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RAVEN'S REVENGE (part 1 of 2)

Being the fifth tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he had this to say :

Human or "monster" doesn't really matter. There are good and bad people amongst all of us.

////

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Next==>

Raven’s Revenge

by

Glen Ten-Eyck

cover art by Aranel the Cyborg, now @wind-the-mama-cat​

© 2013 by Glen Ten-Eyck

3822 words

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express written consent of the author or proper copyright holder.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

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It had been a strange day. Friendly seeming villagers had pointed out a spot to camp a few miles up the road. Their town was so small that their inn could not put someone up for the night, they said. In spite of its small size, the village had seemed prosperous enough.

Still, they told him, there was a good camp site only a few miles further. He would know the place by the stream when he came to it. Years ago, it had been a waterfall that tumbled down a bluff. The bluff had fallen and the waterfall had become a rapids with a pool at the base. The fallen stones made a good clearing to camp in.

A young lady with black hair had accosted him just out of sight of the other villagers and warned him, “There is a vampire in the woods that these people sent you to. They mean either for you to slay the creature or her to slay you. If you prevail, they are freed of the monster and if she wins, they loot your body and none can lay the blame for your death on them.” She turned and ran before King Neva could reply.

All the late afternoon, as he rode out of the village, Sir Neva had been followed by a large raven. It flew about in circles and sometimes sailed off on raven business but always, in a few minutes, it came back. Curious birds, ravens. Some could even speak.

The sun set quietly behind the hills and a nearly full moon lit the way. Sir Neva Mar pulled up short, stopping Tschadow, his war horse. A young lady lay unmoving upon the pathway ahead. Moonlight silvered her hair and she looked deathly pale. King Sir Neva Mar, of Pons Culiar, drew up Tschadow’s reins and regarded the girl carefully. Since he had the rumor that a vampire haunted the woods hereabouts, caution was necessary.

Dismounting, Sir Neva examined the girl from a distance first. She had no injury that he could see. Her neck showed no evidence of a bite.

Risking it, Sir Neva leaned close, his big silver covered dagger in one hand, he moved the girl’s black hair to see her neck more clearly. No mark. With her hair displaced, he recognized the young woman from the village who had warned him of the danger ahead.

Tschadow stepped forward and nuzzled the girl’s hair. Sheathing his dagger, Sir Neva Mar picked the girl up and placed her gently across his saddle bow. He rode on to the place that he intended to camp.

The sound of rushing water told Sir Neva Mar that he was near his destination. The girl slung across his saddle began to stir. Following the stream up from the path, he found the promised open place. Others had camped here before. There was a ring of stones filled with the remains of old fires.

Hobbling Tschadow, King Sir Neva Mar made his simple camp. He laid the girl into his own blanket roll and prepared to make a frugal meal of dried meats, berries and nuts. The girl stirred again and sat up. Her eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight.

She saw that Sir Neva had given her his only blankets and looked perplexed. “Who are you, Sir knight?” she asked curiously.

Courteously, Sir Neva replied, “I am King Sir Neva Mar of Pons Culiar. I was scouting this path as a possible route for a road through the Kingdom of Ravenwood. I found you in the path, unconscious, and brought you here.”

She said, “I know that. I was not so unconscious as you think.”

We only have RAVEN'S REVENGE, in two parts left.

What do you want me to to post next?

A. More World of Sea following Kurin?

B. Almost Feudal Japan

C. Something from MLP Fan Fiction?

D. Classical Fantasy?

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THE DRAGON'S PLEA (part 3 of 3)

Being the fourth tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he speculated :

You know, I do believe that a kingdom ruled by a queen with a dragon on the throne by her side would be quite formidable, indeed!

////

Indeed it would be a formidable kingdom but it does raise possible issues of succession. One thing that makes a kingdom stable is a multigeneration continuation of rule.

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Gently, Lamira replied, “I am a ghoul. I am also the monster that was fortunate enough to marry the knight Sir Neva Mar. The people of Pons Culiar put us upon the throne together. I hope that I have a soul, and a chance for heaven, too.

