Tales of the Kingdom of Nogal - Complete Trilogy: Tales of the Kingdom of Nogal

By Taylor Gaines

The complete trilogy detailing the events of centuries within the Kingdom of Nogal. Follow the stories of Rizzo, Tazalie, Cantor and others as they play their part in the grand story of their Kingdom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Taylor Gaines
• Release date: May 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224453009

Taylor Gaines

Taylor Gaines lives in Catonsville, MD, with his wife, also named Taylor. He writes fairy stories for fun on his train rides to work.

Book preview

The Little Kingdom

Once upon a time, there sat a large castle. It rested in a valley, though was built on the highest hill in that valley. And if you stood at the top of the tallest tower, with wide open views all around, you could see a glistening lake dancing at the bottom of the valley, fed by a wide, rolling river from the east and many smaller streams from all directions. Rather than a blue moat, the castle was surrounded by lands in a patchwork of browns and greens which made up the crops and grazing land which fed the castle and its kingdom. Such muddy colors stood in stark contrast to the brightly-colored, simple houses collecting into villages, a rainbow of reds, greens, pinks and yellows patterning themselves along roads, streams, and fields. Similar houses huddled together in families of two or three in the outlying fields beyond the far side of the lake, or stood quietly as sole wardens of their allotments of land. From the tower, you could, if you squinted, make out the movement of man and animal in the farthest fields. Beyond the fields, fingers of a great forest, like the reaching claws of many beasts, dug into the flesh of the domesticated land from all directions. And beyond these green, searching tendrils was the forest proper, a dense, dark wall surrounding the land. Beyond the ring of forest could be seen, all around, a dark, jagged mountain range, like the imposing castles of giants, or perhaps the spiked crown of one very large giant, depending on where you stood to see it. Luckily, no giants had ever been seen or heard within these parts; at least not outside the realm of storytelling, and even then, not for generations. And such land within this ring of mountains was known as the Kingdom of Nogal and was ruled by His Lordship King Antonio Cesar Magnificat Humboldt de Gallos.

The Kingdom of Nogal was a noteworthy kingdom of its time due to the formation of its lands.  From the central lake outwards to the encircling mountains, the land sat low then rose steadily, falling down again more steeply on the other side. The mountains formed a natural defense against neighboring kingdoms in matters of warfare as well as peace. This served Nogal well as it was also noteworthy for being incredibly small and might otherwise fare poorly with its larger neighbors. It was a three day’s journey by foot from the lake to the mountains and two if you had somewhere to be.

Most people of Nogal occupied positions as low as the valley in which they lived. They were farmers at birth, with some carpenters, blacksmiths, and other craftsmakers, but the King did also field a small army. It was made up of 100 men and 50 horses and roamed constantly abroad. Skirmishes were always decided diplomatically as most other kingdoms had no pretext for war with the isolated Nogal, and there was no honor to be won in routing such a small army. Nogal’s military prowess was the pride of King Antonio, who may have been the most noteworthy of them all.

One day, the normal routine of afternoon fieldwork was disturbed by the approaching hoof sounds of a royal destrier. On its back rhythmically bounced one of the King’s heralds dressed in the all-white, feather-adorned royal garb designated for someone of his office. The rider drew the horse to a halt at the edge of a half-plowed field and called to the nearby foreman.

You there! I come bearing an urgent message from His Majesty King Antonio Cesar Magnificat Humboldt de Gallos for Foreman Callus of the eastern corn fields. Are you he?

The foremen of Nogal oversaw various work projects undertaken in the Kingdom, but they also participated in the same work, lived in similar quarters, and received the same rations and wages as workers of lesser title. It seemed the title granted only admittance to the yearly Foreman’s Feast hosted at the castle, at which the King gave an appearance and a few words at the dessert.

I am he! Callus said, rising to attention with his spade to his side. What message does His Majesty King Antonio Cesar Magnificat Humboldt de Gallos have for me?

