Hopeful Knight: Walpole's Tale
-by Walpole

Prologue
Where to begin? Well, the druids around Sanctuary are always so persistent about asking about my past at every possible turn. Do they not realize? Not everyone has a sunshine, sugarcoated past? But they are only curious. Perhaps some of us are better off with our past behind us. Then again, I have always had a soft spot for the druids, so I agreed to tell my tale. Honestly I have no heart to tell my tale out loud; that is why I have chosen to write down my story for all to read. So everything began when I was about fourteen, on that fateful day.

Part I: How it all began
The windy mountain path was peacefully quiet. The warm summer sunlight seeped through the branches above. A small, wooden cart rattled its way down the sloping path. Three figures sat in the cart, enjoying the summer sun. One, a middle-aged man, in his forties and with hazel brown eyes, guided the reins of the single horse pulling the cart. The man's son, and a girl, his son's friend, lay sprawled between the stacks of supplies and food. Walpole Kaiton's messy brown hair matched his hazel eyes. His face was made up of delicate features and a pale complextion. Other boys from the village teased him about it calling him names like Angle-face. Walpole might not look the part, but he had been taught extensively in the art of sword fighting since the age of eight by his father. Bullies and teasers have long since learned to keep their distance.

The young girl, Kari Silvermen, was also dressed like any typical mountain child. But she seemed to wear it with more dignity than any of the other girls. On top of her light brown hair was a simple hair clip adorned with a white flower. She was full of an air of innocence yet her emerald green eyes gave off the depth and maturity of an adult. Right now those eyes were twinkling with delight as she listened to Walpole quarreling with his father,

"But father, prices are rising with the war efforts, you cannot expect prices to be the same as when you were young!"
"I am telling you! It is a rip-off! The merchants over the mountain always say they have the cheapest prices. If only we went a little further! Kari decided to interrupt,"
"Well, Mr. Kaiton, I agree with Walpole on this one, we cannot escape the war inflation by just going further from the front."
"Kids these days! Ganging up on an old man! Although Robert Kaiton was in his forties he had the body of an early thirty year old."
"Hehehe..Hahahaha!!" All three travelers laughed merrily, knowing their friendly bickering was just a reason to talk. Robert stopped his chuckling abruptly, while pulling on the reins causing the horse to whine. Walpole and Kari looked over the hill in the direction of their village. Thick smoke emerged from the area, causing the sky to turn a bluish gray-black.
"No, no, so soon! Too soon.." muttered Robert as he sent the horse into a full gallop.

Walpole and Kari were at loss for words, for each knew what lie ahead, yet they were silently hoping it would not be true. It was confirmed last week by refugees passing through the village that the war was drawing close. But the refugees said the dark armies were months away! How could they travel that quickly? Walpole's train of thought went blank as the horse conquered the last hill; the fields leading up to his were either burnt black or were still smoldering. A cloud of darkness seemed to have descended upon the small mountain village. The horse slowed down of his own accord, sensing the hostile environment. The worst thing was not the silence or the darkness; it was the smell of death and decay. Walpole fought hard to keep his stomach down, his head was swimming due to the over-powering stench. He looked across at Kari, judging that her head was leaning outside the cart, Walpole concluded she lost the battle to hold down her lunch. Walpole leaned over to help Kari off the cart, supporting her as she descended.

"Walpole, go check if there are any survivors and help Kari find her mother. I am going to head home to gather some supplies. We must get out of here as soon as possible."
Walpole gave a silent nod and ushered Kari in the direction of her house. Robert bolted across the charred fields, ignoring to mangled bodies of his neighbors. -Why have they come so soon? You fool Robert! You should have been more cautious, trusting the words of a few refugees.- Robert continued to blame himself has he approached the remains of his house.

The front door no longer existed, hacked to bits of wood. The furniture was tossed about carelessly, but Robert seemed to not take notice of the mess and destruction. He headed straight for the fireplace where a picture of his dead wife hung. He gave it a quick glance and silent thanks that she was not alive to see this, and proceeded to feeling the wall with his hands.
-Ah! I knew my memory did not fail me. I built this house myself fifteen year ago.- Robert found one brick that had not been layered to the others. After a little jiggling and a bit of prying with his sword, he managed to remove the brick from the wall. He reached inwards to find a long object covered in a cloth. Discarding the cloth, Robert revealed a magnificent sword. The sword glimmers a light blue hue in the sun. Robert unsheathed it, revealing the words May this sword protect all who wield itcarved on the blade. He quickly sheathed the sword, tucking it in his belt next to the one he wore. After grabbing a few supplies he ran out of his house, never looking back again.