“As for you, young lady,” Lamira said sternly, “you cannot be left alone, because, like the fact or not, you were born a royal princess. Some day you will sit upon a throne. Unless Farway can accept Granmorrigan beside you on that throne, you will have to marry someone, for reasons of State. That is a fact.

“It does not have to be a bad fact. There are many princes in the world and they are mostly far better than Monther. For now, be with Granmorrigan and spend some good times with your dragon. Your friendship with the dragon can be a valuable asset to your kingdom. Be sure to visit your father King Arnot often, both of you.

“You do not know it, it is clear, but your Royal father does love you. Did you know that he was nearly ready to start a war to get you back when he found out how you were abused?”

Down in the great hall, the guests were treated to the strangest sight that any of them had ever seen. The mighty dragon Granmorrigan, on his parole to harm nothing or steal anything, was happily curled in the center of the floor. The Princess Rowan, now dressed in clean clothes of a sensible cut for hunting and stalking game was contentedly curled up with him. The dragon was carefully preening her matted and blood clotted hair with his tongue.

Sitting next to them, Queen Lamira, King Neva Mar and King Arnot were offering Granmorrigan choice bits of roast as often as they could get his attention. King Gran fretted until he could no longer contain himself and then joined the group about the dragon.

“King Arnot, much as I regret my son’s actions, I am still anxious that there should be a treaty between us. I am simply at a loss as to how we should conduct it. It is obvious that our children cannot be put together. How shall we do this?”

Calm, now that he had his princess back, King Arnot replied, “I confess myself at a loss as to how to proceed. Tradition would have our children married to seal the pledges made.”

Queen Lamira seemed surprised at the question. Cocking her head curiously, she asked, “If you had no children, how then could you create a treaty? I am sure that such a way exists. There are not enough royal children in all of the lands to seal the many necessary treaties.”

King Gran wrinkled his royal brow and said, “In such a case, we should have written down all that we thought needful and seal it with our great seals. The problem here is that both of us do have children.”

At that moment, there was a stirring in Granmorrigan’s curled tail. The Princess Rowan had sat up and pulled a large knife. She was facing Prince Monther who was holding out a large piece of roast aurochs to Granmorrigan. The Princess sweetly said, “How kind of you to make a peace offering to my friend. I must insist that YOU eat of it first, though.”

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THE DRAGON'S PLEA (part 2 of 3)

Being the fourth tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he suggested :

Sadly, ti seems King Gran is learning the folly of raising a child int he lap of luxury surrounded by people who are terrified to tell them "no".

////

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She paused to let that sink in before going on, “Now that I do see you for both greedy and rude, we may listen to the Kingdom of Ravenwood. They have petitioned us to make a branch of the road to go to them. It would bring the merchants to the kingdoms of the plains over a week sooner. If we do that, closing the Callo road will cost US naught.”

Turning to her husband with a settled smile, Queen Lamira said, “You were right, My Love. As these folk have no need of us, we have no need of them either. We should take Ravenwood’s coin and build them their road.”

The king and queen were wheeling their horses to leave, King Neva saying loudly, “Having passed the dragon safely once, I doubt not that we can do so again! Come, my lords and ladies!”

A different voice called down from the battlements, “Hold, good King Neva Mar! Forgive my foolish son! I am King Gran. Can I not persuade you to stay and enjoy our hospitality?”

“Certes!” called King Neva. “In the space of five heartbeats, I need only hear Monther take back the words filthy and vile in connection with my Queen!”

Visibly prodded, Prince Monther called down, “I take back filthy and vile. Still, she is a ghoul!”

Lamira answered, “True. I am one. It would be foolish to deny it. If we are welcome, then open your gates to us.”

The large gates of Mongerbasse swung ponderously outward, opening for them. They all rode sedately into the courtyard of the castle. It was large and stout, though the now practiced eyes of Queen Lamira could see many small signs of deterioration due to neglect.

She was about to put up her bow when Prince Monther came into the courtyard and proclaimed loudly, “Look at that bow! It belongs on a catapult! Nobody could draw a horn-bow that heavy!”

