Chapter Four: Mark Vs the Quest
It had taken them a great deal of time and effort, through many unpleasant adventures to find it, but at long last they had found the realm of Bulgaria, where the grain was sweet and all who beheld its Knights paid in amaze, thinking that they might actually end up not losing to Bulgaria.
And now Mark and Lyn absolutely refused to not like the look of its brown walls and thatched roofs. They stared upward, admiring it as if it were the greatest thing they had ever gazed upon. And perhaps it was, and they just didn't know it yet.
Their eyes were becoming a bit teary, so Lyn stepped forward and turned round, meaning to mark the occasion.
'Mark! Over here!
This is Bulgar, the biggest city in all of Sacae!'
…
There was silence, as they tried to think of something else to say.
'Look at that tree.' said Mark 'Have you ever seen leaves of that sort?' He quickly drew out his book and began to write absently notes and sketches, until he had the general shape of it out.
'No, never,' she admitted 'it must be some new kind of tree.'
'Don't be foolish.' said Mark 'Trees change very suddenly, and you only realize they have changed until it is too late to not already be used to them.'
'So trees are like stealthy assassins now?'
'Maybe,' said Mark 'but what will really make you paranoid is, what if they are in league with the Undead?'
Lyn shuddered.
'We should purchase supplies for our journey.' said Mark, and they walked forward-
And stopped, not quite sure how to continue. For though they had long been on the road, they knew not the purpose of their mission.
And this is how they met Sain. 'Oh my heart what a dazzling vision of loveliness!' Went the merry call, and Mark instantly hated this guy.
'Hm?'
'Wait O beauteous one! Would you not favor me with your name, or better yet your company?'
'This is better than a play.' Noted Mark, waiting for Lyn to spurn him.
'Where are you from sir knight, to speak so freely to a total stranger?' She was annoyed.
'Ha! I'd thought you'd never ask!' Sain proclaimed 'I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin Canton home to men of passion and fire.' Well it was obvious he had no idea how to woo someone politely. Or subtlely. Or at all.
'This does not sound so credible.' Noted Mark with a smile that annoyed Sain, hoping for fury.
'Shouldn't that be "home to callow oafs with loose tongues"?' Asked Lyn, sending him stepping back awkwardly.
'Indeed.' Agreed Mark.
He shut his book, his drawing complete. 'I think we must be going Lyn.'
Sain looked thoroughly whipped by his recent conversation, and Lyn gave him a look torn between pity and 'serves you right'.
'Lets go Mark, I have nothing more to say.' She finally decided on.
And with that they walked off on their own, looking through the various shops.
'Wait! Please…' Sain looked truly pitiful, but Mark didn't care, and Lyn certainly didn't, and neither did Kent for that matter.
'Hold on a moment,' said Mark as they approached the gates. 'from the looks of things we have an audiance. Don't you people have anything better to do?'
Apparently not, and Lyn and he looked over to see Kent and Sain almost instinctively going into what Mark had labeled 'stage mode.' 'All the world is a stage for Knights, and all the people merely players, or so the old saying goes.' said a Yeoman.
'Personally I've always preferred an army marches on its stomach.' Muttered Mark.
'Sain! Hold your tongue!' said Kent as he appeared behind Sain.
'Ah Kent! My boon companion!' said Sain 'Why so severe an expression?'
'I'd like them not as our companions.' Murmured Mark into Lyndis' ear. 'Run for it.'
'I want to see what happens.' Admitted Lyn, and he sighed.
'If your manners were more serious I would not have to be so severe! We still have a mission to complete, Sain!'
'Quickly now. While the spectacle lasts.' said Mark, tone becoming worried. 'Round the side door.'
'I think you are right.' Agreed Lyn and they hurried away. But they found that the eastern gate, or 'side door' as Mark had named it in haste, was blocked by two brown roan horses, saddled poorly as usual. Mark walked forward, muttering in disgust and began fixing the saddle as best he could.
