A Knight's Chance

By Alde Baron

Walton Boshire is the only knight of the Broke Kingdom. For nineteen years, and at three-foot-six, he has protected the royal family. Sworn to fealty to the grave, he is ever diligent in his duties as the captain of the guard.

When events at the castle threaten to end the bloodline of the royal family, Walton throws himself into the path of danger. Determined to protect the kingdom, he faces evils unknown to him, hoping victory will redeem him for past failed duties.

The Quest Logs are short stories set in the world of Farrago, across the Anzerik Continent. Each tale is separate, with an intricate weave of relationships between the main protagonists, Desi Baron, Walton Boshire, and Captain Whiteboot. As they journey across the land, they must deal with the schemes of the wicked mages, hooded and cloaked men and women bent on controlling the fate of humankind.

The short stories are written for ages 10 and up, and contain light references to fantasy violence, alcohol use, and some language not suitable for young children.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alde Baron
• Release date: Oct 21, 2017

Alde Baron

Alde Baron is the author and illustrator of The Quest Logs, short stories for ages 10+. Born in San Diego, Alde Baron now lives in Phoenix, AZ, where he works as a software engineer, and volunteers as a DJ for a local sports league.

Book preview

A Knight’s Chance

by Alde Baron

Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.

For more novels and short stories, visit:

www.thequestlogs.com

Contents

One

Knighthood

Two

A Wizard’s Plot

Three

Fire Rages

Four

Theft of a Princess

Five

For Honor and Duty

Six

An Unexpected Guide

Seven

The Rescue

Chapter One

Knighthood

Walton became a knight when his sword pierced the dragon’s skull. His defeat of the Anzerik Empire’s deadliest weapon meant the insurrection he led would conclude in victory. Days after the dragon’s death, the emperor conceded and declared that the Broke Kingdom was free to govern itself.

The son of Brandish von Boshire received his knighthood, was hailed a hero, and granted the honor as personal bodyguard to The Queen. Walton took pride in his accomplishment, continued to improve his fighting skills, and, free from regular field service, practiced being a gentleman. At the age of fifteen, Walton was the youngest knight in the history of the kingdom, and, at three-foot-six, the shortest.

Not long after the end of the violent uprising against the empire’s oppression, The Queen had birthed a daughter, to which The King said, We shall name her Princess Emmillia the Fourteenth, because fourteen sounds important! We shall have a grand party and present her to the people in a months’ time.

The day arrived when the heir to the throne was presented to her liberated people. The King and The Queen were delighted their daughter was well received and loved, reinvigorating the kingdom’s hope for a prosperous future. The festivities lasted through the day, and at night, the celebration continued in the castle’s grand ballroom. Through the dancing, singing, and cheering, the hope of a bountiful future was ripped to shreds when The Queen suddenly fell back into her chair. Blood spilled from her throat as it had been sliced by an assassin’s blade. The soldiers surrounded The King. Walton, fearing the same fate for the newborn princess, quickly hid her in a chest, and then chased the murderer.

The knight’s pursuit and capture would be swift. The assassin, who appeared to be a common criminal, a member of a resistance group that favored the empire’s rule, was caught by the castle’s guards. With the blood of The Queen on the rebel’s shirt and blade, Walton felt no hesitation, and executed justice.

Walton believed he dishonored his knighthood for failing to protect The Queen. When The King forgave him, Walton swore it was his duty to serve with his life for failing to save the one that was taken from them.

The Queen’s murder was nearly nineteen years ago, and though that was a dark time, this morning was a bright, sun shining day at Castle Graystone. Still the only knight of the kingdom, Walton was busy with his patrols, and running errands, most specifically for the princess. He hurried to the library on the second floor, a vast room that housed thousands of books, thousands of books that few in the castle bothered to read. It was believed that the only residents of this monument of masonry who read were the princess, The King, the wizard, and the priest.

The resident librarian was a lanky, gray haired man, named Manchu. A wizard by his own declaration, if one could consider card and parlor tricks magic, this lanky figure spent his days reading and writing in rather thick tomes, leaving notes, scribbles, diagrams, and whatever, of the knowledge he discovered amongst these books and his travels. His long grey robe ended just above his boots, and his pointed, floppy hat, had not been washed in decades, for he considered it bad luck for a wizard to clean his clothes.

On a couch beside the tall trickster lay another man, the castle priest, known as Lionel. This man, born of the cloth, had cut his hair in a flat top, a bit slicked back, and his white goatee was trimmed quite well. He was tall, compared to Walton, but was nowhere near the height of his wizard friend, who was often not too far away. Lionel, a member of the abbey, was the council to The King, trusted advisor and accountant, and remained ever protective of the castle’s treasures and secrets.

The scuff and scratch of Walton’s rusted armor alerted to the two men that the short knight had entered the library. When Walton approached the wizard’s writing station, Manchu asked, Still haven’t found that missing glove of yours?

No, Master Manchu, replied Walton. He glanced at his right hand and remembered that a week ago he misplaced his gauntlet, and had no clue where it could have gone.

Lionel closed a book he was reading, and asked the knight, What brings a squirt like you up here?

The knight looked upward at the wizard in an attempt to ignore the priest. Manchu, who stopped writing, muttered something profane under his breath, as he attempted to organize the books on a nearby shelf. Each book resisted and popped out, teasing the wizard to solve a rather irritating puzzle.

"Master Manchu, the princess has requested the book, ‘The Snobbish Brat.’ Might you know its whereabouts?"

Sounds like the story of her life, said Lionel, returning to his book.

Walton placed his finger upon his chin and said, I do not understand.

Of course you don't.

Never mind, and stop the formalities. You sound like a claustrophobic stuck in his head.

Manchu settled the books into place and solved the puzzle. We’ll check the shelf marked ‘S’, this way, he said. Walton followed the wise man through the pillars and tunnels of bound paper that were once a forest. Upon each shelf a symbol shined that the knight could not decipher: an arch; two arches; six arches that twisted in all directions. The wizard brought Walton behind a shelf with a squiggly sign.

The magician trickled his prickles