Her arrow slammed through the stable door’s stout planks and drove home in a heavy wooden beam inside. King Gran arrived, puffing from trying to keep up with his loudmouthed son, just in time to see the shot. He blanched and grabbed Monther by the shoulder and pulled him close.

Whispering in Monther’s ear, he snarled, “Keep your mouth under control until you are King here! You have near to cost us a third of our revenue already. Can you not use your ears? Have you not heard of the Queen’s Bow from Bruice’s men who escaped from trying to raid the Culiar Road? That is it! Do not offend her again!”

King Neva’s party had in the meantime, alighted from their horses and began directing the unloading of their pack animals. King Neva and Queen Lamira came forth and presented themselves to King Gran.

As if nothing untoward had happened, King Neva introduced, “Your Majesty King Gran, may I present my Queen, the Lady Lamira?”

King Gran managed to smile and say, “It is a pleasure, Queen Lamira. I was in time to see that most notable shot. I see that the rumors of your peerless skill in defending the merchants on your road are not exaggerated. If I may ask, though, why do you not leave that task to your warriors?”

Queen Lamira responded, “Your Majesty, neither my Lord nor I do ask our people to do what we are not willing to do ourselves. Also, as a ghoul, I am somewhat harder to slay than my people are. Thus, I assume the risk of leading them to save them as much as I can.”

King Gran’s eyebrows rose at Queen Lamira’s casual mention of being a ghoul. “You admit freely to being a devourer of the dead?”

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THE DRAGON'S PLEA (part 1 of 3)

Being the fourth tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he snorted :

I do believe the prince's mouth is about to write a very big check in his kingdom's name...

////

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The Dragon’s Plea

by

Glen Ten-Eyck

Cover art by aranelthecyborg

5716 words

©2013 Glen Ten-Eyck

Written 2006

All rights reserved. This document may not be copied or distributed on or to any medium or placed in any mass storage system except by the express written consent of the author.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

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King Nevea Mar, of the tiny kingdom of Pons Culiar, looked at the letter in mild disbelief. There were two reasons for his perplexity. The first and obvious one was that he was not aware that Granmorrigan could write. The other was the content of the letter itself.

It was a bit hard to read because Granmorrigan’s writing was not the neatest. That was understandable, since Granmorrigan was a dragon. The poorly spelled and sloppily written letter contained the most unusual request that any Knight Errant had ever received. King Neva was sure of THAT. It read:

My good knight, Sir Neva Mar:

I do hope that you recall both the Princess Rowan and myself with some kindness. It was your willingness to allow us to stay together, instead of battling us to force Rowan to return to an unhappy life that she did not want, that gives me the courage to ask this favor.

Please help me to save the Princess from a forced marriage. It happened that, while we were out hunting aurochs for our dinner a fortnight past, my friend was kidnapped and taken to a castle too stout for me to risk an attack alone. She is now the prisoner of the greedy Prince Monther, son of King Gran, in the castle of Mongerbasse. It is his plan to inherit the kingdom of Farway from King Arnot by marriage to Princess Rowan. As King Arnot of Farway had already planned for this same union, he will not help us.

This is considered a matter of State, so Princess Rowan’s feelings are counted as nothing. I know that YOU do consider her wishes to be important or you would not have left us in peace and wished us well.

All that I can say is, Rowan is my friend. Please help us if you can.

Granmorrigan

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GHOUL FRIEND (part 2 of 2)

Being the third tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he noticed :

"The Hand that shaped your clay made us as well."

You know, this is a very apt and poignant message for Pride Month as well!

////

This is absolutely correct. I always meant it to be about tolerance. The Pride connection never occurred to me. However it does fit both my intent and Pride perfectly.

Had a bit of a thunderstorm last night. The washout area with waves is about 2 feet deep. The long area beyond is a 1/2 mile long branch to another big channel, worse than this one. Beyond that is a flood plain which is, flooded I mean.

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The villagers were beginning to look at each other with a touch of relief. Lamira, in her chains, spoke earnestly, calling out, “Oh, Sir Neva Mar! Let no harm come to these people! They do this to me of fear and a righteous wrath for they have been greatly wronged!”

