Chapter 2: Enter Triston

Location: England

Year: 1420AD

"Again," the trainer crossed his arms and glared at me and my sparring partner. I readied my shield, my opponent charged, I gritted my teeth and braced my shield against his attack. I stumbled backwards slightly, a second attack had me sprawled on the floor, my balance completely lost.

"Again," our trainer sighed. "You think you will be able to hold up against the French like that?"

"But Sir," my opponent said. "Have we not already won?"

"King Henry V may have been named heir to the French throne, but that does not mean he is king," the aging man ran a hand through his hair. "I think that is enough for today, go and clean up, you have other duties to attend to I am sure." We both nod, bow slightly and depart.

After a quick wash I started on cleaning my benefactors armour, ready for the Tourney. I am a 19 year old Squire to Sir Hughes. The rigorous training I did daily has given me a very built up appearance, I dragged the huge armour over to the table with ease. It was very different to his normal battle armour, the idea being that the more padded and heavier it is, the less likely he will be knocked off during the jousting matches. I shook my head slightly at the dent that had appeared during a practice match, I will have to take that to the blacksmith.

I glanced outside, the midday sun beating down hard. Sir Hughes was making his way towards the building, looking tired and drawn. I rose and ordered for a servant to go and make some tea and fetch some food. She bowed hastily and left the room.

Hughes entered the room and looked at the armour I was holding, "leave it." He glanced at the girl who entered the room with a tray of bread, cheese and fruit. Another poured us the tea, they bowed and made their exit. "Join me," he gestured to the table, I took a seat and waited patiently for him to continue.

"I have a request of you," he took a sip of his beverage. "I need you to accompany me with a task, the king has requested that some of us investigate a most curious artefact. A mirror to be precise, the king wishes to know if it is indeed cursed and needs to be destroyed. Beyond that, you need not know more." I nodded.

"As you wish Sir."

The next day had us on horseback, armoured up. I shifted my shield for what seemed like the hundredth time.

"There," another knight pointed out the cave entrance. "Some peasants found it three days ago." The entrance itself was very small, only just big enough for a full grown man to fit through. One by one, the squires went through first, we were more expendable, they passed down some torches. I lit mine and looked around, we were in a large cavern, the walls were decorated in an unfamiliar script, there were carvings in the wall, I took a step closer and looked closer. The images were of abnormally small people that looked like blacksmiths, next to them were depictions of tall, massive beasts wielding huge terrifying weaponry. I frowned at the third set of carvings, small lithe beings with pointed ears, they were shown holding staffs and books. Witches? This cannot be real, there was one with average looking humans, the last was destroyed. Someone had taken a hammer to it apparently.

I shook my head and turned to watch the rest of the knights enter the cavern, they looked around curiously at the carvings I had been examining. I raised my shield and started towards the mirror that was in the middle of the cavern. The torch proved to be useless the closer we got, the mirror was giving off its own light.

"Magic?" one of the knights commented.

"I don't know," Sir Hughes murmured. I got closer. "Careful Triston," he called from behind me. The closer I got, the more I felt its power. I looked at it in confusion as whispers seemed to roll around beneath its surface. I looked into it closer; there was something in there, some kind of mountain range. The mirror was too dirty, too cloudy to see anything. Something moved from behind it, I squinted and moved to wipe away some of the dirt that was coating its surface.

"TRISTON!" Hughes' shout seemed so far away, I shouted out as I hit a hard rocky surface. Groaning I looked behind me, the mirror. I don't know where I am now but that mirror will get me back I am sure. I scrambled to my feet and smacked my hands against it. Nothing. I closed my eyes, leaning against the surface of the strange mirror. I jumped back in alarm as the surface glowed a bright blue. Sir Hughes and 3 other knights stepped through.

"Triston! What did you think you were doing? You know that thing is dangerous. When we get back-" he froze, looking with wide eyes behind us. "My lord, please give me strength," he stammered, his hand going to the crucifix around his neck. "Behind us Triston and stay back, my fellow knights, may the lord guide us through to victory," he shouted and charged with the 3 others.

I hung back in horror as I watched the knights' charge towards a demon that seemed to be made of molten rock. They were losing, the thing was spitting out fire, and one of the knights had already burst into flames, screaming as he burned alive. Sir Hughes must have realised this too, he turned towards me, "Run!" I hesitated for a second before turning and running down a path, their screams followed me; I blinked away the tears in my eyes and continued to run until my legs ad turned to rubber.

I braced my gauntlets onto my knees and panted, running in armour is certainly not the easiest thing.

"FUCK MEEEEEEE!" my head shot up, another demon, this one not a fire one at least. It was turned away from me, I looked at what he was standing in front of. I younf terrified girl in strange clothes was backed up against a wall. I gave a short prayer and charged into battle with a cry.