Walpole and Kari made it to Kar's house.
I will look on the second floor while you look down here, alright Kari? Kari began her frantic search through the house. Walpole headed upstairs, only to find anything of value looted. Old pictures of Kari's family including her already dead father broken on the floor. Nothing was salvageable. Suddenly, Walpole heard Kari cry out. Rushing back down the stairs he found her sobbing in the backyard of her house.
"Kari," Walpole whispered, as he approached her.
"Look, Walpole. Kari held out a small golden pendant. Walpole recognized it from somewhere."
"It was my mother's," Kari stated. "That's great Kari! Maybe she is somewhere nearby!" exclaimed Walpole, full of new hope and energy. Kari remained motionless.
"No, Walpole, you do not understand. My mother never ever takes off this pendant. Never. It was a gift from my father." Kari's voice croaked as she started sobbing once more. Ms. Silvermen gone? No, Walpole thought. -She was like a second mother to me- as tears streamed down his face. He felt like his heart had been torn out and driven into the dirt as he watched Kari, collapsed on the ground clutching her mother's pendant. All he had to offer Kari was a shoulder as she wept.

-Foot steps!-

"Kari! shh!" Walpole whispered into her ear. Kari sensed the urgency in Walpole's voice, falling silent almost immediately. Both children listened closely. One minute, two minutes passed. Walpole's hand slid over the training sword he always kept with him.
"Walpole? Kari? Is that you?" Walpole and Kari breathed out a breath that they did not even know they were holding.
"Father, you scared us. We thought you were a solider from the dark army."
"And I you, son. Where is Kari's mother? Upstairs?" Robert was no fool, going through the village; he did not see a single living object. Yet, he had hope. It was Kari who responded,
"No, nothing but this," as she held out her mother's pendant. "Well, there is hope Kari, always have hope. For the time being we must get out of here. I am almost certain that it was not the entire dark army that murdered our village. I have heard their armies are massive and our village was miniscule. This was the work of their scouts; their main body might be a few weeks behind or even just a few days behind! We cannot take any chances, we will move to the wooded areas in the mountains for now. It is so thickly wooded there nobody will be able to find us."

Walpole nodded dumbly while Kari got up to follow. Their grief and sorrow had to be set aside for their survival was more important. The trio remained silent as they set about their task, gathering a few more supplies from Kari's house. As soon as the necessary supplies were packed up, they moved out of the village. The last rays of the sun were leaving as our group headed for the woody mountains. Darkness was descending upon the village as Walpole looked back. As Walpole walked along he thought to himself, A grief-filled Walpole looked back at the village he once called home.
I will avenge you. Where there is life, there is hope. With that he turned around, and followed his father and Kari up the mountain.


Part II: Trainning on the run

[Kari's POV]

The woods around the mountain village were no strangers to the trio. Most of the houses of the village were built from great trees that were covered the higher elevations. Also, as children Walpole and Kari played often in these woods, they treated the place as an extended backyard. The trio set up camp in the mountains, in small clearings. They moved their camps every 3 days for fear of being caught. If one spent too long in one area their tracks would be harder to cover and as a general rule staying too long in one place is never a good thing when to avoid imprisonment, or worse.

It has been almost two weeks since the three survivors fled their village. These days were not passed with idle hands nor constant running. Robert made a sharp point on the first days of their flight, Walpole was to increase his training and Kari was to begin hers. He reasoned that two children should be better prepared to protect themselves if anything were to happen. Kari could not agree more. She looked towards Robert and saw a capable, strong, and trustworthy man. A glance at Walpole and she was that her childhood friend�s face shrouded in darkness yet, most likely from blaming himself, she knew him well. Yet while he trained with his father his face mustered a superb amount of concentration and�what is the word for it�calmness?

�Stop day dreaming Kari, you�re next!� Kari�s head snapped to attention. Walople was breathing hard, his sword in hand.
-Right�- she thought to herself �Last night�-

~Flashback~

I was sitting by the low fire last night with Wally, Walpole that is. I�ve had that nickname from him since I could remember. He doesn�t seem to mind it, he�s kind like that. Well�we were talking about the stars, again.