'What are you doing?'
'Trying to get out of here.' Answered Mark 'And fix this slip shod work, truly befitting of a Knight.' Lyn looked at him oddly, and he met her gaze wearily. 'Its a long story.'
'I know that.' objected Sain 'But how could I remain silent in the face of such loveliness? It would have been a discourtesy!
'What do you know of courtesy?'
'What do you have about Knights?'
'They roam from town to town, leaving girls with their maidenhoods stolen, and bodies on the road, and then speak of things like poetry and love as though they understood them. But they know nothing about war, and they know nothing about love!' roared Mark as softly as possible as he fixed the saddle. 'I exhausted myself fixing their screwups once, I shall not do so again.' He looked at her, and realized that she had no idea why they were not just moving past. 'We can't pass without stealing their horses. Which is a hanging offense.'
He looked up, and Lyn halted for a moment, before glaring over at them and storming toward them. 'Excuse me, you are blocking the road. If you would be so kind as to move your horses…'
Mark was impressed, he'd never taken Lyndis to be the gunboat diplomacy sort. Then again, perhaps she was just asking nicely.
'Of course. My apologies…' said Kent.
'Thank you.' said Lyn 'You, at least, seem honorable enough.'
'Tell him nothing.' said Mark before he could stop himself. 'He will never look a servant in the eye.'
'Hm? Pardon me, but…' Kent halted 'I feel we've met before.'
'I beg your pardon?' said Lyn.
'Hey no fair Kent! I saw her first!'
'Tsk!' said Lyn 'It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's Knights! Let's go, Mark! I've run out of patience!' And they went on, cutting free the reigns of the horses and letting them run wild for the Knights to catch in public as Kent tried to calm his horse after being wrapped with the flat of Lyn's blade.
'Wait, please, its not like that…'
But they were already walking away, departing the town and traveling down the road. The mood had been thoroughly ruined, of course but their anger was enough to keep them walking a good way while the Knights tried to get their horses in check.
When at last they had, Sain and Kent stood somewhat humiliated where they were. Kent spoke at last: '… …
Sain you lout!'
'Huh? Not like that? I thought you were…'
'I am not you!'
It was the chuckling around them which made Kent blush in humiliation, and he pulled his horse along with him. 'Come, we must follow her. I suspect she might be—' He cut himself off and pulled himself to his seat.
'Be what?' Kent passed him the reigns. 'She's our mission?' Kent urged his horse forward as Sain mounted his steed. 'Oh you're joking! Wait!'
…
Lyn slashed him across the throat, as Mark stabbed up with his spear. Neither had been particularly impressed or surprised by the outcome of the conversation.
'Heads up, Lady Lyndis.' said Mark 'There are more.'
She gave him a rueful, not surprised look.
For at that moment many Bandits emerged, bearing axe and loincloth. Their eyes were narrow, and their faces scarred, their bodies deformedly muscular like guerillas, and hunched over as if they were some form of lower primate. They roared and swore and menaced at them with axes, and Mark and Lyn stood back to back as they surrounded them.
At that moment there was a call. 'Hold and get ye hither! Or prepare to die!'
It was Sain, and he leapt over the hill with spear and shield, clad in gleaming green mail while Kent was behind him. The Bandits were dismayed and scattered each way, as Lyn and Mark looked up, for once glad to see them.
'My thanks to you gentlemen.' said Mark 'Mine and Lyn's.' He met Kent's gaze, and there was recognition there. Finally.
'You there, what is your business?'
'Not dying.' Answered Mark flatly.
'Such numbers against a girl-' said Sain, calling to the Bandits who even now had arrayed themselves in force.
'And her friend.' said Lyn, annoyed.
'-cowards every one of you!' To be fair it was an accurate statement. Sort of.
'You! You're from—' Began Kent suddenly.
'We can discuss this later. We have Bandits to fight.' said Mark.
'Stand back!' said Kent, voice commanding. 'We'll take care of this!' Yes, and then they could escape on their own.
