Lord of the Rose by Douglas Niles

Author:Douglas Niles [Niles, Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786962716
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2012-03-06T05:00:00+00:00

“I remember this place,” Princess Selinda said to Captain Powell. “My father brought me here when I was a girl—we used to watch the farmers harvest the apples from that grove in the fall.”

“It looks like it’s been abandoned for a long while,” the knight replied. “See how the weeds have taken over the yard? The brambles are growing right out through the walls of the house. The roof is caved in over there, and I wouldn’t be surprised if bats and rats have taken the place over.”

“We don’t need to go into the house—instead we can make our camp for tonight in the grove,” the lady said. “I remember fishing in the pond there—you could hardly throw a hook in without catching something. We can have fresh fish and apples.”

The captain nodded, stroking his mustache thoughtfully. “It would make a nice change from all this trail fare,” he acknowledged. “I declare, it would be nice to be under the stars.”

Turning in the saddle, he waved to the file of knights, nearly a hundred strong, who made up the princess’s escort. “Make for the trees!” he called. “We’ll camp in the grove over there! Usual drill—scouts forward to reconnoiter, knights to follow in open line.”

With visible enthusiasm the weary riders turned their horses, several scouts dispersing as they approached the lush green trees. Already they could see the red apples beckoning here and there, growing wild and untended across the extensive grove.

During the last three weeks of riding, Selinda had grown accustomed to the smooth competency of all these knights. Captain Powell led the group with avuncular compassion, and his men responded with a loyalty and good humor that bespoke a volume of respect and affection for their leader and their own camaraderie.

Most of the knights, from the moment they rose in the morning until they went to bed at night, wore steel breastplates, helms, and other bits of armor. Indeed, when she reflected upon their seeming modesty—no doubt a reflection of their Oath and Measure—the princess wondered if some of them might not actually wear parts of their steel trappings in their bedrolls.

The scouts, who numbered only a score of knights, wore leather tunics and soft, moccasin-like boots. Shieldless, they were armed with light bows and slender swords. Mounted upon lean and leggy steeds in comparison to the broad-withered giant war-horses that carried their more heavily armored brethren, the scouts could move quickly through all kinds of terrain. Now they rode among the apple trees, making sure all was safe.

Abruptly one of the scouts held up his hand, and the rest came to an immediate halt. Several riders conferred with each other, and one of these came galloping back to the main body, reining in his horse before Captain Powell and Selinda.

“We’re going to have to go in carefully—Royster smelled smoke,” reported the scout. “Probably just the campfire of a few innocent travelers, but we’re not going to take any chances.”

“Good man,” said Powell, with a nod. The scout whirled his horse and rode back to join his comrades.

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