Thank you all for the reviews. I'm glad you like it so far.
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Chapter 02: The knight with the white shield"Only one more thing before you go: Promise me to protect the letter with your own life and not to give it to anybody except the knight with the white shield. By your honour as a knight."
Tiuri nodded. "I'm not a knight yet, but if I was one I would swear by my honour as a knight."
"Very well, if somebody tries to steal the letter from you, you have to destroy it, but not if it isn't absolutely necessary. And if you find the knight with the white shield, you have to tell him the password."
"Which password?"
"You have to ask him: 'Why is your shield white?'. Then he will answer: 'Because all colours are in white.' Then he will ask you: 'Where do you come from?' and you have to answer: 'From far away.' Only then you are allowed to give the letter to him. Now here is the letter. Be careful. Make sure that you aren't pursued."
Tiuri took the letter. It was flat and not too big. He could feel that there were seals on it. He hid it carefully beneath his shirt.
"Are you sure you won't loose it?"
"Yes. It's save here."
"Go now, and may the gods be with you." Then the stranger was gone, as if he has never been there. Tiuri looked one last time to the chapel and went to get the horse.
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Tiuri was riding through the dark and empty forest. He cursed silently. "Stupid old fool. Didn't even tell me that it wasn't his horse that he told me to take. I didn't want to steal it. Now they will hunt me because they think I'm a thief. Just great." He shook his head angrily. 'I've never heard about a knight who carries a white shield. Maybe a Tortallian knight. What is he doing so far away from home?' Suddenly he heard the noise of running horses. Far away he could see a group of riders. Tiuri hid behind the trees. 'What are they doing here in the middle of the night?' After a while he dared to come out again. Nobody was there, as if he had dreamed it. He shook his head. 'Strange things are happening tonight. I'm afraid this won't be the last oddity I will be confronted with. Why do I get the feeling this will turn out bad?' He shook his head again. He had a mission to fulfil, that was all what mattered at the moment.
By dawn he arrived at the inn, a little wooden house in a clearing. Tiuri jumped off of his horse and ran towards the inn. It was silent and dark. All windows and doors were closed. He knocked heavily on the door. A window above him opened and a man with a tired voice asked what he wanted.
"Is this the inn Yikarvara?"
"Yes, it is. Do you have to wake my guests and I to ask this? We didn't have much silence last night." The man sounded a bit angry.
"You are the owner? I want to talk to one of your guests."
"This early in the morning? I don't think so. Come back tomorrow."
"It's important. Please."
"Who are you and whom do you want to talk to?" The man asked annoyed.
"Who I am isn't important. I want to talk to the knight with the white shield."
The man stared intently at him. "You are the second person who seeks him here. But that won't be possible."
"Please, wake him. It's important."
"You misunderstood me. He isn't here anymore. He went away last night. Another knight came here, about two o'clock in the morning, a knight with a blood-red shield. The knight with the white shield came down, fully clothed in his armour. The knight with the red shield threw his glove in front of his feet. The knight with the white shield asked: 'When?' And the other answered: 'Now.' And then both of them went away."
"They are duelling each other."
"That's what I think as well."
"What time is it now?"
"Half past four I think."
"Which direction did they go to?"
The man showed him the direction.
"But I don't know where they wanted to go to."
"I will try to follow their tracks. I thank you." And before the man could ask
anything else Tiuri had mounted his horse and was gone.
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The sky was red and orange in the east, the sun was rising. The birds were singing and chirping, happily about the new day. Tiuri wasn't happy. He was angry. This task was taking way too long. He wouldn't be at the chapel in time to explain his actions. The king would be angry and everything would be even more difficult than it already was. But he had no choice. He followed the track of the two knights. He had promised the man, and he never broke his promises. Well, he at least tried not to. 'I'm damned if I get all this trouble for this letter and give up now. This damned knight will get this damned letter, even if I have to ride through this damned forest this whole damned day.' He felt a bit better after letting go some of his tension. 'They can't even leave a clear track to follow. They couldn't of course follow the path, no they had to ride straight through the forest. It must be five o'clock by now. Where the hell did they go?'
He found himself in a clearing. The sandy ground was churned up by many tracks. Which tracks belonged to the knights he was following? He looked around carefully. 'It looks like a whole group of riders had come through here. Maybe the group I've seen tonight?' They had stormed through the forest and mashed many plants and broken many branches. He couldn't find the track of the two knights anymore. Finally he followed the direction the riders had come from.
