The Secrets of the Wild Wood Read online

  Tiuri took the black bishop, and said, “Now it’s Sir Arturin’s move.” He leant back comfortably, planning to ask the jester all kinds of questions. But the jester put one finger to his pointed nose and stared down at the chessboard.

  “Please, go ahead and make my move for me,” said Arturin.

  “My thanks,” said the jester, moving a piece. “And now it’s your move again, Tiuri.”

  Tiuri wasn’t really in the mood for playing chess. “How are affairs in the Kingdom of Unauwen?” he asked.

  “Much the same as you see here,” replied Tirillo. “White against black; the knights of Unauwen against Eviellan. Bishops confer, knights gallop, castles are besieged. Good and evil attempt to checkmate each other.” He looked at the chessboard with a smile. “It’s been a long time since I last played,” he said. “These black and white squares bring back all sorts of memories for me.”

  Tiuri soon realized, however, that the jester had not forgotten how to play. In just a few moves, Tirillo had taken three white pieces and said, “Your mind’s not on the game, Sir Tiuri!”

  Tiuri had to admit he was right. He would far rather have been talking to the jester and asking him questions.

  “The conversation can come later,” said the jester. “It will happen naturally, when we’re all sitting together. Now please be so kind as to concentrate on our game.”

  So they went on playing.

  The lady of the castle entered the room, with Evan and Sir Idian. Evan came over to talk to Bendu and Piak, while Sir Idian stood and watched the game of chess.

  “You can check him in three moves, Tirillo,” he said, “unless Sir Tiuri has thought of the only way to save his king. Then maybe he could even put yours in danger.”

  Tiuri tried to work out what that move might be.

  “Why don’t you play for him, Sir Idian?” suggested Tirillo. “You have not sat across a chessboard from me for many years.”

  Tiuri looked up at the knight, who had now removed his helmet. His hair gleamed like gold in the candlelight, and his face was young and friendly.

  “I’m afraid I will not be playing chess for now,” he said.

  Tiuri stood up and said, “Then, please, help me. Take my turn for me.”

  Sir Idian smiled. He sat down and made a jump with the last white knight. Then he explained his move to Tiuri.

  Tiuri listened and watched Idian’s hands as he spoke. On one of his fingers, a beautiful ring glinted. Tiuri had seen other rings like it before. There were only twelve of them in the whole world and King Unauwen had given them to his most loyal paladins. Tiuri had never heard of Idian before, but he must be a knight of great renown.

  A quarter of an hour later, the chessboard had been forgotten. Sir Arturin’s guests were busy telling one another their news. Evan was the only one who planned to remain at the castle until Ristridin returned. The others had merely accompanied him for some of the journey. Sir Idian meant to return soon to the Kingdom of Unauwen, while Tirillo was travelling to the north to talk to King Dagonaut as an envoy from the kingdom in the west.

  “An envoy?” said Bendu, his expression suggesting that he thought it strange for a jester to be chosen for such a task.

  Tiuri was about to speak up on his friend’s behalf, but Tirillo silenced him with a wink.

  “In these times of danger, it is wise to strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two lands,” said Sir Idian. “We have a dangerous enemy in the south.”

  “Eviellan is your enemy. I have seen little good about that land,” said Sir Arturin, “but we in the Kingdom of Dagonaut are not at war.”

  “Do you feel safe?” asked Tirillo.

  “We never let up the watch at our borders,” replied Arturin. “But I must say we have had no difficulties with the south since the present king has been in power. And the feud between him and your king is nothing to do with us in Dagonaut.”

  “I disagree!” said Tiuri indignantly. He felt so closely connected to the kingdom in the west. Did he not carry a white shield, given to him by King Unauwen?

  “And so do I!” agreed Bendu. “The King of Eviellan is a villain, as everyone knows.”

  Sir Idian’s expression shifted, as if a shadow flitted across it.

  “He is as much a villain as his knights with red shields,” Bendu added.

  “There is only one knight with a red shield whom you regard as your enemy,” Arturin said to him, “and that is because he murdered Edwinem – heaven rest his soul. Edwinem was a subject of King Unauwen and therefore an enemy of Eviellan, but you have chosen to avenge him because he was your friend. You have said so yourself.”

