Knight of the Broken Table: Knights Tower, #1

By D.H. Aire

Sir Harold's the last knight of the kingdom of Lasdrah. The King and Court think little of their knight errant. After all, nothing much has happened in the kingdom for years. What need of knights when nothing has come out of the Forbidden in years?

When word comes that a dragon's been sighted, there are those who think it a joke. However, the King orders Sir Harold to investigate.

But there is more to this dragon than meets the eye—and more to Lasdrah, which is fabled for protecting its people from creatures of ill out of the Forbidden.

To save the King and kingdom, Sir Harold will need to break all the rules that bind him and seek help from those desperate enough to risk their very lives. Sir Harold will have to confront more than just the dragon to save his kingdom. He must confront the secrets of his world—and his own.

Welcome to Knight of the Broken Table, the first book of Knights Tower.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barry Nove
• Release date: Mar 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224697823

Book preview

Works by D.H. Aire

Knights Tower Series

Knight of the Broken Table

Changeling Knight

Knight’s Blood (forthcoming)

The Highmage’s Plight Series

Highmage’s Plight

Merchants and Mages

Human Mage

Highmage

Well Armed Brides

Prophecies’ Pawns

Paradox Lost

Hand of the Highmage Series

For Whom the Bell Trolls

Of Elves and Unicorns

Goldilocks and the Three Dwarves

Sleeping Beauties and Beasts

Dare2Believe Series

Dare 2 Believe

Double Dare

Triple Dare

Apocalypse Knot Series

Bigfoot is Not Your Friend

Bigfoot Hunting

Bigfoot Versus the Four Horsemen (forthcoming)

Bred in Captivity

Lessers Not Losers

Children of a Lesser Dragon (forthcoming)

Terran Catalyst Series

Terran Catalyst

Plymouth Meets Rock

Other Works

Crossroads of Sin and Other Stories

Nowhere to Go But Mars

Dedication

In Memory of my Dad

Table of Contents

Works by D.H. Aire

Dedication

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1 – Knight’s Quest

Chapter 2 – Knight of the Broken Table

Chapter 3 – Of Feast and Famine

Chapter 4 – The Tower

Chapter 5 – Epiphany

Chapter 6 – Living with Consequences

Chapter 7 – Tale of the Old Wood

Chapter 8 – Plans for the Day

Chapter 9 – Plans Going Sideways

Chapter 10 – Facing the Fire

Chapter 11 – Dealing with the Burns

Chapter 12 – High Table

Chapter 13 – House Maskin

Chapter 14 – The Tower

Chapter 15 – Healing

Chapter 16 – Explanations

Chapter 17 – Dragon Afield

Chapter 18 – High Table Manners

Chapter 19 – Matchmaking

Chapter 20 – Doubling Down

Chapter 21 - Challenge

Chapter 22 – Witness

Chapter 23 – Winning Concerns

Chapter 24 – Newlyweds

Chapter 25 – Apothecary

Chapter 26 – Knight’s Justice

Chapter 27 – Roll of the Dice

Chapter 28 – The Prince and His Lady

Chapter 29 – Seeing is Believing

Chapter 30 – One Cross Dragon

Chapter 31 – Knight’s Table

Chapter 32 – King’s Table

Chapter 33 – Tower

Chapter 34 – Complications

Chapter 35 – Training

Chapter 36 – Balancing Act

Chapter 37 – Intrigue

Chapter 38 – In the Belly of the Dragon

Chapter 39 – Things Not Going as Planned

Chapter 40 – Hoo’s Getting into the Act

Chapter 41 – In the Stands

Chapter 42 – King’s Box

Chapter 43 – Dragon

Chapter 44 – Treachery’s Bargain

Chapter 45 – Negotiating with a Dragon

Chapter 46 – Trying to Turn Defeat

Chapter 47 – Trapped

Epilogue

About the Author

Acknowledgements

The short story of Knight of the Broken Table, of which this novel is expanded, first appeared in the anthology Dark Luminous Wings in a slightly different form several years ago. I wish to thank the anthology’s editors, Kelly Harmon and Vonnie Winslow Crist, for including the story which has whispered to me for years that I needed to explore this world and these characters further.