'No! This is my fight!' Lyn said 'Stay out of my way!'
'Well, they can't just stand here and do nothing.' said Mark, annoyed at being shoved out of things. 'Try calling for ale and wenches, Sain.'
The Bandits were beginning to look just a bit insulted. 'I have a solution,' said Kent in his Knightly voice. 'you there, command us. I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain.' Lets pretend we don't know one another, because that way I win.
'We will follow your orders in this battle.' After that, nothing.
'Oh wonderful.' laughed Mark, before glancing to Lyn. 'Lets get back to work.'
'Is this acceptable milady?'
'You are seriously doing this now?' asked Mark. 'When we're about to be attacked by Bandits? Why don't you just hand her a Golden Ring while your at it!' The Bandits seemed somewhat in agreement, and not at all happy about the fact.
'Yes…' said Lyn 'it is? Mark and I will lead.
Lets go!'
'Excellent.' said Mark 'I am Mark Artius, Tactical Advisor to Lady Lyndis. I see you have already taken note of her earlier proclamations regarding your presence here, and I'm sure it does not cover anything you were not already familiar with.'
Kent and Sain winced like schoolchildren.
'At any rate, Knights in Shining Armor, I do have orders for you. Sain, you ride as far as you can that way, and Kent you ride as far as you can that way.'
'What?' said Kent 'But that is away from the battlefield?'
He looked to Lyn, and she gave Mark an odd look. 'Fine, but you'd better be right about this.'
'What?!' said Sain 'But Mark we are Knights not-'
'Those are my orders.' said Mark 'And if nobody follows orders then we might as well just throw the whole system out. Lyn, approach that bandit, use the brush for cover and focus on counterattacking. Kent, Sain, if it should appear to be going poorly, you are to reinforce her.
Lets move people.'
And they broke off, with Mark following Lyndis into the center of a clearing, filled with many trees. They saw a Bandit, who saw them in turn and rushed at Lyn. Yet Lyn dodged the first bandits strike, and skirted round the edge of a tree to slash him twice across the back in a bloody red x, that sent him reeling.
Mark caught one through the throat as he lunged via standing his ground, then drew out the spear and plunged his spear up through Lyndis' from behind, before drawing it out and letting the body land with a crash. Lyn looked down, and then up somewhat reproachfully at Mark.
'I saw an opportunity, and I took it.'
Yet at that moment they remembered the Knights, both sped up a nearby hill, seeking to find some means by which they could see how their unlikely allies were faring. Yet the trees were all around. 'Quick,' said Lyn 'give me a boost, and I'll climb to the top.' Mark winced as she climbed up over him, reaching the top of the tree and looked out. 'Alright, one is rushing at Sain, but Kents rushing to help him. He's gotten him across the back with a sword stroke, and Sain has finished him with a spear to the shoulder. Wait, he's still standind and slashing, is he some kind of Ogre?
An axe has glanced off Kents shield, he's been run through!?'
'Kent?'
'No, the Ogre.'
'Oh good.'
'The Ogre is down.'
Mark felt the shoes on his shoulders and winced. 'There are more crossing the bridge near us.'
'We'll cut them off then.' said Mark 'Lure them out, and then break off.'
'Agreed.'
Down the hill they ran, spear and sword ready as they reached the bridge. The Bandits roared and rushed to meet them, these ones had green skin, and bulky appearance. They met them halfway across the bridge, but Mark slipped off his feet and brought his spear point up as the enemy was impaled by his own momentum.
Marks back ached, and he felt as though his whole body had been knocked out of whack for a few moments, during which he saw Lyndis beat down her enemies axe and cleave his head from his shoulders.
'Accursed Knights, always tampering in others affairs!' said a Voice.
Lyn and Mark stood up, and then bore witness to the last charge, where Sain and Kent rode for the bridge, and Kent proved the swifter of horse. He nimbly dodged aside from the Ogres axe blow, and raked him cross the side as he passed and wheeled round to flee.