�So Kari, tell me again what you think they are.� I looked up towards the dark night. The sky was filled with twinkling diamonds, so beautiful.
�I hope you�re not going to make fun of me again Wally! You�re the person that spent so much time out at night star gazing that you got a cold, and may I add that it was multiple times!!� I can�t believe I can joke around with him even under these circumstances. Wally and his father are really all I have left. I suddenly remember Wally�s question and I look above myself.
�Dreams. That�s what each of those starts above are, everybody�s dreams.�
�Kari.� I look to Wally, but he�s still staring upwards with his arms folded behind his head.
�Kari, do you see my dreams up there?� I look harder at Wally, not even the darkness could hid his face. What is he talking about? He has such sad eyes right now.

-rustle rustle-

Wally was up on his feet in an instant. We both held our breath. There seemed to only be one figure coming closer. A human...a tall one. The figure entered the light of our small fire.

�Gave me a fright there father.�
�Heh, it�s good to see you�re on your feet.� Pewf, it�s just Mr. Kaiton. My heartbeat began to back down.
�Oi, come closer to the first you two, I have something I show you.� Wally and I complied. Roberts face was serious and�it also seemed to be a bit�darker?

�Walpole, I have a gift for you.� Gift? But his birthday isn�t until another 3 months. I looked towards Wally for a sign. His face also showed my confusion. We both watched as Robert drew a long stick-like object that was wrapped in a cloth from his sword side. He unwrapped it carefully as if the item underneath deserved great respect. Bit by bit we both saw it, a sword! I know as much about swords as a rock, but even I could tell this was no ordinary sword. Robert held the sword to Wally.

�Walpole, I want you to use this sword from now on, here take a look at it.� Walpole took the sword with a strong grip; it seemed he also sensed something special about the sword. He unsheathed it. I got a little closer to take a better look myself. The words May this sword protect all who wield it were engraved on the blade. Wow, what a piece of work.

�Now put it away son, I�ll take the first watch you�ll need your rest for tomorrow training.� Wally�s father was right. We both obeyed without a word, dropping off into dreamless sleep.

~end flashback~

�Ready Kari? It�s your turn!�

Kari snapped back to reality. There�s something special about that sword, but why wouldn�t Mr. Kaiton tell us about it. Kari absently mindedly grabbed her own sword. A Wazuki, given to her by Mr. Kaiton on the first morning of their mountain forest life. He explained to her that the sword is light in nature and a bit shorter than a traditional sword. He explained to her that the sword is light in nature and a bit shorter than a traditional sword. It was designed as an assassin�s sword, but Kari didn�t like that term, �light-weight arm tool� was much more fitting. At first Mr. Kaiton had her do various sword exercises, concentrating on her aim, precision, speed and strength. Kari found that her agility was her true strength for she was almost as fast a Wally and Mr. Kaiton promised that with time she�ll exceed him in time. Who would have thought that I would surpass Wally, the boy who�s been training since the age of seven?

�Kari! Stop day dreaming already! Are you ready or not?� hurried Mr. Kaiton.
�Coming, coming,� Kari steeped into the �field� that Mr. Kaiton and Wally were using for their sparring.

�Today will be the first time you will be sparring Kari. I want you to remember all the techniques I taught in the past days. Remember the nine vital points and aim for those, I need to you come at me as if you were to kill me.� And with that Mr. Kaiton lifted his own sword.

Kari was no longer the small mountain girl that depended on her childhood friend to protect her every steep of the way. She realized that she had to be strong for her own sake, on the day her mother was taken away from her. Kari lifted her Wazuki from its sheath.

I�m ready.

I charged, aiming for his left shoulder.

�No, no more aggressive! As if you were to kill me!� chided Mr. Kaiton as he easily parried the attack. I�m not done yet! Kari quickly doubled back as her sword was paired, she switch had positions and came again this time toward his left thigh.

~Clang~

�You�ll need to do better than that Kari! Faster!�

Ah!! Blocked again! Kari moved back three paces only to charge again, her sword appeared to aim for Mr. Kaiton head but her true target was his torso. Another flick of her blade, yes, I�m going to get him this time!

Mr. Kaiton did series of sword movement too fast for Kari�s eyes and in less than two seconds her Wazuki was rung from her grasp and it landed over 10 feet away.