One of the villagers pointed dramatically and cried out, “She admits it!”

“Nay!” Sir Neva exclaimed, facing the crowd. “She has not! She did support your claim that you have been wronged! She has also plead for your lives!”

Turning Tschadow in a tight circle and coming to face her closely, Sir Neva demanded of her, “Lady Lamira, how long have you been hereabouts?”

“Good Sir, I have been here since last winter.”

Nodding to himself at her answer, he requested, “What do you know of the wrongs that these people have suffered?”

Lamira began to relax somewhat in her chains and said, “You must know that, being a ghoul, I see in the dark as well as by the light of the sun. In the time that I have been here I have watched as eleven graves were despoiled.”

An angry man, the village smith, to judge from the hammer in his hand, demanded, “If it was not you, then who? Do we have two ghouls?”

Sadly shaking her head, Lamira gave answer, “Nay, Master Smith, there is but me. I am the only ghoul here. The graverobbers came down from yon castle. They were two ill-favored men, dark of hair and beard. They opened the graves with strange shovels …”

Sir Neva held up a hand to interrupt her narrative. Earnestly he addressed the whole village. “Good people, last night, upon the old road I did meet with King Bruice. With him were many others, among them the prince and a man named Corun, who asked the prince to help dig a fire pit. They had shovels just as lady Lamira describes. The pit that they dug in my presence looked as if riven from the ground by the bare hands of a ghoul. Now, do go on, Lady Lamira.”

Her chains jingled as she turned a questioning look upon Sir Neva. She resumed, “They rived the dead of all the rings, jewels, pins, coins necklaces and any other things of value that they had been buried with and dumped the bodies to the wolves in the woods south of here. Their booty was taken up to the castle.”

The mob began to stir in outrage. The headman demanded, “As you knew where they were put, did you then eat of our dead? What of our fathers, mothers, grandparents and children?”

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GHOUL FRIEND

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

Cover art by Aranel the Cyborg, aka, WIND, the Mama Cat

3978 words

© 2013 by Glen Ten-Eyck,

written 2005

All rights reserved.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

///////////////////////

Sir Neva Mar rode carefully through the woods. It was nearly dark and the road was disused and easy to miss in the tangle of overgrowth. The small kingdom of Culiar was somewhere up ahead. Sir Neva Mar consulted his map again, shaking his head at the sense of humor of some cartographers.

A note at the foot of the map explained that the kingdom had originally been known as Pons Culiar after a bridge over the river Culiar. The kingdom being small and the bridge long fallen, it was now abbreviated P. Culiar or simply Culiar. The map-maker had chosen to use P. Culiar.

The place was as remote as you could get. It was half way through the low but rugged Mons Trous mountains. Sir Neva was well into those mountains now and the boundary of Culiar had to be somewhere near.

Voices up ahead brought him to the alert. He loosened his sword in its sheath and checked that his shield was ready. There was no harm in being prepared and much risk in unreadiness. Leaving his horse Tschadow to await his return, Sir Neva spied on ahead up the road on foot and as silently as only a skilled tracker could go.

Around a small copse of young trees growing in the midst of the road, Sir Neva saw an oddly assorted group. Most were richly dressed nobles of one sort or another. Dogs were all about. There was a priest along. They were led by a man with a circlet crown on his head. It looked to be a royal hunt of some sort.

One ill-favored, dark haired young man spoke to the man with the crown, saying in a whiny voice, “Father, Corun wants ME to help dig the fire pit! I’m a prince, not a villein!”

Another, twisted of body and apparently of soul as well, judging from his obsequious manner, louted himself low and replied to the assault, “Good my king Bruice, I but asked his highness if he would assist in making a fire pit to warm your royal self. He digs willingly enough when it’s treasure we seek!”

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RAPUNZEL - ACT II

The second tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he commented :

The thought of an evil Rapunzel braiding hooks into her hair to trap her prey is truly horrific. Sounds like something out of a Clive Barker story!