'The fool.' said Mark 'He ought to finish him now.'
'Why is he stopping?'
Mark knew already, for Kent met Sain and most traditionally clashed weapons as they passed eachother as if to say 'yours.'
'The Ogre is standing.'
'Sain hasn't had a kill yet. Kents giving him a second chance. Its a silly tradition.' said Mark in disgust. 'Still-'
Sain rode forward, with spear lowered and shield readied as though for a joust, but this was no joust. For the Ogre stepped away, and brought down his axe, and smote Sain's shield with force enough to send him reeling.
'He's almost been knocked from his saddle, wait, he's pulled himself up somewhat- We have to help him!'
Thus Lyn did run through the trees, blade in hand with Mark rushing up and trying to keep up with her full pace.
Her sword gleamed in the waning sunlight as she leapt into the air and brought down her blade and around to slash her enemy across the throat, even as Mark rushed forward and drove his spear through his gut, before dragging it out and leaping away from the giant, who fell with thunderous crashes upon the rocks.
Out went her sword, and raked him cross the through as she passed him.
'Blast…
There was only supposed to be a lone… girl…'
Mark suddenly felt a terribly bitter taste in his mouth, for this enemy was not like the others. Some seven men were dead now, to protect Lyn. And yes it was justified, but still…
'That is the last of them! Fantastic work Mark!'
'Someone knows our road.' He shoved back his worries with practical concerns.
Lyn regarded him, her enthusiasm gone. 'But who? And why?'
'Perhaps the Knights can enlighten you.' said Mark 'I'm going to go have a look around.' And with that he faded into the shadows with the ordinary everyday sort of magic that few indeed can fully master or understand.
The land grew steadily darker as the two Knights arrived, on foot. Their armor was battered, and Sain had a bandage round his arm. He saw Lyndis standing alone, and by his face he must have assumed the worst.
'See to your friend.' said Kent, bitterly as he threw coins to her. 'He was a brave man.'
'Mark is still alive.' said Lyn quickly. 'He believed that someone had been marking our progress, and decided he should scout ahead.'
That, evidently, was not quite what Kent had expected to hear. 'I… that is good news. Still, don't you-'
'He has been a good companion in my journey, and we have both saved eachothers life more than once.' said Lyn 'And anyone who should not want his company may leave my army at once.'
'As I have said before.' said Mark as he reappeared 'These few do not make an army. We must leave this place.' They turned and headed back to the Town of Bulgar, where their wounds were healed and horses watered and they were fed a great deal in thanks for ridding them of a force of Bandits who many suspected would wipe them out.
It was a good deed that Mark liked well enough.
The secret, if it had ever been a secret, was now out. No one felt like acknowledging it at the moment, however, so on they walked in silence, back to Bulgar where their wounds were healed and horses watered.
'And now for these Knights of Lycia.' She noted the symbol on their Shields. 'You were going to share your story with me?'
'Yes.
We have ventured from Caekin in Lycia, in search of someone.' said Kent, but he would not say any more on the subject for quite some time. 'Lycia… thats the country beyond the Southwest mountains, isn't it?'
'Correct. We've come as messengers to the Lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some 19 years ago.'
Presently Lyn questioned further. 'Madelyn?'
'Our Lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter.' Clarified Kent after a moment. Doubtless that Lyn had not been told her heritage had not entered his thoughts. 'He was heartbroken that his own daughter would abandon him so. Eventually the Marquess simply declared that he had no daughter.
And then this year we received a letter from Lady Madelyne. It said that she, her husband, and daughter were living on the Sacae plains.'
'The Marquess was ecstatic to learn that he had a granddaughter of 18 years. I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a granddaughter.'
'I know!' said Mark suddenly. 'I was in the room with you when you passed the letter to him!' He was furious, not just about the way in which the Knights had hijacked the quest to their own ends, but also about the way they were leaving his own part in it out.