  “That is true,” growled Bendu. “But,” he continued, “is it possible to trust a country that is inhabited by such knights and ruled by such a treacherous man?”

  “I do not trust Eviellan either,” said Arturin. “But there is peace between that land and our own, and I hope it will remain so.”

  If only Sir Ristridin were here, thought Tiuri. He sympathizes with those beyond our borders. Ristridin’s homeland was the Kingdom of Dagonaut, to the east of the Great Mountains – but the world was larger than that. No one who had travelled to the Kingdom of Unauwen, on the other side of the mountains, would ever forget that land. And Eviellan should never be forgotten either, but for entirely different reasons.

  Tiuri looked at Sir Idian and his companions, in the hope that they would say more. But they remained silent.

  4 TWO KNIGHTS FROM THE SOUTH

  Ristridin did not appear the following day either. Bendu grumbled, “I do not understand where he could be. If he has left the Wild Wood, he has no reason whatsoever not to keep to our agreement. I think I shall go to Islan. Perhaps someone there can tell me where he went.”

  “I haven’t been here that long myself,” said Evan. “Who knows how soon the sound of horns might announce the arrival of our friends?”

  “Well, I certainly hope they come quickly!” said Bendu.

  “As do I,” said Sir Idian. “I should like to meet Sir Ristridin, but I cannot remain here for long.”

  It was evening again, and Sir Arturin and his guests were sitting together in the great hall. Tiuri and Sir Idian were playing a game of chess, at Idian’s request. That gave Tiuri a chance to study him. He was intrigued by the knight. The man had said little, but his presence could always be felt – it was in the way he paid attention when he listened, the occasional calm remark he made, the expression on his face. He was not as young as Tiuri had initially thought; fine lines around his eyes suggested he had lived longer, and those years had perhaps been difficult ones. His eyes were dark and appeared dreamy and distant at first. However, when they looked at a person, they proved to be very penetrating, and Tiuri felt that Idian knew far more about him than the other way around. He wondered why he was so curious about this knight. I know nothing about him at all! he thought. He hasn’t spoken a word about himself. But perhaps that’s why…

  He had noted that Idian was clearly the leader of the visitors from the west. His authority seemed perfectly natural, and not just because he was the oldest of the three and wore King Unauwen’s ring on his finger. However, Evan and Tirillo had told Tiuri nothing about their companion. In fact, when Tiuri thought about it, he realized that they’d avoided every question about him. There was definitely something mysterious about this Sir Idian.

  Tiuri was roused from his thoughts as Sir Idian looked right at him and said, “I am only one of King Unauwen’s many paladins.”

  Tiuri did not know how to respond, but the other knight turned his gaze to the chessboard and quietly added, “How pleasant it is to be in a peaceful castle and to play a friendly game of chess. And yet – though this may sound strange – it somehow feels as if I am doing more here than just playing chess.”

  Tiuri still said nothing, but no answer seemed to be expected.

  Tirillo came over to them and spoke in a whisper, “Now time seems to stand still and…”

>   His words were interrupted by the sound of horns.

  “Ah, it would seem I am mistaken,” said the jester. “Time is knocking at the very gates of this castle! Guests, events, travellers in the darkness!”

  “Ristridin and Arwaut? Could it be them? At last?” said Bendu.

  However, the gatekeepers brought other news. “Two knights from the south have crossed the river,” they reported to the lord of the castle. “They have requested shelter.”

  “Knights from the south?” repeated Arturin.

  “From Eviellan?” asked Bendu. “Are they carrying red shields?”

  “Yes, my lord,” came the reply.

  “Then we shall not let them in!” cried Bendu. “Knights with red shields! How dare they? Tell them I shall come outside and measure my strength against theirs!”

  Sir Arturin placed his hand on Bendu’s arm. “You must remain calm,” he said. “They are asking for shelter and, as Lord of Castle Ristridin, I cannot refuse.”

  “Have you forgotten that Edwinem, too, was once your guest?” shouted Bendu. “He was murdered by a knight such as those.”

