The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight

by Donald Allen Kirch

  "You are right in your request that I boldly continue," Ka-Ron huffed, doing his best to pay attention. "Today, I have acted the fool. And, I have no logical retreat from what I have done."

  < Did you and the woman couple? >

  Ka-Ron glared at his horse with surprise. Amusement once more returned to his strong face.

  "What do you know of human coupling, Echoheart?"

  The horse shook his head up and down. He was impatient and wanted a nice purple apple.

  < There was a woman at our stables who confessed stories& >

  "In what manner did she speak?"

  < She told of her loves, wanting to be one with&nature. >

  Echoheart's head bowed. His eyes held a great sadness.

  "Oh," Ka-Ron was solemn. "I have heard of such women. They are indeed kind, but they are tragic souls. Worthy of your knowing, dear friend."

  Ka-Ron approached his horse, patting him along the side of his right ear, where he loved to be caressed. There was stiffness in his stance that the knight soon became aware of.

  Echoheart turned his head, and seemed to be studying his master's eyes. The act caught Ka-Ron by surprise.

  "I have dishonored this house, Echoheart." Ka-Ron's voice was almost a whisper. "My need for a woman's counsel has caused me to break her hearts. I did not wish for that to happen."

  < You are a noble Man. I know this, for I have ridden with you in battle. I cannot believe that you could have created the acts of which you speak. Perhaps, there was a misunderstanding of the level of coupling involved? >

  Ka-Ron had to laugh.

  < What humors you so? >

  "That I, Ka-Ron, seek love advice from a horse!"

  The knight turned his eyes back toward Kym's hut, and studied what he saw.

  It was a quiet, simple home built of gopher wood and containing two levels. Shutters were made from pine tin and decorated with seven windows of various sizes. It was said that Kym's mother requested that none of the windows be the same size. A porch made the front of the home an inviting place in which to relax from the harshness of the home as a whole. Many nights, as a boy, Ka-Ron had played on that porch, with Kym. "Bugs," an Idoshian version of combat in game form, had been their favorite pastime. Everything about this house was why he had become a knight. Since he did not have a family, this had been his home.

  < Again, I say, we are running late. >

  "We are leaving, my friend."

  Echoheart remained remarkably quiet during the ride through the dark woods as they proceeded towards the center of town. Ka-Ron used to joke with his field officers - his horse was the most talkative one on the planet. The only time his mouth stayed quiet was when his rider was atop him in battle. Ka-Ron found himself, sometimes, in direct competition with his horse's battle cries, as he himself shouted curses to the fallen.

  "Echoheart, I must ask you&"

  Before Ka-Ron could finish his thought, a couple of bandits attacked his mount, knocking the knight to the ground. His horse, knowing what was soon to come, left the battlefield.

  This was not turning out to be a good morning.

  CHAPTER TWO

  < Xows! >

  Ka-Ron fought back the pain that was gathering inside his ribs. Blinking his eyes, trying to see past the mist of surprise, he noticed a tree branch rocking in the wind above him, about seven sticks in height. His having been knocked out of his saddle by a simple highwayman's gadget was an ungodly thought. The humility of the whole affair was enough to enrage any warrior.

  The Xows were not a handsome people. Those who usually require the labor of others never are. From what Ka-Ron could surmise, there were two. Both were male, and reeked of never taking the time to bathe.

  "We caught us a juicy one, Tak!" one of the Xows said, fighting back a sickly cough. Spitting out vile phlegm, he watched the sticky blue substance splash to the ground, smoking. To the gods! It stank of death.

  "Shut up and get his horse."

  Ka-Ron thought it militarily sound to play dead.

  "He looks unwell."

  "Bak, go get the horse," The one named Tak ordered. He seemed to be the leader.

  Ka-Ron immediately started taking in the ground around him. He was on the incline. This meant that he held the high ground, which was about the only thing going his way today. The two Xows appeared to be unhealthy and underweight, which meant that Ka-Ron had the attack advantage, as well.

  "It is a lovely horse, Tak. Should be several good cooks and stews from this one, I wager."