Lyn gave him a look of surprise, and Mark sighed. 'Nevermind, its not important.'
'…I remember my mother writing that letter.' She said after a moment.
'The granddaughters name is Lyndis,'
'Truly you have a dizzying intellect.'
This was also the name of the marquess's wife, who passed away at an early age.
Lyndis?
That she should bear his name thawed the marquess' heart.
Now his only wish is to meet his daughters only family at least once.
This is why we are here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyne died a few days after-
'We never told you that much.' said Mark sharply.
'-sending her letter…
We only learned this shortly after finding our way to Bulgar.'
Silence.
'But we also learned not all was lost. Her daughter yet lives.'
Silence.
'We heard she was living alone on the plains.'
Continued silence.
'I… I knew it immidiatly, you are the Lady Lyndis.'
'Why would you think that?'
'Your resemblance to your departed mother is striking.'
'What?' asked Lyn 'Did you know my mother?'
'He must have seen a picture. They lined the walls of the Castle, believe me.' said Mark 'I'll go where you go, Lyn.'
'I'm sorry to say- I never met her directly, but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin.' There was continued silence as Lyns gaze became just a bit unsteady, she kept glancing between the Knights expectant courtesy and Mark, who finally had had enough.
'Cease insulting her intelligence and ask her plainly.' He said at last. 'Or not at all.'
For her part, Lyn walked off and Mark followed her out to near a fountain where she took a cup from her pack and sipped the water, then finally splashed it on her face to hide reddening cheeks stained with tears. 'To the rest of my tribe I was always Lyn, but when we were alone it was Lyndis…' She looked up. 'Mark… I'm sorry this changes everything.'
'Don't worry about it.' He said 'Things change, for better or worse.'
'What will you do, Mark?' She asked.
'Lyn, I'm your tactician, I'm your friend. You shall be, and always will be, mine.' And he realized he truly meant it.
'You… want me to decide. Of course your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but…
It's going to be so dangerous.'
'More dangerous than Malificent?' asked Mark 'I think not. I'm with you.'
'You'll come?'
'Lyn, before I met you I had no place in the world, no strong desire in life and was sufficiently directionless that I walked into bandit infested territory for no reason. When I look at you… I'm home.'
'Are you sure?' She pressed him. 'Because I don't-'
'Yes! Now stop asking!
'Thank you!' She said as she leapt up girlishly. 'Of course they will have to ask us plainly, as you said. I may go with them, but on my own terms.' They regarded the Knights, who remained silent. Finally Sain walked forward.
'Milady Lydis of Caelin, would you honor us by coming South to meet your long lost grandfather.'
'Sure.' said Lyn, and that was that.
Except they were still on foot and the Knights had horses. 'We'll have to cross many miles to Caelin, and we lost our packs. I don't suppose you two brought any money?'
'Uh…' Kent halted awkwardly. 'These realms are often beset by more subtle bandits-'
'Pickpocket?'
'Yes.' He said miserably.
'It happens.' said Lyn 'We'll have to go on half ration, and wish our packs heavier.'
'Wait,' said Sain, looking to the river. 'suppose we just hired a ferry.'
'We don't have any money.' Answered Kent in deadpan.
'Well we could commission one.'
'No!' said Lyn 'Do you have any idea how risky such a venture is? I will not impose on a boatman's livelihood simply to avoid a bit of starving.'
'My sincerest apologies.' said Kent bitterly. 'In ordinary circumstances you should have been able to travel as Near-Royalty.'
'Does the Marquess count as Royalty?'
'I don't know. Its just a rank.'
'I believe it does.' said Sain 'Or rather it is a position that is often assigned to one whose duties and power are near Royalty, but whom does not technically hold the rank.' Awkward silence as both looked to Mark, who was deep in thought. 'Alright what is it?!'
'I have an idea that just might work. I can make it all work quickly, and we won't have to travel anywhere near as long.'
….