I also gratefully wish to thank my copyeditor, Karen MacLeod, for her editorial advice. Additionally, I wish to express my appreciation to Mule Kimber for a wonderful cover design. As ever, I also wish to thank my family and friends for all their support.

Finally, to you, my friends and readers, who have purchased this book.

Thank you.

D.H. Aire

September 2020

Chapter 1 – Knight’s Quest

Battered and bruised, I woke on the cot half-naked, wondering how I’d managed to get out of my chainmail.

He’s awake. He’s awake! shouted the blonde-haired woman in servant’s dress, who couldn’t possibly be here.

Epiny? I muttered, then groaned. I hurt all over and tried not to move.

Harry, you were amazing, she grinned.

I—what?

You do remember fighting the, uh—you know? she frowned in concern.

The what? I muttered, head aching. Don’t tell me, I fought a rather large cuddly soft furred— at her look, I shut up and shrugged. Not that dream then...

She went to the tented pavilion’s entrance, pointing. Look, remember that?

I struggled to sit up, the pain making me see stars. I stared, gaping. Um, yeah, I think I remember that. I laid back down. I’ve really done it this time.

You most certainly have, you idiot, Epiny replied, sitting in a field chair next to me. She poured me a cup of water; brought it to my lips. Drink slowly.

I sipped, then lay back down, preferring dreams of the soft cuddly furred creature with sharp teeth.

You scared the life out of me with that fool stunt. What were you thinking?

Good question, I thought, realizing I was hearing the crowds shouting outside, realizing they were actually cheering my name.

Cheering me? I closed my eyes, thinking back...

#

Answering His Royal Highness’s summons, I hastened to the castle from the ancient Knight’s Tower a half mile from the palace, hoping against hope this wasn’t like last time when he needed my help to clean the jakes. I know that’s not the kind of thing which is normally the role of a knight. Then again, my Order has fallen on hard times as had the Kingdom of Lasdrah, itself.

Ah, Sir Harold, said the balding and rather rotund King, rising from his well-worn throne, ushering out Lord Maskin, Master of the King’s Treasury, who looked at me with utter contempt.

The arched ceiling chamber was almost cavernous. The torches cast shadows on the tattered banners and dingy tapestries gracing the walls, depicting the legendary tales of my Order that so few credited these days, believing the creatures out of the territory known as the Forbidden mere fancy.

At your service, Your Majesty, I replied, with a bow.

Sir Harold, he said, starting to pace with his hands behind his back, it’s come to my attention that a dragon is threatening our demesne.

A dragon? I cleared my throat. As Your Majesty is certainly well aware, there’s been no report of a dragon across the entire continent in, what, a thousand years?

Of course, I am, he replied. That’s why I’m sending you as the last knight of the realm to deal with it.

Frowning, I knew there was more to it. Your Majesty, defending the kingdom is the charge of the Order of the Broken Table, Lasdrah, being the least attractive kingdom on the continent, was not exactly anything any other kingdom — or the Empires — as they called themselves, had any reason to invade.  According to legend, his Majesty’s ancestor had drawn the short straw... earning us this place. Where is this reported sighting, Majesty?

Elmer’s Croft, he replied with the thinnest of smiles.

Understanding dawned. You mean castle.

With Elmer it’s more of a croft.

I, uh, shall leave at once, Your Majesty, I announced, thinking, Elmer? Ye Olde Gods, a dragon sighted on the Prince-in-Exile’s duchy. Well, calling it a duchy did overstate it a bit. There was the village and the buildings which once served the ruined keep, now just a broken structure abutting the old tower.

His Majesty smiled, gesturing that I may leave.

The King was actually asking me to spy on his only son and heir. As I left his august presence, I thought, Dragon, indeed! How I wished I was not the last member of the Order. Father would have known better how to deal with this.

I glanced at one of the frayed tapestries on my way out, featuring the daring of a score of knights facing fantastical creatures of legend, driving them off, knowing full well I’d never grace such a weaving.

#

It was a day’s ride to Elmer’s Croft down the King’s Road. Lasdrah, once considered a no-man’s land bordering the Old Woods and the inhospitable mountain region beyond, served as the barrier to the Forbidden at the edge of Lasdrah and the Chartered Lands of the Great Continent.