  < Ka-Ron? >

  The knight had to hide his face, or the Xows would have caught him laughing. The level of disgust in Echoheart's voice was hysterical.

  "He is a fat one!" Tak responded.

  The Xow Leader turned his back towards Ka-Ron.

  That was his last mistake.

  Ka-Ron's face turned serious - all humor was gone.

  To the gods! This is just too easy.

  Ka-Ron placed one hand on his sword, and the other he directed towards Echoheart. He motioned towards the horse, using a hand language he had once learned years ago, while in battle. The knight was instructing Echoheart to trample the Xowapproaching him.

  Echoheart shook his head up and down, digging his right front foot into the mud below. This was the horse's signal that he understood what Ka-Ron had wanted from him.

  Quite stealthily, Ka-Ron rose to his feet.

  "Once we are done with the horse, I want carnal pleasure from the man," Bak said, coughing up another morsel of phlegm.

  "Impossible," Ka-Ron barked. "I play hard to get."

  "Not with me!" Tak yelled in defiance.

  The Xow Leader turned to face Ka-Ron, and unsheathed his sword. Reaching into his muddied vest, Tak pulled out something the knight was surprised to see - a Ronin battle-ax!

  "Oh! You brought some toys," Ka-Ron chuckled. "Tell me, where did you Xows ever come across a Ronin Warrior?"

  "He was my pup for three summers," Tak bragged. The Xow started waving the ax through the air, and he did it with great skill and accomplishment. "You have already been claimed by Bak, or I would focus my pleasure on you. You would be good for at least five summers before you would be meat for the eating."

  Ka-Ron swallowed hard, studying his target. Ronin Warriors were a hard-disciplined lot who made Idoshians seem decadent by comparison. In battle, Ka-Ron had known the Ronin. They were not ones to be taken prisoner lightly.

  < I'm going to pound this asshole's brains into pudding! >

  Again, Echoheart's comments made Ka-Ron smile.

  The Xow Leader took the innocent expression as a personal insult.

  "Damn Idoshian scum!"

  Bak, having heard his leader cry out in rage, turned his back toward Echoheart, focusing all his attention on Tak. By Xow standards, these two seemed quite attached and loyal to the other - if ever a Xow could be loyal, that is.

  "I'm going to cut off your head and use it as a chamber pot!" Tak cursed.

  "Honey, hush." Ka-Ron whispered, winking at the Xow.

  Ka-Ron momentarily looked toward Echoheart. The horse was ready, paying close attention to his master. The knight shook his head in confirmation, ordering the horse to attack.

  Bak never saw it coming.

  Echoheart rose to his hind legs, yelling as loud and high as his voice would allow. This last caused Bak to turn and face him, bewildered. In Xow colonies, horses were as cattle were in civilized nations - food, nothing more. To have a horse as a companion or transportation were alien thoughts to a Xow.

  This last helped Ka-Ron.

  "Now, Echoheart!"

  The horse pushed forward, allowing his front legs to land squarely onto Bak's ribs.

  Bak fell backward, grabbing his chest. Ka-Ron could see that his horse had made its mark - two deep holes were visible, bleeding dark blood through Bak's cloak and vest.

  Ka-Ron pulled his sword from its sheath.

  The sword Ka-Ron carried was like no other. Thicker than mos
t swords, his was destined never to break or chip. Made from an alloy which had fallen from the heavens, Ka-Ron's sword was forged by a master craftsman from the Borean Heights. The Boreans believed that in order to carry a sword, the man must accept that it must posses a part of his soul. So, Ka-Ron's sword was thicker than most, because it contained a hollow inner chamber, containing, per Borean legends, part of him. The outside of the blade was just as impressive.

  Boreans also believed that to be killed by their swords was also an honor. Per the legends of the land, as a warrior died, what he saw would shape his afterlife. So it was the sacred duty of each and every Borean blade craftsman to make damn sure that as a victim died, he was heartily entertained.