  “And which knight was that?” said Arturin. “You have no more idea than I. And the laws of hospitality should be sacred to you, too, Sir Bendu.”

  “Do not forget that you already have guests!” cried Bendu. “And those guests are knights with white shields, the mortal enemies of those men at the gate!”

  Arturin had no response to that. He looked anxiously at his other guests, who had listened to all of this in silence.

  Tirillo walked over to join the knights and asked, “What is the problem?”

  “I’m sure you must have heard,” said Bendu. “Two knights from Eviellan want to enter the castle.”

  “Which lord may close the gates of his castle to those who request hospitality?” said the jester.

  “Yes, but…” began Arturin.

  “But you are already here,” Bendu added, looking at Sir Idian.

  “And what of it?” Sir Idian replied calmly. “This is neutral territory, is it not? In this castle, enemies may meet in peace. Let them enter!” He smiled at Bendu and said, “Your challenge can wait until they have left the castle.”

  “So you do not mind?” asked Arturin.

  “Whether my lord minds or not is of no import,” the jester replied on Idian’s behalf. “He says, ‘Let them in.’ To which I would add, ‘Do not leave them waiting out there in the cold.’”

  Sir Arturin and the guards left the room and headed to the gate.

  “There’s going to be trouble!” said Piak.

  “Oh no, we shall all remain perfectly calm,” said Tirillo. “As for me, I have to say that I enjoy coming face to face with my enemies. I find that they’re so very different from me! They have arms, legs, eyes and a mouth…”

  “And a heart,” added Idian.

  Bendu looked unhappily at Tirillo, then Idian. Sir Idian stood up and paced the room, as if considering his course of action.

  “My lord,” Tirillo said to him, “do you wish us to withdraw, or should Evan and I converse with the new guests?”

  “Stay here, in this room,” replied the knight, “and wait to see what happens.” But Sir Idian himself slowly walked away, stopping at the door to look back. “I shall remain nearby,” he said, and then he left the hall.

  Piak leant over to Tiuri and whispered, “Are you as keen as I am to find out more about Sir Idian?”

  So his friend felt the same way! Tiuri had no time to answer, though, as Sir Arturin returned, followed by two knights in black armour with red shields.

  “Allow me to introduce you,” he said. “Sir Melas of Darokítam and Sir Kraton of Indigo.”

  After the servants had helped the newly arrived knights out of their armour, silence fell as the men glared at each other.

  Tirillo was the first to speak.

  “I know you, Sir Kraton,” he said, “from a long time ago, when you were still Lord of Indigo.”

  “I still consider myself Lord of Indigo,” said Sir Kraton gruffly. He was a large man with a sombre face.

  “Indigo no longer exists,” said Evan.

  “The Castle of Indigo on the White River is a ruin,” said Sir Kraton. “Your soldiers destroyed it.”

  “Because you rose up against your king, Unauwen,” said Evan.

  “Because I remained loyal to my lord, the King of Eviellan!”

  “You were born in the Kingdom of Unauwen, not in Eviellan,” said Tirillo. “You once carried a white shield, if I am not mistaken. Are you so eager to bear different colours?”

  “I have chosen red,” Sir Kraton answered abruptly, “and that is enough for me. I have no need for the entire rainbow, like some… jester.” He turned to Melas and said something to him in a strange language. “My friend knows only a little of your tongue,” he said. “It is perhaps just as well that he did not understand the words of Tirillo, the king’s fool.”

  “The king’s paladin!” Evan exclaimed.

  “One does not need to carry a sword and a shield to be a knight,” Tiuri added.

  Sir Kraton looked at Tiuri and Evan. “Tell me, who are these young boys?” he asked. “Surely they are not knights?”

  “Sir Evan from the west, and Tiuri, knight of Dagonaut,” said Arturin, who now also sounded annoyed.

  “I have never heard of Evan,” said Kraton, “but Tiuri…” He cast a hostile glance at him.

  Tiuri knew the knights of Eviellan must see him as an enemy, even though he was a citizen of a neutral land – or at least they would if they knew about the vitally important letter he had once carried to King Unauwen.