Over the centuries there were fewer and fewer members of the Order as we met the challenges Lasdrah faced, which grew more sporadic as we prevailed against dangers banished to the Forbidden, worse than any image the old tapestries boasted.

Even worse than the steady loss of knights, was that what made Lasdrah, if not the most promising of lands, less so each passing year. The kingdom’s once prosperous farms now reported blight, year after year. Once there were mining concerns, but what copper and other precious metals we had been able to mine were long gone. Only the coal mine in the Prince-in-Exile’s duchy was said to still be producing.

When I came over the hill and glimpsed the croft, the Old Wood, the remnants of the Old Forest, lay in the distance, the mountains ringed with snow, beyond. I reined back and stared. Billowing black smoke rose from the dragon, of sorts, outside the croft’s ragged palisade wall. The fields laying fallow, the ruins of another forgotten fortress visible to the west.

The dragon turned as it moved ponderously across the field, spitting fire.

I swallowed hard. I spurred my mount forward, approaching warily, while trying to make sense of what I was seeing, my nose wrinkling at the acrid smell.

Stoke more to the fires! Prince Elmer shouted as the dragon-headed armored, well — wagon didn’t describe it, rolled forward without being drawn by horses or oxen.

The black smoke thickened around me as the wind changed direction. My mount suddenly refused to take another step. I coughed, leaning back in my saddle. A moment later I shouted, Milord Prince!

Prince Elmer hurried from his vantage on a ladder set against the palisade wall, grinning, Harry! Come to see my triumph, at last. He hurried down the ladder and rushed to meet me. Harry, soon I shall besiege the castle and force Father to recant my exile.

Oh, Uncle Harry, thank the gods! shouted the fifteen-year-old Princess Alexandra.

It had been awhile since I had last seen her. The young lady was devoted to her mad father, particularly since her mother Stella’s untimely death when she was a little girl. The loss of his wife had tipped the Prince’s sanity. She died at the hands of the King’s half blind old cook, who accidentally put rat poison on the spice rack and, well, you can guess the rest. Alexandra’s mother did not exactly enjoy her tea for very long that day.

I had taken a whiff of the tea and gone to have a talk with the cook, who shortly thereafter had been permanent retired by the executioner’s ax.

The other thing about our future queen was the Princess had not grown up to be particularly ladylike. Prince Elmer had lined up tutors and ladies-in-waiting to take her in hand, but she found ways to escape them, which often meant I was tasked to find her. She would only return when I trained her in staff, dagger, and later, sword... and told her nearly every legend of the knights of the realm.

Father, with Uncle Harry here, you won’t need to assault the castle after all.

The Prince pouted, But I want to besiege the castle.

I dismounted as a stable boy came running. Sir Knight?

See to my trusty steed, I said, caressing my horse’s still trembling neck. All will be will, I promised, meeting the Prince’s gaze as the stable boy led my mount away. As to besieging the castle... Your Highness, you know your father’s castle stinks. Threatening it with fire may drive out the remaining... I was about to say ‘rats,’ but that was likely still a sore subject, ...mice. And your father so loves to race them in the dungeon. He won’t thank you for that by ending your exile.

He’ll have no choice, Harry. He’ll have to acknowledge me as Court Wizard and stop insulting me by offering to make me Court Jester.

Father, uh, shouldn’t we invite our guest inside for cake? the Princess asked, gesturing to the ancient gray tower covered in green-gray moss. The tower leaned slightly to the left.

Cake? Of course. Come on, Harry. You remember how wonderful Epiny’s cakes are.

I winced, hearing that name. I would love to... and learn more about, uh, this.

A sweating, rather burly blacksmith slid open the armored door in the metal dragon’s side. It rang with a loud clang. He looked relieved as I accompanied the royal family-in-exile back to the partially standing stone gate. It seemed fitting, somehow, a broken castle for a broken man.

#

Harry, this will work, Prince Elmer said with glee during our dinner in reverse. Alexandra had Epiny, once her mother’s Servant who served as cook, seamstress, and her lady-in-waiting, first bring out an assortment of cakes. She set one before the prince, who muttered, My favorite.

Sir Harold, Epiny said with a smile, setting a plate before me.

I swallowed, Uh, good seeing you.

