Faithful Pebble
Part Eighty
"After much to do which I do not have time to relate, the hunter pulled back the string and struck it down. In one shot, through the eye, the arrow pierced and as a result the beast fell."
"The poison was instant. The boy slept. Amongst the diamonds and the mine's other treasures, these things which turned him into a killer quickly became his bed and prison. That is where the hunter left him, the boy, the dragon, the beast. Stealing a handful of his blood soaked gems as proof of his fate, the hunter sealed up the dragon's mine leaving only one opening. Big enough for a single man to enter, it was made for a hero." Pebble looked back at the wanderer.
"The hunter prayed. He hoped that one day a hero might come and slay the beast, kill it and live like the hunter was unable to do that day many years ago. The hunter spoke this to the Baron's Faithful Stewart and then eventually to the whole village at the funeral. That day three graves were placed at the base of the witch's tree, at the place where the curse started and where the beast was rumored to sleep. The first was for the Baron, the Guilt Ridden Grave of Our Last Great Headsman. The second was for the miners, the Tear Soaked Grave of the Fallen. And the third?" The headsmen sighed and frowned. "That day a new decree went out from the village and throughout the entire kingdom. Until such a time when a hero would come and slay—"
"Heal—"
"The beast—"
"The boy—
"The forest surrounding the mines were forbidden to all travelers except those with the seal of the headsmen about their necks. That day the hunter vowed this also. He would slay—"
"Punish—"
"Any persons who'd enter the woods without the seal. He would do this in order to protect the town from greedy hands, from those whose hearts lusted for the accursed jewels and might foolishly venture into the cave. They might arouse the dragon to further devastation. They might break him free. With that another grave was laid, one to mark those whose arrows the hunter would fell, to honor those executed for breaking the law and warn those stupid enough to try. We call this the Grave of the Unknown. Their deaths are silent. Their deaths are nameless. "
"Normally, that is where the story ends," the headsman murmured. "But now that twenty years have passed, there is more to tell. Our Savior has since passed on from this world leaving us without a successor. The hunter gave his life daily protecting our village while dirtying his hands. His time came. His time went and now a new grave has been added to the original three. The Grave of the Defeated, the Grave of Our Faithful Savior now rests where his soul continues to protect us, in those trees outside our humble village.
"When he died," the headsmen wept. "I, the Baron's Faithful Stewart, your new village headsman, instituted a band of brothers to pick up where he nobly left off. Initially, they were escorts. For each new hero who attempts to rid our town of this monstrous beast, this group brings them to the mine's opening and brings back their banners when they fail. So far, they all have, each adding to the lofty Grave of the Unknown, each falling nameless in our forest's midst, underground before that terrible beast. The band alone carry the seal of admittance and they alone now deserve your praise and consideration. For we all know, if one day the beast should ever break free from his prison, it would be they who'd protect us. They are our first defense.
"But today might not be that day. Today, we have a new hero to escort. He comes to us from Greenburg—no, Grendleburg?" The headsmen looked to his daughter who shyly shook her head. The headsmen blushed and tilted his stove pipe hat. He smiled at the little knight with a fondness that didn't meet his eyes. "From the land of Marsh, I introduce to you the black knight prince of the Fredrick Dynasty. He is the younger twin brother of their crown prince the brilliant white knight of Kinklestone—no, um… Kinklestein!" The headsmen cheered and laughed. "Please come here and greet us, your highness. I hear you got lost!"
"Now, I wouldn't say that." The black knight grimaced. He stepped out from the crowd.
Not the most perfect chapter, but it is still a chapter. Thank you for reading! - Calla