The Results and The Departure

“We need families of the dead and wounded to meet their loved ones at the clerics’ station before dusk. This especially applies to Spike’s family�"you left him on the ball for two whole days last year!” the MC announced.

“Five days of festivities and games ahead! Five days before we learn the final results! I’m ready to enjoy myself this time,” Dofert shouted.

“I thought we were going to Kawn’s house for dinner, then back to the inn,” Raglan said.

“You can! I’m going to party while I can�"just like last year,” Dofert replied.

“Last year you got your butt kicked by a couple of Dwarves!” Ramblan interjected.

“NO! I kicked their butts!” Dofert shot back.

“No, we kicked their butts. You got knocked out by the Dwarven lady you called a man,” Ramblan snickered.

“Whatever! I’m still going to enjoy myself at the festival,” Dofert said.

“Taran and I will come along to keep you out of trouble,” Ramblan offered.

“Then I’ll go to Kawn’s with Raglan,” Balder decided.

Five and a half days later, Franklin returned with seven men. One was Bio, and the other six were the contest winners. “Here is Kawn along with the five other place setters, sire.” In the Dragon Lord’s presence, they quickly dropped to one knee.

“Give me your names in order of your scoring!” the Dragon Lord demanded in his booming voice. “You are dismissed, Franklin!”

“I am Kawn, placed first, sire!” Kawn declared loudly, as if he were on the battlefield giving orders.

“I am Raglan, placed second, sire!” Raglan announced just as loudly.

“I am Ramblan, placed third, sire!” Ramblan said with a smile spreading across his face.

“I am Dofert, placed fourth, sire!” Dofert replied, tenderly rubbing his bruised arm.

“I am Taran, placed fifth, sire!” Taran said, barely suppressing his laughter at Dofert’s injury.

“I am Balder, placed sixth, sire!” Balder answered, his fingers nervously working the hilt of his dagger.

“So, you six survived my challenges and made it through the elimination round. Tell me, are you related in any way? If so, you may choose an alternate to take your place on the mission I’m about to give you. I don’t want an entire family to perish against their will,” the Dragon Lord inquired.

“Yes, sire, we are the Renduits!” they rang out in unison.

“Do you wish to accept this mission? And do you have any dependents? If so, I need to know so I can provide for them while you’re gone,” the Dragon Lord said.

“Yes, we accept the mission!” Kawn declared, stepping forward as the eldest and first-place finisher.

“Excellent! Your mission, as you already know, is to retrieve the Scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus. I’ll supply everything you need: six weeks of iron rations, weapons, fresh horses, and a generous sum of dumes for your services. Bio! Equip these men! Good luck, gentlemen, and may fortune smile upon your travels!” declared the Dragon Lord as Bio led the party toward the armory.

“I’ll take that sword over there,” said Kawn. Bio grabbed the weathered blade and handed it to him. Excitement surged through Kawn as he grasped the sword by its hilt. The rest of the group selected their weapons with far less enthusiasm than the impressive arsenal around them deserved. “Let’s fetch the horses and depart at first light.”

“This way to the inn. Your horses will be waiting in the stable out back, fully packed and ready to ride. Everything’s already been paid for,” said Bio, pointing toward the Traveler’s Inn.

“Thank you,” replied Kawn, motioning for the others to follow. “We’ll take our horses tomorrow.”

“Very well then. I’ll inform the stable boy to prepare your mounts,” Bio replied as he turned back toward the armory. As Bio disappeared through the doorway, a solitary figure approached the party.

“Your wife wishes to see you before you leave, sir,” said Raz, Kawn’s squire, as they headed toward the inn.

“Thanks, Raz. Tell her I’ll meet her before sunrise at the house,” Kawn replied, continuing toward the inn. After ensuring each group member reached their assigned room, he retreated to his own and collapsed onto the cot. Two hours before sunrise, Kawn woke and bathed in the main hall’s bathing room. He then ordered breakfast for the group to be served half an hour after sunrise and asked the innkeeper to wake his fellow party members. Kawn left the establishment, saddled his steed, and rode toward his house. “Letha? Letha, where are you?” he called out, scanning the front of the house for any sign of his wife.