  The carving on the blade Ka-Ron held told the story of Ra-Tallah, a tradesman from the gold coast of Zabre. As one read the carvings from hilt to tip, Ra-Tallah was a rich nobleman who held the wealth and crowns of many lands. Still, in his wealth, he was alone. So, he called upon the compassion of his gods to help him find a mate. The figures all showed this in six pictographs - and that was just the right side.

  On the left - Zabre was angered that such a nobleman as Ra-Tallah would turn his back on his people and lands. While on his journey, all of Ra-Tallah's possessions were taken and given to his rivals. His land was thrown into chaos. Ra-Tallah went through pains, ambush, and humiliations looking for his mate. He failed. Upon returning home, he discovered that those he had trusted had ruined him. Put in a community prison and left there to die, Ra-Tallah pleaded with his gods to end his life. He placed his head into his hands, crying. Deep in self-pity, he felt a soft hand came from nowhere, offering love where there had only been pain. Ra-Tallah found his true love. He lived the rest of his days a peasant, forever in view of his former castle. But he was a happy man.

  Eight pictographs were on the sword's left, but in none of the story was the wife of Ra-Tallah mentioned by name, nor was she ever given a picture, other than her careworn hands placed gently upon Ra-Tallah's face. This last was left to the imagination of the sword's victim. For them to decide what manner of heaven to both take and name.

  Ka-Ron loved his sword, and he was certain that it also loved him.

  The Xow Leader attacked Ka-Ron with lightening speed. The knight was quite impressed with him, so, in honor of his skill and promise, he did not kill him right away.

  Echoheart rested. His victim was of no danger.

  Swords clashed, and Ka-Ron did his best to make sure that he was in command of the battle. His back was screaming in pain - quite possibly an aftereffect of his fall from his horse. Pushing the Xow Leader away from him, Ka-Ron hit the man with the handle of his weapon. This last caused the Xow's face to explode in a stream of blood, splashing into his eyes, blinding him momentarily.

  Here was the knight's chance!

  By pure instinct, Ka-Ron took his sword, positioning it the way his old masters had taught him, and started to spin his body counter-clockwise, like a madman seeking sanity.

  The Xow cried out in terror, dropping both his sword and battle-ax.

  < To the Gods! >

  Echoheart tapped his forefoot in satisfaction.

  The Xow Leader's head pivoted from its home, leaving the unfortunate man's body and thumping to the ground. It rolled several feet away, only being stopped by a stump of a rain tree, cut down seasons ago. Several insects were already starting to stake a claim on the head's bounty.

  Ka-Ron's body shook with pain. He was again victorious.

  < We still have business over here, Ka-Ron! >

  The knight fought the pain growing in his back, and pulled himself up on his feet, with the help of his sword.

  Ka-Ron had forgot, momentarily, about the other Xow.

  Bak, the Xow who had wanted to roast Echoheart, held onto his wounded chest cavity, coughing up blood and phlegm. It was obvious to Ka-Ron that the man would not live unless he made it back to a Xow encampment.

  "Mercy," Bak pleaded. Snot was dripping from the Xow's nose. Tasting the salty flavor of his own juices, the Xow's tongue started to lick away at the treat. The mere sight of this made Ka-Ron's stomach turn. "Mercy for me, brave knight."

  "Why should I even consider it?" Ka-Ron's temper abated as he brought the tip of his sword to rest upon the surviving Xow's pulsing neck.

  "Because!" the Xow pleaded.

  To the Gods! Ka-Ron wished to kill this man. Who was he to think the world owed him a living? Who were the Xows to think that hard working, hard sacrificing, and hard hurt beings, doing nothing more than trying to earn their keep, owed anything to him? With one thrust of his sword, the knight could take this life. He would gain so much pleasure in the sound of a gurgling death and the spray of Xow blood upon his face. But, he could not abandon his oath: Never attack those who have surrendered unto you.

  "Xow, if you have gods, pray to them this night."

  The knight pulled his sword away from Bak's neck. The Xow started to laugh a surprised, arrogant laugh.

  "I was put off by your attack."

  "My hearts ache for you!"

  "I demand a meal in compensation for the one you have taken from me this day, by not allowing me to kill your horse."