She was more than several years older than I, and still as beautiful as the day I first saw her. She smiled, whispering, Good seeing you, too.

Next came the entrée, and finally, the soup.

I drank liberally of the wine until I felt fortified enough, electing to sample my dessert in honor of the prince’s etiquette before enjoying the rest of my repast. My Prince, are you planning to make this your version of the legendary Trojanian Horse?

The Prince grew quiet, What? No, uh, of course not... He frowned, refusing to meet my gaze. Definitely the Trojanian Horse legend.

Elmer, I said, shaking my head.

Um, my dragon’s a masterpiece. Admit it. The steam engine is better than any Imperial design. It only needs the crew to stoke it with coal. I designed the mechanics and had quite the time training the blacksmith and his sons to make them to my specifications.

You sound like, I frowned, you were inspired. I had a sinking feeling, which only worsened as his daughter looked away.

Yes, he smiled, his voice reverent, a true gift from the Old Gods.

I noticed the princess’s worried look. We both knew there were those of The Faith, who felt the belief in the spirits, and their sorcery, were as much heresy as the mechanical creations cropping up across the continent against the ancient Edicts.

I glanced around, wondering if the legends that this remnant of the long-forgotten fortress had once been a stronghold of Believers might have further bent the Prince’s mind.

The dragon can practically run itself. Well, the crew drives it or you can set the gears in the proper patterns to set the movements, Elmer said, with a smile that seemed to belay the truth of that.

You have been working on it all this time?

I built the foundry, and ordered all the metal, of course, from the Astrins... smelted down what they called useless junk to keep expenses down. Building the dragon, though, that was a challenge.

Father has spent all our coin, and more, on this venture, Alexandra said, giving me a look I understood only all too well.

Because this will work! Once my dragon appears to run out of coal Father will certainly bring the metal beast inside... Won’t he?

No, my Prince, I said, sighing. He won’t. He knows the tale of Geeks bearing gifts as well as you do.

Elmer looked suddenly stubborn and was about to protest.

That dragon looks like a giant toy. When he doesn’t see you, uh, casting your spells; he’s going to know the truth.

Doesn’t see me?

Don’t tell me you’ve talked the blacksmith into learning how to ride that thing?

What? No, he and his sons stoke it. I direct it... Oh, I see what you mean, the Prince said, then smiled, how is this, then? I’ll set the pattern that it shall move, and I shall be seen casting incantations before it. Showing Father how powerful my magic is. That I’ve tamed it, so he’ll take it inside the castle walls.

Elmer...

I’ll warn Father that only by my casting protective spells can I keep it sedate. He will doubt me, but when the dragon awakens spewing fire, threatening his castle...  That’s when I will prove myself the greatest wizard of the realm. The prince’s eyes rolled upward and he slumped forward, his head hitting the wooden table with a thump.

Epiny rushed to the table as I stared.

Alexandra sat back. Sorry about that, Uncle Harry. It is taking longer and longer for the drug in the cake to put him to sleep.

Princess... I stared at her wide-eyed.

It’s all right, Uncle Harry. It really is.

This isn’t fair to you, child, I said.

A choice between my mad father or the grandfather who would force me to dress in ridiculous fashions and play court to... never mind, I’m sticking with Papa, who, believe it or not, is the closest thing there is to a wizard. I only have to worry about us all getting blown up.

I shook my head, wishing I had an answer for her.

After examining the Prince to make sure he was unhurt, Epiny went over to the kitchen door and gestured. In his permanently soot stained work clothes, the burly blacksmith entered and gave a slight bow to the Princess, who nodded. The broad-shouldered smith came to the table and hefted his liege, carrying him off to his bedroom for the night.

Will there be anything else, Your Highness? the blonde-haired Epiny asked from the doorway, her blue eyes twinkling as she winked at me.

No, that will be all, thank you.

Clearing my throat, I rose, feeling my cheeks grow warm trying not to think about that wink. I’d best be getting to bed.

The Princess nodded and smiled. Of course... Good night, Sir Harold.

#

The bed was the guestroom’s sole accomplishment. I stripped out of my jerkin and pulled off my boots, setting them both upon the floor, careful to keep my weapons close at hand. I no sooner blew out the flickering candle than I heard a scraping sound that did not come from the barred door and heard feet padding close.