  Sir Bendu eyed Kraton with suspicion, as Arturin glanced uneasily from one knight to the other. Then he called a servant to bring wine in honour of the new guests, in an attempt to improve the atmosphere.

  The wine was brought and poured, but the men all watched one another closely over the rims of their goblets. The knights from Eviellan said nothing, while Arturin made light-hearted remarks in a futile attempt to lift the hostile mood.

  “Let’s talk about the weather!” Tirillo finally cried. “Sun and rain treat us all equally. Even in Eviellan there is a full moon every month.”

  “Pah! Only a moonstruck fool would suggest such a topic of conversation,” Sir Kraton sneered. “I have other matters on my mind than the moon, full or not. Wind and weather cannot sway me.”

  “And yet you are such a poor weathercock,” said Tirillo. “First facing west, then spinning to the south.”

  “I once had a golden weathercock on the tallest tower of Castle Indigo,” said Kraton. “Whatever became of it? One day, though, that tower, and my ruined castle, will be rebuilt. That is what I dream of every night, moon or no moon.”

  “Do you ever dream about Castle Forèstèrra?” asked Tirillo. “Or Ingewel? The knights who lived in those castles were slain by you and your kind.”

  “The fool’s words grow ever wiser!” mocked Kraton. “How can a war be fought without deaths?” He said something else to his silent companion. Sir Melas laughed and drank down his wine. Kraton did the same and had his glass refilled. Then he turned to Bendu and Arturin.

  “I do not know what stories the gentlemen from the Kingdom of Unauwen might have told you,” he said. “I’m sure they will have informed you that my master, the King of Eviellan, is wicked and evil. And that his opponent, the crown prince, the son of Unauwen, is noble and good. That is what they have said, is it not? But did they tell you that the King of Eviellan is also a son of King Unauwen and that the princes are twin brothers? Why should one become crown prince and have everything? Why should the other receive nothing, merely because he was born a little later?”

  “You have it all wrong!” interjected Evan. “The hostility did not begin with the crown prince. His brother has always been jealous of him.”

  “There can be only one successor to the throne,” said Tirillo.

  “Your ruler started the war,” sa
id Evan. “He was given every chance, but he would not obey his father and he threatened the life of the crown prince. His own brother!”

  “Gentlemen,” said Arturin, almost pleading with them, “please behave as guests in this peaceful place. Come to a truce, in both words and deeds!”

  “I would like nothing more,” said Kraton, holding out his glass for more wine. “Sir Melas and I are here for reasons of peace. We travel as envoys from our king to pay a visit to King Dagonaut.”

  “You too?” said Bendu.

  “Then we can travel together,” said Tirillo with a smile. “My destination is the same.”

  “Does King Dagonaut need cheering up?” Kraton said sarcastically. “No matter. You are welcome as a travelling companion. We intend to propose that King Dagonaut should form an alliance with Eviellan.”

  Tirillo laughed. “And I am to ask King Dagonaut to form an alliance with Unauwen,” he said. “It should be interesting if we go to see him together!”

  Sir Kraton did not deign to reply. He drank his third glass, filled it again, and said to Bendu, “I do not wish you to delay me when I leave. I swear to you on my honour as a knight that I did not kill Edwinem of Forèstèrra. So it would be foolish of you to start your duelling again.”

  “Allow me to be the judge of that,” said Bendu coldly.

  “Where is your friend? What’s his name again? Sir Ristridin of the South?” Kraton continued. “I should have liked to meet him.”

  “He went to the Wild Wood,” replied Bendu.

  “The Wild Wood?” repeated Kraton.

  “Yes, but he is elsewhere now,” said Arturin. “He is heading here. We expect him soon.”

  “What on earth was Sir Ristridin doing in the Wild Wood?” asked Kraton.

  “A man needs to know his own country,” said Tirillo.

  “Ristridin found nothing of interest in the Wild Wood,” said Arturin. “He left the forest in the winter.”

  “Oh, now I understand,” said Kraton. “I heard rumours that he was roaming around Deltaland.”