Our Lord the King has an urgent message of utmost importance, the herald began, "and he requests that you deliver it. Our wise and benevolent King wishes the hand of the princess of the neighboring Kingdom of Greensward in marriage, for the love of the Lady and the everlasting friendship and allegiance of her father, the King of Greensward. He would on another day send his top generals to deliver such a message, but they are currently abroad waging war. And of course, His Majesty must himself stay here to defend our Kingdom while the army is away, and I myself must stay to serve him.

But—I see your face—fear not! The King is merciful and knows you have never acted as a foreign dignitary nor left the boundaries of the Kingdom. He therefore sends you this message: ‘Head east on the road which runs alongside the Great River, and trust always in my guidance, and you shall find Greensward. When you arrive, I know you will not have the words to say, so say the words that I have had written down for you on this scroll.’

The herald produced the scroll from the folds of his garments. What is your response to the King?

I say ‘Yes!’ beamed Callus. A resounding ‘Yes!’ I have been waiting for an opportunity to prove myself to the King for years. And he had. From the day he was first appointed to the post of foreman of the eastern corn fields, Callus had been practicing in secret the skills necessary for his anticipated appointment to a higher post. He acted as banker, jailer, tax collector, bard, royal taste tester, foreman of the northern, western, and southern corn fields, foreman of the eastern radish fields, and even as the King Himself among the other servants, though he had to be practicing for these rolls in secret when the foreman of the eastern radish fields reported his behavior.

Please tell His Majesty the King I will leave whenever he commands.

The King commands you to leave at once and to provision yourself as needed, the herald said. Find such men as you see fit to accompany you on this important errand. And find such a gift as you see fit and deliver it to the King of Greensward. Whatever you choose to give will not be taxed this year.

Callus called to two workers in a nearby row, Tom, Rizzo, come here. Tom pulled gently on the reins of the plow and whistled, bringing the oxen with their long, curved horns to a stop. Rizzo, following behind and stopping to plant corn at regular intervals, hung his bag of dried kernels on the plow handle. They began walking to Callus as he turned to the herald. My lord, Callus said, these two I will bring to serve me on my journey. They are honest workers and do not say much.

Yes, Master Callus? Rizzo asked as they approached. The herald eyed Callus quizzically, and Callus noticed.

"Please, Rizzo, I have said this many times before. Call me Callus, or Foreman Callus if you must. But listen to this message, directly from His Majesty the King Himself: I, Callus, am to ask for the princess of Greensward’s hand in marriage on the King’s behalf, and you two are to accompany me.

Tom, I need you to assemble 20 sheep, 20 cows, and 10 goats as a wedding gift for the princess, and also to ready horses for the journey. Rizzo, prepare our bags and pack what food we need to travel. Go also to the castle and find us clothing fit to wear in Greensward’s courts.

I will find our finest animals to serve as a gift, said Tom. But all of our horses are currently out in the service of our King’s army. We do have some ponies, though.

Callus winced. Fine, those ponies will have to do, said Callus. And don't be overly generous. It would be alright if we keep some of the good livestock for ourselves.

At that moment, they heard the approaching wheezes of a man. He was running towards them at a respectable pace and dressed in the same clothing as the herald who was shading the workers from atop the horse. Stopping as he reached their meeting place at the edge of the field, he caught his breath and said, I come bearing an urgent message from His Majesty King Antonio Cesar Magnificat Humboldt de Gallos for foreman Callus of the eastern corn fields. He looked among the three dirt-laced workers. Which of you is he?

I am he! said Callus, his cheeks straining to their limits in a prideful smile.

Our Lord the King has an urgent need to which you must attend at once. Our wise ruler has the foresight to see what has not yet happened but will yet come to pass. The corn, when it is fully grown, will disturb the view of the lake from the castle. You must replant the seeds in another field at once. This second herald then turned to the first and said, I am sorry I could not have told you sooner. Our King ruled this soon after he had sent you. I ran to the royal stables to find you, but you had just left, and we had no other horse.

Without betraying his dismay for long, Callus thought quickly and said, I believe I have surmised the perfect solution. I have a good friend, the foreman of the eastern radish fields, who has been looking for more ways in which to serve our King. I must ask him, but I am sure he will be honored to dig up every kernel in this field and replant with the humble radish, which will be more pleasing to the King’s eyes. In this way I can still carry out the important task of travelling to Greensward to entreat about marriage.