After a while he heard something. A silent, agitated whining. Some moments later he saw a horse, which was tied to a tree, a wonderful black horse with a simple bridle. It looked at him with sad dark eyes and whined again. Tiuri stroke it's head softly and said: "Be patient. I'll look for your master. He is somewhere around here, I think."
He rode a little further and noticed something lying in the grass between the trees. He gasped shocked, jumped down his horse and ran towards the man. The white shield was lying next to him. He was still in his armour. And there was blood. Lot's of it. Tiuri had found the knight with the white shield.
Tiuri kneeled next to the man. The knight was seriously injured, but he was still breathing. He wasn't wearing his helmet, but his face was his behind a mask. Tiuri stared at him, trembling. Then he reminded himself of the situation. 'I have to do something. I have to look how bad the injuries up and tend to them.'
Suddenly the knight moved and asked: "Who is there?"
Tiuri bent over him and said. "Stay still, sir. I will help you. Where does it hurt?"
He noticed that the knight watched him through the mask. "I don't know you, but I'm happy that somebody has found me, before I die. Don't bother with my injuries. There is nothing to be helped anymore."
"Don't say that." Tiuri said while removing his armour carefully.
"Don't bother with it. I know I will die."
Tiuri was afraid that the knight was right, but he still continued to make him as comfortable as possible for an injured man.
"Thank you", whispered the knight after a while. "Who are you, and how did you here?"
"I'm Tiuri. Shall I fetch some water? Do you want to drink."
"It's not necessary. Tiuri ….. I know this name. Are you related to Tiuri the Brave?"
"He's my father."
"How did you come here?"
"I ….. I came for you ….. I'm so sorry that ….."
"You came to me? To me? Thank gods, maybe it isn't too late. Do you have something for me?"
"Yes, sir. A letter."
"I knew he would find a messenger." He sighed. He noticed that Tiuri wanted to take out the letter. "Wait. Don't you have a question for me?"
Now Tiuri remembered the password. "Why ….. why is your shield white?"
"Because all colours are in white." The knight's voice had become louder and stronger. "Where do you come from?"
"I come from far away."
"Now show me the letter, but look to see if somebody watches us."
Tiuri looked around. "There isn't anybody near us." He took out the letter and showed it to the knight. "Sir, I'm sorry that you have been beaten in a duel."
"Duel! This wasn't a duel. Hardly anyone has ever beaten me in a fair duel. The knight with the red shield lured me into a trap. His red riders attached me."
"What!" Tiuri was shocked.
"But they didn't find what they were looking for. They didn't only want to destroy me; they wanted the letter as well. The letter you have just shown me. Hide it well again, then I will tell you what you have to do with it. But first tell me, how did it happen that you brought it to me."
Tiuri explained it to him.
"Good. Don't look so worried."
Tiuri felt that the knight was smiling beneath his mask and wished to know what he looked like.
"Listen! I have to make it short, I don't have much time ….. This letter is for king Jonathan and it is VERY IMPORTANT. I can't bring it to him, as you can see. Now you have to do it."
"Me?" Tiuri whispered.
"Yes. I don't know anybody else who could do it better. You are able to do it. I trust you. You have to go immediately, don't loose anymore time. You have to ride to the west, to Tortall. Take my ring. Show it to the king and he will know who has sent you. I know I ask much of you, but you are the right one for this task at the moment."
Tiuri took the ring carefully. It was a signet ring. "I will do it. But I don't know ….."
"You have to do it. But I have to tell you that it will be very dangerous. You know already that there are enemies who are willing to do everything to get this letter. Keep it secret. Tell NOBODY about it. And give this letter ONLY to King Jonathan. To nobody else."
"What does it contain?"
"That's a secret. You aren't allowed to open it. Only if there is great danger, read it and learn it by heart, so you can tell the king orally what it says, but only in an emergency. Will you bring the letter?"
"Yes."
"Swear it by your honour as a
knight."
"I swear it by my honour as a knight. But ….. I'm not a knight yet."
"You will be. Now remove my mask, please. ….. You should face death with an open visor." The knight's voice had become weaker by now.
Tiuri did as he was asked. The knight had a calm noble face. Tiuri took his hand and swore to fulfil his task. "And I will take revenge for your death."
"That's not your task. You only have to be my messenger", the knight whispered. He closed his eyes.
Tiuri removed his hand slowly. The knight was dead.
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By the way, Tiuri is not my only main character. There will be some girl power soon. Read the next chapters and see. ^_^