  < To hell with this one! >

  Ka-Ron held up a controlling hand. Echoheart calmed himself. The knight sheathed his sword.

  "Go and inform your people of the deeds performed here this day." Ka-Ron instructed. "Tell them of your defeat."

  "And who shall I say inconvenienced me?"

  "Ka-Ron of Teal, Errant-Knight to the Kingdom of Idoshia."

  The Xow jumped to his feet. How he was still able to live, the knight could not even begin to understand. However, it had been Ka-Ron's unfortunate experience to learn that social parasites always seemed to survive where nobility and honest endeavor seemed to fail. It was not magic, but, unfortunately, it was the way of the world.

  "Ka-Ron," Bak repeated the name in astonishment.

  "Be gone!" Ka-Ron barked.

  Like a scared child threatened by a legendary bogey, Bak cried in terror as he thumped his way through the thick forest trunks. The trees themselves seemed to separate in contempt, giving the Xow a means and path to head home. A breeze seemed to follow the Xow, taking the reek of his presence with him as it passed.

  < That was fun. >

  "We are late, my friend." Ka-Ron approached his horse, rising again back into his saddle. "The King will not understand."

  Both horse and knight again headed toward the direction of the town.

  Ka-Ron&?

  There was a cold wind, which seemed to come from out of nowhere and everywhere. It blew with a fierce aim. It had within its makeup the power of revenge. A revenge that the knight recognized but could not understand. It was a thought of hate. It was an act of forlorn agony.

  It scared the hell out of him.

  "Kym?" the knight said to himself, hearing the voice.

  Ka-Ron turned Echoheart back in the direction from which he had come, back toward Kym's hut. Deep inside him, he had the urge to head back home. He had the desire to see Kym once more. There was a sense of danger - of desperate urgency.

  "No," Ka-Ron shook his head, trying to disbelieve what his instincts told him were true. "This is all just in your mind, sir. Celebration is what you need. Distance and time will heal the woman's wounds."

  With that, Ka-Ron and Echoheart went about their way.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Kym closed her eyes, fighting back the tears of agony. The bitter taste of the Nuvonean Hemlock was almost too much to take. To the Gods! Her throat felt as if it were on fire. The room started to spin. Quite suddenly, she discovered that her equilibrium was off, and she could no longer stand.

  Ka-Ron&? She passionately prayed.

  If her calculations were correct, it would not be long before her lovely man came into the room and saved her from her sacred act of sacrifice. A sacrifice she would be willing to make again and again, in order to win the love of her brave and noble
knight.

  "Ka-Ron, I need you," she whispered. Her voice was barely audible.

  Waves of pain attacked at her chest. Breathing became almost impossible. Darkness prevailed.

  Ka-Ron never came.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Kai was as beautiful as she was powerful. Her charms were those given to a goddess, and just as dangerous. Scattered throughout her past were men who forgot that she was a Wicca Master. Broken hearts and damaged feelings were the legacy of her long years, for a witch could never fall in love - that would be her undoing. This did not mean that she did not enjoy the company of men. Men had their purpose. They served a vital function in the circle of life.

  She rubbed the dust from her eyes, glad to be once more in Idoshia. Over the distant horizon, she could just make out the humble skyline of Teal, her home village. Home. The word had almost become alien to her.

  There were problems in the Ronin Nation that required her attentions. The king wanted to attack Hispania, while Idoshia, her strongest ally was involved once again with the Xows. Although Kai held no interest in politics, for it was the inertia of fools, this could not be allowed - Hispania was a stabilizing influence in the region. And, it was the only nation, which contained the powerful element known as lamirite. This substance held within its mysteries the power to clean water so it would become drinkable.

  The negotiations were hard, and took several months, but things finally went her way. Kai was able to bring peace, fragile as it always was, back to the region. She was also pleasantly surprised to discover that Idoshia was also, once more at peace.

  There was an element, moving with the wind that concerned the Wicca Master. It seemed to change, growing darker, as she approached the city. Even her horse, Raven, could feel it. Raven, trained by her master, was an accomplished psychic in her own right.