I drew my knife from beneath the pillow, when I heard her chuckle, Harry, I do hope that’s your dagger you’re holding.

Epiny, entering through a secret panel? I said, sitting up, seeing her silhouette from the wan moon light streaming through the window.

Well, traipsing down the hallway would be unseemly. Now, scoot over.

Epiny, are you sure about this?

She slipped under the blanket beside me. I blinked, now gaining a better understanding of her electing the secret panel entry. She hugged me, Before dinner Her Ladyship reminded me how cold your old bones are likely to get in this drafty place.

Epiny, I’m not old. I’m younger than you.

We both are considered old to her, she chuckled.

I’ve missed you, I whispered, drawing her close.

Oh, you are pleased to see me... I thought you’d still be pining for that halflin you oft dream about.

Um, Epiny, you know that was a boy’s fantasy likely due to staring too long at the banner of Lasdrah and all those tapestries in the palace.

It’s been too long since we’ve seen you, Harry... You’ve always been welcome.

I know.

Alexandra missed your telling her all those bedtime stories.

I seem to recall your listening as closely as she.

You were a fine Squire. The day you were raised to knight, I remember how proud you were.

I winced. Ep, I thought when you decided to accompany Alexandra and, um, the Prince it best I never see you again.

Is that why you stayed away?

The Prince and Alexandra needed you—the Prince loves you.

You know better. He only needed me. I consoled him, and the Princess, as best I could... Epiny turned her head. He’s his toys to keep him entertained these days. It’s Alexandra I watch over—and will—until the day I die.

He’s worse, isn’t he?

She sighed, Well, perhaps better to say ‘more inspired.’ Though, there are times he’s brilliant, and more himself.

This place... he’s more shaped metal than I could have believed possible.

He raided the ruins for much of it. He built a blast furnace, and—everything he couldn’t make, he bought the tools to make, or bought.

Uh, huh... exactly how inspired has Elmer been?

Well, the Princess says she feels we’re being watched at inconvenient times... and, believe me, it’s not any of the servants.

He’s found a relic? I asked almost in a whisper.

I felt her tense, hesitate. I don’t know, but he’s these small glass marbles.

Marbles, I muttered. How many?

No more than a dozen. You know he’s always had a few, but since we came here, he’s added to his collection.

What color? I asked, sitting bolt upright.

Why, he only collects black ones.

An Old God itself, a cursed one? I feared, knowing that had to be impossible.

What, Harry? Don’t tell me you are afraid that the Prince has lost all his marbles?

Shaking my head as Epiny nestled close, I told myself I had to be leaping to conclusions. Perhaps, the Prince had only stumbled upon an elemental spirit, or merely trapped a ghost to help him with his dragon.

So serious, Harry, I thought you’d miss me more, Epiny murmured, tickling me, making me forget such worries.

Stop, I whispered as we rolled beneath the blankets.

Harry, you really should have visited, she muttered. You silly fool.

She kissed me again and I hoped she did not notice my errant tears of joy as I thought, One dragon down, one to go...

Chapter 2 – Knight of the Broken Table

I dreamed I was shivering in the cold and a ball of fur was all that was keeping me alive. Har-ee, the ball of fur said, opening her mouth full of sharp teeth, Har-ee, where you?

I woke feeling her in my arms, realizing the woman I thought I loved was drawing away from me at the crack of dawn. Epiny? I reached out and grasped her hand.

I didn’t mean to wake you.

Epiny, stay...

I can’t. I’ve got work to do—and I didn’t get much sleep because of you.

I grinned. You didn’t seem to mind.

Says the last knight of the realm to all the girls, I bet.

Gaze narrowing, Epiny, even if my being a knight meant anything, there’s been no one else.

She smiled, leaned closed and kissed me, You’re such an idiot at times... You know I wouldn’t fault you.

I would fault me.

That’s the knight in you—that fool belief of what a knight must be by a code that has been only words for centuries.

Not to me, I said. I believe in the Code... the honor of it...  I know you understand because you have one, too, or you wouldn’t be looking out from Alexandra.

I promised her mother if anything ever happened...

Sighing, I nodded. I know. Believe me, I know.