�Stop, stop, stop!! Miss Kari!� Mr. Kaiton was helping Kari off the ground. How did I end up on the ground? The entire spar last maybe thirty seconds. She dusted herself.

�Now Miss Kari, where on heavens did you learn those tactics?� Surprise and amusement filled his voice. Kari looked at her feet, like a small child.

�Well, you see Mr. Kaiton, I was always so impressed with how much Wally learned from you. So one day I asked him to teach me a few techniques...� Kari trailed off. Uh oh, I hope Mr. Kaiton isn�t cross with me.

�Hahaha! And this entire time I wondered how on earth you picked up on everything so quickly!! Hahaha� Kari stared in amazement. He�s not mad!

�Well, lets get some lunch,� declared Wally�s father.

Walpole got up towards their supplies to prepare lunch, but not without giving Kari a gentle smile. Kari had no choice but to smile back before she hurried to recover her wazuki and to enjoy lunch with her new family.


Part III: The Chase

[Walpole�s POV]

My father was busying himself with unloading supplies from their sacks. A pot of the stew, some hard bread, mushrooms we picked from yesterday, and a bit of salted meat. I was working on the fire. We moved camp sites every few days as that was the safest way to stay from the dark hoards, but no matter where they moved it seemed as though they followed. At least they haven�t gotten close. Better I go get some more firewood, we won�t have enough for the night.

As I walked into the denser woods Kari joined my father in preparing our lunch. Carefully I did my best to find dry wood, for it makes the least amount of smoke. Too bad it also burns faster. I walk further out to look for more wood.

Before I knew it, an arrow flew and I had a new shoulder ornament.

~back at the campsite~

Robert was just adding water to the pot when he noticed Kari waver. Quickly forgetting his task he ran over to Kari.

�What�s wrong?� Her face was pale.

�It�s Wally, he�s hurt. In that direction.� Kari gestures to the woods to the east. Robert only comprehended half of what she said.

�What do you mean in the direction?� Her color was rapidly coming back. �I don�t know, I just felt it coming from there.� Before the two could speak or worry any further, out came Walpole form the east, a broken arrow in his shoulder.

�Father! Kari! Make hast, they�ve found us!!� Roberts eyes widened. The next moment the three pack everything, dumping the evidence in the bushes of anyone being here. Kari stomped and kicked dirt over their campfire. Walpole loaded some of the supplies on his back along with his father. Walpole talked as they fled.

�I didn�t see them or sense them. They were completely invisible until one of them attacked with an arrow. Four of them. After their attacks started, taking them down was no problem. But afterwards I took a closer look at them, they�re form the dark hoards for they had a silver tornado insignia on their armor.� I then became silent. I protected my life at the cost of four bad men, but men nonetheless. I�ve been tainted now, I wonder if the stars will still shine brightly tonight? Sometimes, the strangest thing run through your head in life or death situations.

Robert was busy leading the trio in a safe direction. He thought to himself, �How could they find us? Invisible? I trained my son so he could sense anything that was alive in a good range, how? They were over 30 miles away yesterday night! I saw their torches myself from the hill. It can�t be, but of course it is. They sent scouts ahead of the main body with specific orders to not be detected. The main body isn�t far behind, they have horses while we don�t. Robert is this comes to be the death of you, you deserve it.� Meanwhile, Kari could only follow Mr. Kaiton with great speed. Walpole noticed that the woods were getting a bit less dense. Soon they seemed to be steeping on a small area where it seemed that someone took often, a very small trail. In the clearing up ahead was a small hut, door closed a devoid of life.

Hoof noises!

�Come children, with haste.� Robert led them past the hut further west, not bothering to stop. Walpole saw what lay ahead, a small cliff. Not one that led to one�s doom but low enough that with some climbing, it could be possible. The noises were getting closer. Kari was the first to notice, a horse with a cart was tied to a tree near the cliff. Must belongs to the hut owner, and at the moment, father grabbed my arm while also telling Kari to get the horse cart ready.