The materials of his plan formed in haste and now stood before them. Lyn had a nasty suspicion at the back of her mind, but quelled it. 'Barrels Mark? Is this some kind of joke?'
'Apple Barrels, actually.' He said, trying to resist the urge to smile. And failing miserably. 'All will be made clear, but first I need you to set straw within them.'
'Are you planning to go by raft?'
'No, of course not.' He said 'Too expensive.'
They began to work, and much straw was placed, while Mark washed the grime as best he could from his face and hands and rinsed out his cut a bit more.
'Alright, we've done what you asked. Now what?'
'Take your armor off.'
'Excuse me?'
'Armor is extra weight, it will sink your method of transport.'
'But- fine, Christ.'
Lyn, of course, had already begun to figure out what he was planning to do, and so had the Knights. But the Knights were looking to her to challenge the plan which she had agreed to without knowing fully. Yet she could not now deny the plan before the face of her Captains.
'You first Sain and Kent.' She said 'Do as he says.'
'But-'
'Quickly. While we still have time.'
They did as they were asked, and Mark pulled out some parchment from his cloak. 'Sain, Kent, I need you to sign this.'
'What is it?'
'Its a blank piece of parchment. I just need you to sign it, and give permission for horse transportaton.'
'I will not leave my horse with you!'
'Not me. Wil.'
Wil was a red haired fellow with gleaming green eyes and he looked at Mark in shock. 'You- your serious about this aren't you?' He said, voice mixed with horror and shock.
'He's the thief!' said Sain.
'Oh there is no proof of that.' said Mark 'Probably just an accident.'
'Yes, you would be surprised at how many pickpockets there are out in these parts.' Noted Wil 'Whole gangs of em, pick clean every pocket from here to Caelin. Not many gutsy enough to steal from Knights though. Must have been one bold pickpocket.'
Meanwhile, Mark and Lyn had thrown the Knights armor into a barrel and Kent looked up. 'What are you doing?'
'Handing this letter over to Wil here. Congratulations Wil, you are now the proud transporter of two Knightly horses. If you loose them, you are dead meat. If you steal them, you are dead meat. If you lose one, and steal the other than every Knight from here to the other continent will look up and say 'horse thief!' and hang you high at the end of it.
Do not lose this parchment, or you are as good as dead.'
Wil flinched. 'Well suppose I should run into a Knight whose stealing the horses. What do I do then?'
'Tell the truth.' said Kent as Sain was herded into a barrel by Lyn. 'And hope that the Magistrate is feeling merciful.' Then he was herded into a barrel, and both he and Lyn shut the last of the four.
Mark looked up to Lyn, a sly expression on his face. She flinched. 'No. No! I'm in command!'
'Very well then.' said Mark 'Into the river with the barrels. I don't suppose the Knights shall come up this way again, if they even feel the inclination to.'
'…I'll get you for this Mark.' she said as she was herded in. 'I'll get you if its the last thing I do!' Then the Barrel door was closed shut. Mark looked up to see Wil holding the lever to the trap door.
It was at this point that Mark remembered both the flaw in this plan, and a very important lesson about honor among thieves. Or pickpockets and tacticians.
'Oh son of a b-'
Wil pulled the lever, and Mark scarcely had time to grab a barrel as they were sent hurtling downriver en masse.
Downriver they went, surging along the rapids toward lands they once had known. Mark found himself hanging on for dear life to Lyns barrel, and spent much of his time trying to get the ones with the armor and weapons close enough. He could tell by the clanging.
'Down the crossing stream you go, back to lands you once did know!'
Lyn was mmphing angrily from within the barrel as he perched atop it. 'Stop complaining! I never offered any false promises of Royal Luxury on the trip there!'
'Look beyond the realm of dreams,
Into the whispering breeze,'
There was jolting and unpleasantness enough on the trip, and Mark took some time to reflect on how silly some of the tall tales had gotten of lake. 'Fighting Orcs in barrels! Hmph, you'd be hard pressed to hold on.'
