the horse's shoulder as it walked, its hooves clipping on the dusty cobblestones. The horse whickered happily, flicking its dark tail.
His stomach clenched from nervousness. It's my first time meeting my father, what if he doesn't like me? He wondered.
The smells of the city, both alluring and repulsive, agitated Alkanos's acute sense of smell. He gripped the reins to stop himself from covering his face with his hand. He lightly touched his heels to the horse's flanks, urging the horse on to get away from the oppressive smells.
As they made their way to the palace gates, Alkanos made an attempt to discern one person's voice from another in the crowd, that parted before him and the horse.
They probably think I'm a messenger. Alkanos thought as he maneuvered the horse around a cart carrying barrels of red apples. If this means fewer people bothering me, then let them.
The Prince was stopped by the guards at the palace gate. Pulling the horse to a halt, he pulled a folded piece of parchment out of his saddlebag.
The guard unfolded the parchment and read it.
Alkanos knew what the document said. This document gives him permission from the king himself, to stay in whatever inn the Prince wanted to, and pass unhindered by any soldiers. The document also gave him permission to enter the palace. The order was signed and bore the royal seal of the King, in red wax.
The horse swayed uneasily, he had been Alkanos's mount since the beginning of his journey and needed some much-needed rest and relaxation. He stroked the horse's shoulder and praised him. The horse wickered his agreement.
The guard handed Alkanos back his pass and yelled, "OPEN THE GATES! THE PRINCE HAS RETURNED!" This call was passed along until it reached the guardhouse and the portcullis raised open. The guards saluted the Prince, touching a gauntlet to their helmet visor. Alkanos returned the gesture and nudged the horse forward.
His breath quickened when the horse stepped through the opened gate. Now's a good a time as any. He thought as he removed his hood. The hood fell away to reveal a clean-shaven young man, with piercing blue eyes and shaggy black hair.
Alkanos attempted to smile, but he didn't feel sure about it, himself.
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And thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed the first chapter of :The Tail of the Sword and Shield. I will have chapter two up soon. Also please forgive any spelling and grammar errors, I will be editing soon. I run what I write through the Hemmingway app, if anything so it will be readable.
Please fav and comment if you liked the chapter. Even if you didn't like it, please comment and say why you didn't.
Also, if you didn't catch it. I referenced the story of the Legendary Archer: Hou Yi. It's a good read and I highly recommend it. Here is the Encyclopedia Britannica link, but I recommend finding a copy of the story and reading it for yourself.
https://www.britanicca.com/topic/Hou-Yi
The other story I referenced in this chapter was A Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Another read that I highly recommend. I'm also including the Encyclopedia Britannica link, and I recommend finding a copy of the stories and reading it for yourself.
https://www.britannica.com/The-Thousand-and-One-Nights
I referenced these stories, because of how in real life, stories have been shared across ethnic, political and geographic boundaries. Stories connect us as humans. Also, even though this story takes place in one part of the world I created, there are still stories being told and shared in other parts of the world.
~Laura-the-bard
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