“In here, honey!” his wife called as she approached the door wearing seductive garb. “I’ve got a little something for you before your quest.”

“Oh yeah?!” Kawn jumped off his horse, swept his wife into his arms, and carried her into the house.

Meanwhile, back at the inn, the restless party was just rolling off their uncomfortable cots and heading to the dining hall. When they arrived, they found a table set for six. They quickly claimed five seats and dove into the feast laid out before them: cinnamon rolls, eggs, a pitcher of brandy, and milk. As they ate, they noticed Kawn’s empty chair, so they stuffed themselves with rolls, brandy, eggs, and milk before calling over the innkeeper’s bellboy.

“Boy, have you seen our brother Kawn? The man we came here with last night?” Ramblan asked in his deep, monotonous voice.

“Why, yes, I have. He ordered your wake-up calls and breakfast, then rode off toward the other side of town about two and a half hours ago. Why do you ask?” the bellboy replied.

“No particular reason,” Ramblan told the bellboy, then turned to his brothers and whispered, “I think he went home, and right now he’s making passionate love to his wife before this long, arduous quest.”

Back at Kawn’s house, “That should last you until I return,” Kawn said, pulling up his trousers and fastening them while trying to look heroic. “What else did you have in mind before I leave on my journey, Letha?” He bent over and kissed his wife.

“There’s some milk and brandy in the cold box you made, rolls in the cupboard, and this!” Letha grabbed him by the collar and gave him a passionate kiss that would have blown away the top five most passionate kisses in the world at that time. “Here, take this for luck and for love!” She kissed him once more, slipping something into his pocket. “I love you!”

“I love you too. Here, take this necklace and wear it until I return from my journey,” Kawn said as he removed his necklace and placed it around her neck.

“What is it?” Letha asked, gazing deep into its crystalline form.

“It’s the Crystal of the Guardian. My father gave it to me when I was old enough to leave home and join the military. It will protect you, as it protected me all these years, while I’m gone. I’ll see you when I return from my journey. I’ll come back as quickly as I can.” Kawn grabbed a wineskin and filled it with brandy from a pitcher in the cold box. Then he grabbed a bag of rolls and kissed his wife goodbye as he left their home. He stuffed his things in his saddlebags and mounted his horse.

“You’ve had it that long and this is the first time I’ve seen it! It’s beautiful and I can feel its ancient power! I await your return, My Love!” Letha waved goodbye and started toward the inn to meet her brothers. As she rode, she felt in her pocket for what she had given him. It was a lock of her long, flowing gold hair. She tucked it back in her pocket as she approached the inn once more. Her brothers were sitting on the porch waiting for her.

“What have you been up to for the last hour or so?” Raglan asked as his brothers started laughing at her.

“I was at home making sweet love to my lovely wife before we started our journey for the Scepter of Cosiximus Laxitus. Now that you know, let’s prepare to ride north to Randoa and have council with Amon the Wizard,” Kawn replied to his brother’s astonishment.

“I didn’t want to know all of that!” Raglan said, his face flushing red as he and his brothers walked toward the stables to saddle their horses.

“Well then you shouldn’t have asked!” Dofert snapped. “We all should have done the same thing, but no. Kawn was the only one smart enough to have a house here. By the way, why would a stranger leave you a house anyway? We have no relatives in Ramadaggan, especially around the time of the Battle of Ages.”

“I don’t know how or why either, Dofert,” Kawn said. “I just came to town with my wife and got told I somehow owed taxes on the place, so I paid them. The strange part was, the deed was already in my name from the Battle of Ages and had my seal on it. However it happened, we’ve got a job to do. Let’s do it.”

“Yeah, let’s get this done!” Taran shouted as he bolted toward the stables. When they arrived, they found their horses saddled and ready to go. They quickly mounted up and headed for Randoa.