Under forests bright and dim,
Stoops in shadows gray and-
Lyns sword went through the woodwork and he flinched back. 'Hey! Quit it! You'll get us both killed!'
Round many bends and winding turns they went, and finally he saw it. Mark had come far and through many adventures to see it, and now he did not like the look of it one bit. It fit every description one could have had for a fairy tale Castle, and that was why he hated it.
It seemed to reach for the sky because it thought it owned it by right. And that annoyed him. Still, the skies looked very nice and he realized he had an angle for admiring the rolling hills that none before had ever quite had.
Within some hours they had reached the port, called the Capital City, a precise if not too imaginative name for the City was, in fact, the Capital City. 'Rather redundant.' Muttered Mark as he swam ashore and pulled himself up by a fishing net as the Barrels were brought upward.
He wrangled out his cloak a bit and made his way toward the Lord who stood by the Docks, mouth open as he stared at Mark. The other Soldiers clearly had not idea what to think.
Mark looked to the river, then to his Lord, and shrugged as the Lord Lundegren a veteran of countless vicious battles and wars fought against the Bandits looked for once in his life, absolutely speechless.
'Its Mark, the Tactician of Lundegren.' said Someone, and Mark raised his hands as one of the barrels burst open, and Lyn arose in new fury.
'I am Lyndis.' She said 'Granddaughter of the Marquess… I… have… returned…'
She said as Kent and Sain tumbled out of the barrels, too exhausted to even move. Then Lyn roared and charged right at Mark with sword upraised and tackle hugged him to the ground. 'I'm going to kill you!'
'I…' Lundegren halted. 'I… I can't deal with this right now. Mark, take charge of the situation.' Then he turned and walked off as Mark got the note and Lyndis rolled off of him. Mark stood up.
'Where are you going Sir?'
'To see if there's a pub!' snarled Lundegren, before opening the door and slamming it behind him.
'Well he's in a particularly fine mood this morning.' said Mark 'Get the Knights ashore, once we have rested we can arrange for you to be presented to the Marquess.' He looked round at the docks. 'Alright everyone pack it up for today, don't do anymore hip hip hooray!'
And he tossed the parchment to Kent before walking off to the bathhouses that remained from Ancient Times, still functioning from years and years ago.
'Bilbo Baggins you magnificent bastard I read your book!'
….
Mark Wins!
Authors note:
Seriously though, this is not quite the end of the Lyn arc. I just really wanted to make use of this idea, and as for why I choose to place a river near the town? Because the river is the place most towns are placed near, if they can help it.
Its a natural barrier, and can help with trade. Taxes, exports, imports.
Don't worry, I plan on bringing in the others.
As of right now though, this is the end of Arc 1.
Here is a List of references:
Dragonheart. The Greatest Action Story ever told.
Sleeping Beauty. One of the greatest Disney Villains out there features in this. A Character so badass that she dodges the Prophecy and has to be killed directly by Prince Phillip in single combat.
The Prydain Chronicles. A wonderfully underated Fantasy Book series that I think is well worth a look. There are five books in all. The High King, The Black Cauldron {way cooler than the slipshod movie made of it.} and I can't really remember the others. Well there was Castle of Lyr, but...
You know what just read them yourselves. And check out the Iron Ring while you are at it.
RTS Genre galore. Age of Mythology, Warcraft 1, 2, and 3, you name it its probably on this list.
I would have mentioned that movie Malificent, but its the movie that made me lose all faith in Hollywoods credibility. We are talking about a movie so poorly put together and badly written that it manages to beat World of Warcraft at bad storytelling. The first mission of Warcraft 1 makes more sense that this absurd story of a Movie. A film so nauseatingly bad that it became the first Movie in my entire life that I walked out of before the end of it.
And to top it off, it rips off Dragonheart, which is just insulting because Bowen could one shot that bitch with a spear throw. In fact, I quote Draco:
'Is that the best you can do?!'
YAAAAGGH