�Walpole,� he almost hissed, �listen closely and listen well.� He had my full attention right there, I�ve never seen my father this tense. �Go west, no matter what. There lies a kingdom by the name of Tanelorn.� My father speak with no hesitation, as if his had had this build up in him. �My true name is Robert Hensing, Kaiton was your mother�s maiden name. I�m no simple mountain farmer for I served in the lands of Tanelorn as a nobleman and a guardian. I only left when I met your mother and we decided that the mountains far way is where we wanted to spend our lives.� What? Tanelorn? Father? I was speechless. �We cannot let the dark hoards reach Tanelorn unnoticed, their �invisibility� as you described is new and very dangerous. I�m sorry son, I should have told you earlier. I meant to, all of those times we trained together, those lessons I gave you in history, politics, government, it was all so it would be easier to tell you. Forgive me.� My head was spinning, this is too much!

�Father, I�� Too late. The horses appeared with men dressed in dark armors, all gleaming with a silver tornado insignia. One man, his rank denoted from the extra orange plume of feather that decorated his helmet un-mounted his horse. Appearing next to him was another man with the same scout attire that attack me.

�Sir, he�s the one I was talking about. The man with interesting sword skills. He was the on teaching the boy and girl.� My heavens�they were watching us from the beginning.

�Good. I am interested.� None of the features of the soldiers could be seen, full body armor, and helmets covered all faces with the exception of eye slits. But you didn�t need to see the commander�s face to know he was smirking.

�So� a remote mountain village which resides a man with interesting sword skills. Now, what would a mountain farmer do with such skills? Cut hay? Chop wood? Or maybe so he can to protect his home?� The three glared back.
�Nevertheless, anyone that not for our kingdom needs to be eliminated. I�m in a good mood today, the woman back at the hut was very obedient after I killed her husband.� A few low chuckles were heard from the lower ranks. �I�ll give you a choice, join us and use your skills for a worthy cause! It is to your best interest. Refuse and die.�

Silence from the trio. Kari was nearest to the cart when Robert suddenly with a summoned force lifted his son and threw him onto the cart.

�Kari get the cart going!� Kari was quick to move. Robert stood between the cart and the army.
�Stop them!!� bellowed the commander. Robert was already attacking, his sword flying in all directions. One after another, the men form the dark hoard fell. �What are you all doing?!? It�s only one man!�
�Arrghhhh!! Charge!!! Roarr!!� They all came at once. I look from my vantage point in the cart, my father was a whirl of nonstop attacks. He began to back towards us, trying to break free of them. I felt a jerk, apparently the horse sensed the fighting. My father finally got a break to run straight towards us. The horse had a mind of its own, racing towards the cliff. I stretched out my hand.

�Father!!!� He�s so close, he reaches out and I feel myself fall. My eyes widen, No. No. My father, he give a pained smile and turns.

�BANOORRR!!� Robert thinks to himself, �Farwell my son, Kari. The blood running through my veins right now it�s, � ~clang~ ~parry~ �it�s almost reliving, everything is so clear,� a sword hits it�s mark on his arm. Robert Hensing, no, Robert Kaiton left, shining more brightly than ever.

The horse never stopped its galloping till it was fully exhausted. With pity on the horse, Kari hooked it form the cart. �Farwell good beast.� It began to rain. Kari looked on the remaining cart. Walpole sat with his eyes down, his now wet bangs covered his eyes.

�Wally, come on, we have to keep going. They could still be behind us and cart tracks aren�t hard to follow.� No response. �Come on Wally,� she began dragging him out of the cart, he winced when he slipped and fell on his wounded shoulder.

�I can�t Kari, it�s too much.� His eyes remained to the ground. Defeated. He looks utterly defeated, just like I was�

�Kari, I don�t want to go on anymore, it hurts. All of it.�

~Slap~

Kari�s hand left a fast forming red mark on Walpole cheek.
�Wally,� she voice was unwavering, �You�re not the only one hurting, it hurts for me too. To see you like this. When my mother died I felt just like you. Do you know why I could stand up? Because I had you and your father,� she voice was dwindling, �You two were my lifesavers when I was drowning in a turbulent sea. And now your father is gone too so, what am I going to do if you stop too?� The last words were barely a whisper and Kari dropped down beside Walpole in a now the muddy ground.

Only the sounds of the rain could be heard.

�Ka..ri..� Walpole met her eyes. �You�re right as usual.� Kari looked at his eyes, wet from something other than the endless rain. He looks hopeful. Kari slowly gets up and help Walpole up. He leans heavily on her as they both slowly but surly head west. They couldn�t see it, but the stars were beautiful that night.

-----To be continued-----