I must go now... I’ve much to do.

It’s just that, well, I wish we had more time.

She chuckled, Then, come fight dragons more often. That said she slipped away from me and went back out through the secret panel in the wall opposite the foot of the bed.

I blinked, wondering how I could have missed seeing that there. Then, again, I apparently had missed a lot of things.

#

Prince Elmer was eating eggs and pancakes, while quietly drafting I knew not what on a large piece of vellum.

Epiny leaned close and said, I hope you slept well, Sir Harold.

Clearing my throat, The accommodations were lovely. I slept better than I have in ages.

The Princess glanced at us and smiled.

Yes, Elmer shouted, jumping up from his chair, waving his quill, All I will need to do is lay track between here and the palace walls and my dragon will be there in no time at all!

Princess Alexandra looked up from her meal. Uh, Father, track?

The dragon moves rather slowly on its rutted wheels. So, I’ll just order track to be laid like the Astrin Empire does criss-crossing their territory. Hmm, come to think of it, I’ll need to modify the wheels like they do for their steam engines, too.

Father, with what money? Alexandra asked, exasperated.

Money? Money! I’ll sell the rest of our properties.

You’ve already sold them—and this place is collateral to the loans you’ve taken to finish the dragon, Father.

Well, I’ve your dowry...

You’ve already spent that.

Well, we shall have the treasury when your grandfather dies. Surely, we can get loans against that.

I winced, knowing the palace was in the same deplorable condition as was the rest of Lasdrah, which was not because the king was miserly by choice, but trying to explain that fact to the Prince would be pointless.

With a sigh, Alexandra said, No one will loan you more money, Father––not after everything you’ve already spent building the dragon.

Tsk, tsk, Elmer waved his hand, it won’t be a problem, my dear.

Father, we already owe more than we can repay...

I stood there, thinking wistfully of the tapestries back in the throne room and suddenly laughed.

The Prince turned to glare at me as Alexandra frowned. Epiny looked at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to suggest...?

#

Once there was a table around which the Knights of the Realm sat with our King. The members of the Order swore vows to right wrongs and protect the people of Lasdrah from the horrors of the land, injustice and, of course, serve the royal line to the death, if need be as so many had.

I could practically see my unlamented father sitting around that long-ruined table cursing from one end of the realm to the other over this stunt.

What the hell, I was the last knight of the Broken Table––and people were coming to Elmer’s Croft from leagues away, even crossing the border, to see the dragon. They’d follow us to Lasdrah City once they heard I would fight it.

#

Get your tickets! the barkers cried a week later at the impromptu fairground’s gate. Fluttering with the breeze were faded pennants and the royal banner of Lasdrah, displaying a fabled white furred halflin with tufted ears and muzzled look to his jaw, and which in the legends were referred to as once being a dog, but far larger and more intelligent. Wicked sharp teeth barred, the halflin stood on his hind legs wearing chainmail and wielding a short straw in place of a sword.

No, I’ve never been quite sure what the founders of Lasdrah were thinking when they came up with that as our banner, except the First King had made a Promise. But as someone who’s drawn the short straw himself a time or two, I will tell you––I understood the sentiment, perfectly—and knew how prized that creature’s fur was said to be.

If the hunters survived getting it... Halfins were, let’s say, both formidable and among the most dangerous creatures in the Old Woods, which bordered the mountainous region along the Forbidden.

If you get barbequed, I will serve you to that horde out there, Epiny cried, rushing to hug me, chainmail and all. You are mad, you know that?

#

His Majesty, King Edvard, sat in the makeshift Royal Box beneath its striped canvas, left over from one of the Prince’s attempts at building one of the Astrin Empire’s famed hot air balloons. The King gaped as Elmer’s fire breathing dragon which had plodded across the countryside, drawing crowds, word passing the Prince and young Princess were returning with a metal dragon.

Riding ahead to warn His Majesty gave me time to consider precisely what I needed to say and how big an idiot I truly was, praying my mad idea would work. Now, said mad idea confronted me, the dragon coming out of the barn that had served as Elmer’s first makeshift workshop; and was again.

The dragon plodded forward on its rutted wheels, foul black smoke pouring from its chimney. As I dismounted my horse, who