The heralds shared a glance, and the first said, I am glad that is your idea and not mine. I will report back to the King that his messages were well received and are being acted upon. I have still one message, which is my own, not the King’s: Leave now! Before he changes his mind.

With that, he handed the King’s scroll to Callus, relieved of its burden. The second herald mounted the horse behind him, and they trotted away towards the castle.

The three corn field workers began at once to prepare for their journey. By dinner time, the plow and oxen were stored and bedded, the King’s gifts were corralled, their ponies were saddled, and their bags were packed. Fearing to hear from either the King or the radish foreman, Callus hurried them along. Let’s get some miles in tonight before we lose the light.

Callus, Rizzo said, while you watch over us in the corn fields, here you do not have absolute authority. You were not chosen by the King for any special skills, integrity, or reliability you possess. It is likely we were chosen because we are already farthest east and our corn planting should have been finished weeks ago. As for authority, Tom knows each of these animals by name and can lead them anywhere. And me? I have made this journey many times. We will serve you by leading you safely to deliver the King’s message, but to do so you must listen to us.

Callus bristled. You lie, he said, though it was not for an affront to the truth that Callus was displeased. No one makes the journey to Greensward anymore.

You are right about that, said Rizzo. Save the army, and them only occasionally, no one journeys beyond the mountain border of Nogal. I used to make the journey often as a young boy during the reign of the King’s father. My grandfather would travel to Greensward and beyond to sell his leather goods, and I went with him. But you are right about leaving now. Let us get to the woods while the sun is still low so it does not scorch us tomorrow. I have packed us some bread and cheese so we can eat on the road. Are you ready, Tom?

We are, Tom said, looking around at the animals grazing calmly or resting in the grass. He approached his pony and grabbed the reins. The sheep, goats, and cattle rose to their feet, awaiting direction.

Wait, where is the King’s scroll? asked Callus.

Not to worry, said Rizzo, I have packed it safely in my bag.

Do you not think it better that such an important thing would be carried by the one who is actually to speak to the King? asked Callus.

Rizzo glared at Callus. Again, I assure you, I have made this journey before and I have packed it safely. I would not do for you what I did not think was for your benefit, I promise. I could switch it to your pack but it would delay us many minutes. It really is bundled quite well.

It is on your head to protect it, Callus said. We will reorganize the packs at the first convenient time.

Tom, meanwhile, began walking his pony eastward to the gathering darkness, and the herd of livestock followed. The dull metal bells around their necks clanged softly as they walked. 

Tom, won’t we ride our ponies? Callus said, intentional in his effort to avoid Rizzo’s gaze.

There will be harder roads ahead, Tom said, and then I will lean on my pony to carry me. For now, I will help by lightening her load.

Callus mounted his pony and fell in at the rear of the line, with Rizzo riding behind him. They travelled on the small lanes which separated the fields, passing young corn, radish, and tomato plants. They passed houses of farmers coming in from the fields, amber lights glowing through the windows as families prepared their dinners. Others remained outside in the fading light, watching the sunset, playing games with their children, or sloshing a pail of milk as they returned from the shed. The travellers called out to people they knew, telling them where they were going and that they should return in a week or two. The children cheered and chanted, though as the travellers passed the parents silently demurred and shooed their children indoors. All the while their procession curved along the southern shore of the lake to reach the eastern, where the Great River emptied into it.

When they neared the River, they heard its gentle bubbling and hopping as it danced over submerged stones. A few farmers and their families were still sitting on its banks fishing as the first stars began to shine. The river had in the past been used as a quick means of transport for goods and people from the eastern border of the Kingdom, though it was less travelled as of late. A twin ran beside it: a large road almost one-third as wide as the river itself. The length of road nearest to the castle was still well-maintained, but as they reached the outlying fields, they saw the vegetation growing over its edges and up through the gravel, and their ponies stumbled on divots in the growing darkness. They travelled in quiet thought, eating their loaves. Dirt and gravel crunched under many hooves.

This road is changed, said Rizzo, breaking the peace of the night. It is not the same. It seems the King does not maintain it anymore. And though it may be my imagination, there are fewer houses than I remember, and many that remain are not lit inside.

