Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
+JMJ+
May Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary grant success to this attempt at pleasing Her and Her children with a story.
Last time: After running away from home and being chased through the woods by a cat, Bill met with a knight named Phillip, who had been separated from his fellow knights to save the kingdom of Corcrist from an evil dragon. On the way, they met a strange hermit named Br. Christopher, who joined them to assist the good people in their spiritual desolation. In an overgrown forest, all three were captured by evil, self-indulgent dryads and locked in a cage where they were harrassed by one of Phillip’s own friends who had joined the dryads. They escaped just to meet a ferocious werewolf which turned out to be another of Phillip’s friends. Finally returning to the road, a group of men in dark, hooded robes stood in their way led by the last of Phillip’s comrades, Ignatius, who had sworn allegiance to the dragon. This villainous traitor made no effort to stall them, trusting his new master’s power to defeat Phillip. Approaching Corcrist, they met the Queen Esther who politely told them to go away just before the dragon appeared, and Phillip four with it. After the dragon flew away, Phillip fell unconscious and was brought into Corcrist to be healed. Having woken up and been accepted as a knight by Queen Esther, a thunderous boom echoes from the gates…
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“Is there anything more that you would like to share with us at this time?”
“Yes. After discussing with Sir Jerome this morning, I think we have a plan.”
Just then, so loud that it could be heard within the great hall, a boom reverberated against the castle gates.
—
After a rushed exit from the royal hall, the entire court arrived on the wall above the town gates together.
“Who is it?” Queen Esther demanded of the guard, who was just pulling his head up.
“A man in a black robe, ma’am.”
“Is there no one with him?”
“No, ma’am. It’s just him. He made his way up the road and just started banging with some big stone he’s carrying.”
“Step aside.”
Esther carefully edged her head over the side of the wall, and nearly everyone else did likewise. There, like a small ink spot, was Ignatius. He waved up at them sardonically, lifted his rock, and began pounding again.
“What do you want?” Esther shouted.
“I request an audience with Queen Esther,” Ignatius replied.
“For what purpose?”
“I have one last offer to give her before the dragon fulfills his final threat.”
“This is Queen Esther. Speak so that you may leave all the sooner.”
“Fine. The dragon says that he’s willing to bargain. If you and all of your people leave, he will settle for only taking Phillip as his sacrifice. The rest of you may depart freely to wherever you may wish.”
The group looked at Phillip, who eyed them all a little carefully. The reaction of his new friends to this information would be critical.
One of the guards had the audacity to mutter, “What are we waiting for? Let’s hand him over and be done with this.”
The queen spun on this poor soul with all the fury of a cornered tiger. Without saying a word, she stared at him until his face turned bright pink, and his eyes didn’t dare to look beyond his toes. Not satisfied, she announced to the rest of the group, “Where are the men that I called the protectors of Corcrist? Have you grown so base that you would betray a man who came to help you? To save your own skins, would you forfeit the dignity that makes having skin worthwhile in the first place? No, we will not take this bargain, and let shame grip any man who even entertained the thought.” She turned toward Ignatius on the ground and shouted, “Take your murderous villainy somewhere else, worm!”
Even from high above, Ignatius’s white teeth could be seen in a smile. He dropped the rock and walked slowly away.
“You highness,” Phillip said, “as I was saying before, I have a plan, but we must act fast. Before that man gets away, we must follow him!”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“My plan is to go on the offensive and attack the dragon in his own lair. Jerome agrees with me, but I have not yet been able to speak with anyone else. For too long, this monster has attacked and ravaged as he pleases. Now, while we have someone who may unwittingly lead us, we must follow him.”
“Fantastic! When do we leave?”
“We, my lady?”
“Of course, we! You, Roderick, Jerome, and I.”
“I… hadn’t thought that you would join us…”
“Not join you? I am the queen! If there will be one final stroke against the dragon, I cannot stand idly by as others accomplish it.”
Roderick anxiously leapt forward. “Your highness,” he interrupted, “You know that to kill the dragon is death. Anyone who manages to wound it mortally will be poisoned with its toxic blood. No one has ever survived slaying a dragon, and there will be little safety for anyone else. I–we cannot let you risk your life like this. You are far too important to m–us. Allow us to accomplish this without fearing for your safety. We would all gladly lose our lives knowing that you are safe and out of danger.”
A pained look came over Esther’s face, and she responded, “Roderick, you are noble and good. But you must let me do this. No matter what… people’s feelings may be, I am the queen. I demand to come along not because I seek danger but because it is my duty to protect these people. For better or worse, this seems to be our final stand, and, as the protector of this realm, I have to be there.”
Roderick looked down, and tears began to stream silently down his face. “As you command, your ladyship, but I fear that only death and pain will come of it.”
Br. Christopher, who had silently watched the proceedings, said, “Fear not, Sir Roderick. No noble sacrifice has ever been left unrewarded, and it is the duty of a ruler to think beyond themselves. Whatever our own feelings, she is right. Even if evil strikes any of us, it will be turned to good beyond what the evil could have ever imagined.”
“Little does this comfort me,” Roderick said. “Though I do not doubt your words, my heart aches at the thought.”
“In time, all mourning passes, but do not lose hope in your own endurance. Knowledge proves stronger than passion if we are faithful to truth and do not give in to despair.”
Silence enveloped the group for a few seconds, and Bill realized that this would be his only chance to speak. “What about me?” he said.
“What about you, lad?” Phillip replied.
“Well, I’m your squire.”
“Yes.”
“I have to come too!”
“Oh no!” Roderick shouted. “It’s spreading.”
“I’m Phillip’s squire! It is my duty and my right to accompany him in battle,” Bill said, surprised at his own courage. After saying it, he almost wished he could take it back.
“He’s right,” Br. Christopher said.
“Anyone would think you were trying to get rid of us, Brother!” Roderick complained. “Are you so bloodthirsty that you would have everyone in the kingdom charge into certain death?”
“Silence, Roderick,” Phillip chided. “Br. Christopher knows what is right. A man may either approve of risk because he is heartless or because he knows that it is just. His words ring true.”
Roderick turned away, but whether it was from anger or to let more tears fall without being seen, no one could tell. When he spun back around, he yelled, “Phillip, you know that our hope is small, and yet you would approve of not only our lives being forfeited but a woman’s and child’s?”
“I’m no child!” Bill shouted.
“Be quiet, Bill,” Br. Christopher said. “Roderick, you are right to worry. Our hope is small, but it is not gone. These two have a right to come. Would you take it from them to spare your feelings?”
Roderick’s face slowly softened, and he answered, “No. I would not, and I would not have someone take that right from me.”
“Good,” Phillip said, “because we need to leave immediately. Ignatius is halfway to the trees of the forest already, and there are some things we will need.”