////

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RAPUNZEL, Act 2

by

De Writer (Glen Ten-Eyck)

Cover art by Aranel the Cyborg : aka Wind, the Mama Cat

2,448 words

© 2013 by Glen Ten-Eyck

written 2003

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express written consent of the author or proper copyright holder.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

///////////////////////

It’s malice you know. What they say about the Witch I mean. Sure, there is a tower out there in the woods. Sure, it’s hard to get to. There’s a beauty in it too. Locked up tight.

Are you prince, perhaps? Just a knight on a Quest? No? Good. Don’t meddle with Rapunzel. That’s the lady in the tower. Trust me on this, you’ll be a happier man if you leave her alone. Only the Witch goes to see her. The Witch looks after her.

Sir Neva Mar had listened to the peasants at the inn with interest. It was obvious that something was up. Sir Neva Mar was a questing knight. He was always looking for the wrong to right or the princess to save.

That last still rankled. He had successfully tracked the dragon and found the princess. Problem was, she not only hadn’t wanted to be saved, she had faced him down with a spear and run him off. It seemed that she had wanted to stay with the dragon. It simply wasn’t right.

Sir Neva Mar was following the faint track carefully. It was hard to see and he was a skilled tracker. Sometimes he had to dismount to be sure of where the track went. His quarry was cunning. The Witch had nearly lost him with that trick back at the stream. Then, there had been the doubling back and at one point she had taken to the trees.

None of her tricks could fool Sir Neva Mar for long. The land was rising now and the forest changing with it from hardwoods to pines. The ground was getting rockier and still the witch led him on.

She showed no sign that she knew the he was following her. It seemed that she used this sort of precaution as a matter of routine. That was how come Sir Neva Mar had not lost her. She had got careless and left little, subtle clues.

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PRINCESS ROWAN, the first tale of Sir Neva Mar

The Adventures of Sir Neva Mar

Of which he chuckled :

I always love seeing the ages-old tale of the knight, the maiden and the dragon get completely turned on its head! XD

////

They are fun to write like that, too!

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PRINCESS ROWAN

by

Glen Ten-Eyck

Cover art by Wind the Mama Cat

1174 words

written 2003 by Glen Ten-Eyck

© 2013

All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form, physical, electronic or digital is prohibited without the express written consent of the author except as permitted by Tumbler.

//////////////

Copyright fair use rules for Tumblr users

Users of Tumblr.com are specifically granted the following rights. They may reblog the story. They may use the characters or original characters in my settings for fan fiction, fan art works, cosplay, or fan musical compositions, provided that such things are done without charge. I will allow those who do commission art works to charge for their images provided that I receive a copy of each image for my archive. I will further allow the use of printed copies for educational use in school classes. No charge of any kind may be made for this use, whether paper, ink, binding, packaging, distribution or any other charge whatsoever.

///////////////////////

Sir Neva Mar rode through a tangle of thick woods. It was hard to keep going in the right direction because of all the tangled and twisted tree trunks and roots in his way. The gloom under the trees made it difficult to see very far either.

Sir Neva was on a quest or he would have just given up. The Princess Rowan had vanished without a trace a fortnight (that’s two weeks) ago. She had been out riding to hunt with some friends and ladies in waiting when she went into these very woods and vanished. Some of her companions claimed to have seen a dragon. Searchers had found nothing.

Sir Neva was famous for his skill at following tracks that others could not even see. King Arnot had promised that if Sir Neva could find her, he could marry the Princess and have the kingdom of Farway when King Arnot should die. Because there was a kingdom to be won and a quest to be done, Sir Neva was now following the tracks that he was following.

He feared that he would not get the kingdom of Farway though. The tracks that he was following were a dragon’s. They had met the tracks of the Princess Rowan’s palfrey (that’s a riding horse) and then the horse had run away wildly and the places it went, no rider could have stayed on. There had been no sign of the Princess. So now Sir Neva followed the dragon further and further into the woods, even across the river of Griff.

Once past the river, he was no longer in the kingdom of Farway. In fact, he was in debatable lands that no kingdom claimed. If dragons denned there, Sir Neva could understand why no kingdom wanted the land.