Do not fear change, said Callus. You know that the villages near the castle have grown in recent years. What change you see is testament to the good our King is doing for our Kingdom. You are merely observing progress.

That would be well, said Rizzo, but I see changes over which even the King has no power. I remember listening to the birds with my grandfather as they returned to the trees to roost, and I have not heard them tonight. Nor have I seen any families of deer grazing in the twilight as I had longed to.

You will be lucky, Rizzo, sneered Callus, if I am so merciful as to not report to the King your low opinion of him. There is nothing within the mountain ring which the King cannot control. Clearly, you know nothing of the King’s love and prowess for hunting in these woods. I see his trophy room every year when I go to the castle for the Foreman’s Feast.

From the front of the caravan, Tom heard the two arguing but did not join. He continued walking alongside the nodding head of his pony in the cooling night air.

I thank you for any mercy you show, said Rizzo. Sincerely. But I would lie if I said I was not still uneasy.

As they travelled further along the main road, the trees on either side grew denser and more wild. The branches stretched into a canopy overhead, creating only a dappling of light from the moon and stars to guide their path. They still heard, but could not see, the Great River rolling past them somewhere through the thicket of trees which lined it.

It is too dark to go further tonight, Rizzo said, and here looks like a good place to start tomorrow in the morning light. Tom, I will help you tie a corral for the animals and then we can prepare our own beds for the night. Tom and Rizzo set out in opposite directions, weaving lengths of rope in a large circle among the trees, encircling a grassy area where the animals could comfortably graze and rest. Callus worked on building a small fire outside of this circle for their own camp. Tom and Rizzo each returned with a coil of unused rope. In response to Callus’ questioning glance, Tom turned and motioned to the darkness around them.

I want to keep the animals close, Tom said. If Rizzo is unsure, then I am even more so. They set to work laying their blankets around the fire. What sky could be seen through the branches showed no clouds, and so they decided to sleep directly under the stars. Tired from the long day, they were glad for the beautiful night. The animals were settling down well, their gentle lowings and bleatings punctuating the soft metered rustling as they slowly trod the ground, pulling up mouthfuls of grass. The comfortable agrarian sounds joined the flowing of the river, and it no longer sounded so lonely. With the cheerful crackling and warm glow of their small fire, the three companions were in right good spirits.

Callus rose from his seated position on his blankets. Come, let us do one last thing for the night, he said.

Rizzo, making final adjustments to his pack, cautiously turned around. Tom, already reclining, raised his head. Callus continued, We finished a hard day’s work and have full bellies—though I would have preferred to eat from a plate with a large cup besides. The final thing to ensure a good night of sleep is a bath. We are filthy from the planting, and I do not know when we shall have the chance to bathe again. So the travellers rose from their comfortable positions  and went down to the river to dip in its cool waters.

Cheer up, you wet blankets, Callus called, splashing Rizzo and Tom good naturedly. We are acting on behalf of the King to see the King of Greensward. What is there to be sad for? They chuckled and splashed him back. When they were clean, they followed the light of the fire back to their beds and quickly fell asleep.

RIZZO AWOKE FROM HIS sleep and did not immediately know why. It was still dark and stars shone overhead, although it seemed the moon had set. The fire still smoldered, and Rizzo felt neither overly hot nor cold. Tom and Callus slept. Rizzo then noticed all the animals clustered near to the edge of their camp, the cattle pressed up against the rope in a jostling mass. Sheep and goats were dancing underfoot the unsettled cattle, escaping where they could through the rope-line corral. The dullness of sleep quickly drained from Rizzo. A sheep was shoulder-deep rooting in his pack. He pulled its head out.

Tom, Callus, Rizzo whispered. Something is wrong with the animals. At the edge of hearing, Rizzo attended to a new sound. Above the gently flowing river, above the steady pounding of his own heart in his ears, and above the chaotic trampling of the cattle, he heard the rustling of a creature racing back and forth across the far end of the corral, and the snarling and baying of many others besides.

Tom! Rizzo cried. Wolves!

