in.
'But just then,' snapped Grimscribe, making several squires jump in surprise, 'he came upon what looked to be a mounted knight. At first he thought he'd found a fellow Knight of Solamnia, but as he got closer to the figure it was obvious that the stranger's manner of dress was unlike that of any knight he'd ever seen before, Solamnic or otherwise. He was dressed in a deep-blue, almost black, cloak that went from the top of his head and on down past his feet. His horse too, was blacker than any knight had ever dared to ride. The Rose knight was leery about asking such a stranger for help, but he was lost and any help was better than none at all.'
The knights were silent, but judging by their faces some were obviously skeptical about this last bit of wisdom.
'Excuse me,' the Rose knight called out. But there was no answer from the stranger, who kept on riding as if he hadn't heard a word. The knight then brought his horse to a trot and quickly caught up to the dark traveler. 'I beg your pardon, sir,' he said, this time tapping on the stranger's shoulder to get his attention. Still, there was no response.
'Becoming somewhat frustrated, the knight reached over and grabbed the man's cloak in his hand and pulled on it. 'I'm talking to you!' he said forcefully. At that moment the cloak fell away from the traveler's head.'
The knights were silent. Several held their breath.
'The traveler turned around and the knight suddenly saw that the traveler's face wasn't human, but that of the blue dragon.'
Gasps all around.
'Well, even though the Rose knight and his mount had been tested countless times in battle, they were terrified by the unexpected sight and ran off into the darkest part of the woods, never to find their way out again.'
Soth smiled and looked around at the somewhat apprehensive faces of the knights. 'Well done, Grimscribe,' he said. 'An excellent tale for such a dark and frigid night.'
'How about one from you. Lord Soth?' asked Grimscribe.
'Oh, I don't think-'
The knights quickly joined together in prodding Soth to tell a story and at last he agreed. 'All right, all right, but I doubt my story will be told as skillfully as Knight Grimscribe's.' 'Whose are?' someone shouted, the words followed by soft laughter.
'Very well, then,' Soth said. He knew few tales, but at last chose one he knew well enough to relate orally.
'Before Vinas Solamnus organized the Knights of Solamnia, he was employed by the Emperor of Ergoth as commander of the palace guard in the capital city of Daltigoth.'
A soft murmur of hushed voices circulated around the fire. This was a story that deserved to be told over and over again. Especially in such select company.
'Vinas Solamnus was a pious man, a gallant warrior and a leader truly beloved by his men. He was also loyal to the emperor and provided him with a palace guard which no single army could rival. Meanwhile, on the northeastern plains of Ergoth, the people there-proud, noble and independent folk-had grown tired of the emperor's iron-handed style of government and, joining forces, mounted a rebellion.
'Solamnus and his knights were dispatched to the region to quell the uprising. After several fierce battles, Solamnus grew to respect and admire the rebel fighters for their tenacity and courage. He also realized that there must be some truth to their claims in order for them to fight so fiercely for what they believed to be right and just.
And so, Solamnus agreed to meet with the rebel leaders so that they could tell their side of the story. The great knight listened patiently to the people detail their grievances.
Solamnus was moved by their plight and investigated their claims. To his surprise and dismay, he discovered that the rebels had been telling the truth. But worst of all for Solamnus was the realization that his loyalty to the emperor had left him blind to the injustices being done to the people. Solamnus immediately called his followers together, much in the same way you are gathered here, and presented the people's case to them.
'When he was done, he gave his knights a choice.' He gave a nod to Amol
Kraas, connecting the lesson learned from his tale to the story he was telling now. 'Those who believed in the rebels' cause were welcome to stay. Those who did not were given leave to return to Daltigoth.
'Most of the knights chose to remain loyal to Vinas Solamnus, even though it would mean certain exile from Ergoth for them, and quite possibly death. Those who returned to Daltigoth gave Solamnus's message to the emperor-correct the wrongs being done to the people, or prepare for war.'
Soth paused to wet his throat. The knights remained silent, listening intently. Even though they knew this story well, it must have sounded different coming from a knight such as Soth.
'Of course, the emperor denounced Solamnus as a traitor, stripping him of his lands and title. The people of Daltigoth prepared for a war which would eventually come to be known as the War of Ice Tears because that winter was the most severe in Ergoth's recorded history.
But despite the cold, Solamnus was able, with the loyal and steadfast support of his knights'-Soth put extra emphasis on these last few words for obvious reasons- 'to lay siege to the city, destroying its food supplies and spreading the news of the emperor's corruption. All the while the emperor himself remained hidden like a coward deep within the bowels of his palace.'
Several knights let out mild harumphs of contempt.
'In two months the capital fell and the emperor was forced to sue for peace. As a result, the northeastern part of Ergoth gained its independence. The people named it Solamnia in honor of their new king,
Vinas Solamnus.
And although Solamnia never achieved its greatness and power until long after the death of Vinas Solamnus, it quickly came to be known as a land populated by people who possessed great amounts of honesty, integrity, and fierce determination.'
The knights remained silent for several long moments and all that could be heard was the snap and crackle of the slightly greener wood on the fire.
And then a voice.
'May our loyalty to you, milord,' said Colm Farold, 'someday be compared to that of the knights who served Vinas Solamnus so well.'
'Hear, hear!' the rest of the knights said in unison.
'I have no doubt that it will,' said Soth, nodding graciously.
After the tales had ended, the fire burned through the night, providing some warmth against the cool nocturnal winds that blew across the plains.
There was little danger of reprisals from the ogres of Throtyl who would no doubt think twice in the future before attacking soil under the protection of the Knights of Solamnia. And, other than a few wild animals, there was little else to be wary of in this part of Knightlund.
So the knights had all drunk their fill and set about to get a peaceful night's sleep under the stars.
All except for Soth.
He did not look forward to the night. Considering the dreams he'd been having of late, sleep was something to be avoided or at least put off until absolutely necessary.
For that reason, he wandered around the perimeter of the camp under the pretense of keeping watch.
'Milord,' said Meyer Seril. 'It is my turn to keep watch.
And with all the squires here I don't think you are even scheduled to take a turn.'
Soth turned and looked at the young Crown knight appreciatively. 'I'm not very tired,' he said. '} might as well keep watch if I'm going to be awake. You go to sleep, Knight Seril. You fought well, and you deserve to get some rest.'
'Thank you, milord,' the young knight said, proud to have been noticed by his lord.
'Go now,' said Soth. He had no idea how Seril had fought because the battle had been so brief, but it didn't hurt to tell him he'd done well.
Nor did it hurt for him to take the watch when he wasn't required to.
Such a thing did wonders for the knights' morale and loyalty, not to mention their opinion of him as a leader.