Tom awoke in motion, grabbing a glowing brand from the edge of the fire as he rose and ran towards the corral. He cleared the rope in an effortless bound. Callus threw the blankets off himself, and Rizzo saw a gleaming metal sword laying amongst the folds. Wolves? asked Callus, rising to his feet.

Yes, in the corral, said Rizzo. Tom already ran in that direction.

Then let us help him! cried Callus, reaching down to grab the sword. They swung wide around the corral to avoid the throng of cattle pressing themselves against tree and rope. They could see Tom, his glowing brand like a shooting star flying across the clearing. A bright white sheep came in and out of view like a ghost as it careened across the field, passing through the reach of the torch’s light. Other figures blacker than the night swirled around the scene, and a cacophony of barks and howls hung heavily in the air.

Callus arrived at the scene brandishing his sword. As he approached Tom, the sword became the twin of the firebrand, the metal reflecting its light.

Stop! Callus bellowed. Stop! Stop! Rizzo, unarmed and feeling quite foolish, remained close to Callus and said nothing. The wolves, seeing the glow of the metal, slowed their movements and faced Callus. The white sheep, forgotten for a moment, fled and was soon lost to sight in darkness. One wolf stepped forward into the light. The other members of the pack, though difficult to count in the shadows, were betrayed by the fire reflecting in their eyes. The travellers were surrounded.

You couldn’t spare a few hungry dogs some food, could you? the closest wolf asked. The other wolves voiced their assent with yips and howls. You have so many animals, and a scant few would help us. The wolf, though tall and fearsome, could not hide the hunger and need on its body. Bones poked out at every angle, and stringy muscle poorly filled its loose skin. Patches of fur were missing along its back. The bodies of Tom, Callus, and Rizzo unwillingly tightened into knots of fear, from their locked and sealed lips to their rigid limbs,  clenching hold of their lives. They pivoted often so as not to turn their backs for too long to any one side of the encircling pack. The wolf began to snarl and, speaking far less graciously than before, said, Give us what is ours, you interlopers, and then get out of our woods! A drone of low growls arose from the surrounding pack.

What do you mean, what is yours? Tom asked, loosening his lips but keeping his burning branch locked at arm’s length. You are wild and we have no dominion over you; likewise, these animals are not and you have no claim to them.

I know what he means, Rizzo said. When I travelled this road with my grandfather, he always told me to mind the wolves, but not to fear them overmuch. In their strength and boldness, they would sometimes poach a farmer’s animal, a far easier prey than wild deer. They would chase them through the open fields and into the woods where they would kill and eat them. In doing so, they were full and fat and apt to leave people alone, though I am sure the farmers did not see it that way. But the King, Our King’s father, that is, put a stop to the poaching. The army assembled to chase the wolves back into the woods and helped the people build fences to protect their flocks. The wolves as a result grew hungrier and leaner. My grandfather began carrying a bow and arrows and never again let me wander far from him alone. The wolves became much more fearsome in those days.

They do not look so fearsome now, Callus said, not taking his eyes from the lead wolf. Look at them, nothing more than a sack of bones and a snarl. I told you: our King is a mighty hunter, and here is more proof. He is starving these wolves to their graves.

The alpha wolf barked in laughter, and the pack joined in a chorus of cackles.

The first of you tells the truth, but the second tells only lies. The wolf’s thin muscles were drawn taut and he did not break his gaze on Callus’ sword. "The king’s father was the great hunter.  He hunted us and our prey, but we cannot fault him. We killed too many of his livestock, and it was not natural for us. He simply chased us into the woods where we should be free to hunt wild game.

The current king does little more than exercise his horses when he hunts, scoffed the wolf. What little he does kill does not affect us. But he is not without fault. In the first years of his reign, we watched as your people living at the wood’s edge moved away. Some moved towards the castle hoping to find the King’s favor. A large number moved into the woods, hiding out of sight and mind of the King. They knew well enough that this king’s favor was not something to desire.

So your hunger is the King’s fault? asked Rizzo.

The King’s father put us back in the woods, the wolf said. "He restored the natural order. But your current King’s poor rule forced your people onto our lands. We can no longer hunt without being harassed and killed by those same