“Hey Taylor. Do you have anything going on today for your free time?”
Taylor looked up from her book to another girl a little younger than her. She though her name was Emma. “I’m busy reading my books,” she responded.
“I know that. You are here all the time. I was hoping that you would go outside with me. There is supposed to be a minstrel at the tavern nearby. I thought since you liked stories and learning that you could take me.” She paused tat that.
Taylor looked up more interested. She started to slowly close the book. “How far away is it?” Taylor asked eyeing the girl up and down.
“It should be down the road a short walk. I’ve only been there once before, and I need someone to accompany me. So…”
“I’ll take you down there. It might be interesting, and I guess I can always leave if the stories aren’t great.”
“Awesome. I can’t wait.”
As Taylor and Emma made their way down the cobblestone path leading to the local tavern, the air was filled with the distant sound of a lute being strummed harmoniously.
Upon entering the tavern, the girls were greeted by the warm, bustling atmosphere typical of such a place. The wooden tables were crowded with people, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of candles. At the center of the room, on a small, raised platform, sat the minstrel. His fingers danced over the strings of his lute, and his voice, rich and captivating, filled the room.
Taylor and Emma found a spot near the front, their eyes fixed on the minstrel. As his song came to an end, he smiled at his audience and began to weave tales of fantasy and adventure, his words painting vivid images in the minds of all who listened. He wore bright colorful dress that stood in contrast to the plainer clothes of most people in the tavern.
The minstrel started his next story. "Far across the Sapphire Ocean, Captain Elowen and her crew sailed aboard the mighty ship, Starwave," he said, his voice ebbing and flowing like the ocean waves.
“One night, under a blanket of stars, the crew encountered a legendary sea serpent known for its immense size and fearsome power. Instead of attacking, Captain Elowen chose to communicate with the creature. She learned that the sea serpent was guarding a treasure lost to time—a chest filled with the Star Pearls, said to grant wisdom and courage.
Captain Elowen and her crew agreed to help the sea serpent find a new home for the pearls, away from greedy hands. Their journey took them to uncharted waters, through storms and past whirlpools. With each challenge, the crew's bond strengthened, and their courage grew.
In the end, they found a hidden island where the pearls could be safe. In gratitude, the sea serpent gifted Captain Elowen a single Star Pearl, which she used to navigate the seas and lead her crew on many more adventures.”
As the minstrel concluded his tales, the tavern erupted in applause. Taylor and Emma clapped enthusiastically, their hearts full of the magic and wonder of the stories they had heard.
“Tell us the story of the king’s squire,” shouted an audience member a few rows behind them. A few others yelled out suggestions for stories they had heard sung before.
“Ah, the Squire and his King. I know this story well,” said the Minstrel. He started up a slower song in minor key. “The King of this long-lost kingdom was set to meet with distant tribes. A dozen joined him on this journey. But an illness swept through their group and monsters beseeched them.
“Only half way through their journey only the Squire and his King were left. The travel was harsh, but they were already closer to the distant tribes than his cities. So, they walked onward.”
The minstrel's voice took on a somber tone, drawing the tavern's patrons deeper into the tale. "The King, weakened by illness and the relentless attacks, could no longer carry his own sword. It was then that the Squire, a young man of no noble birth but of great heart, took up the King's blade. Together, they faced the perils of the wild, the Squire's courage bolstering the King's spirit."
Taylor and Emma leaned in, captivated by the unfolding story. "One night, as they camped under the stars, the King confessed to the Squire that he had no heir. His line would end with him, and he feared for his kingdom's future. The Squire, with a loyalty that surpassed his station, vowed to protect the kingdom as if it were his own.
"The next day, they were ambushed by a band of marauders. The King, too weak to fight, watched as the Squire defended him with a bravery that belied his youth. The battle was fierce, but in the end, the Squire emerged victorious. With scars added to his skin.
"The King, realizing the depth of the Squire's loyalty and bravery, made a decision that would forever change the fate of the kingdom. With the last of his strength, he knighted the Squire, not just as a knight of the realm but as his successor. 'You have shown the heart of a true king,' he said. 'Lead our people with the courage and wisdom you have shown me.'
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"The King passed away that night, leaving the Squire—now a King in his own right—to complete the journey. He reached the distant tribes and, with the story of his and the old King's journey, forged an alliance stronger than any before. The new King returned to his kingdom, not as a squire but as a ruler who had earned his crown through courage, loyalty, and a profound sense of duty. He not only was lucky but had the strength to take advantage of a failing situation. Now some nay sayers will point to the alternate telling of this story. That it was the Squire who weakened the caravan leading to the results I have shared. I would hope that none are so pessimistic. These are just stories with hints of truth in them drawn from the imagination of simple folk like yourself.”
The final words split the crowd into discussions as they wondered what the true story could be. They ordered more food and drinks as the minstrel took a natural break and swapped instruments to a flute. Even Taylor and Emma eventually succumbed to the air of discussion and imagination.
As the minstrel switched to the flute, the melody he played was lighter, almost ethereal, contrasting sharply with the depth and gravity of his previous tales. The notes floated around the tavern, weaving through the conversations that had sprung up following his story.
Taylor turned to Emma. "What do you think? Was the squire a hero or a manipulator?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine curiosity.
Emma pondered for a moment, her eyes reflecting the flickering candlelight. "I think it doesn’t really matter that's the beauty of stories," she finally said. "They change with who is the storyteller and the listener. Reality isn't always what it seems, and truth can be as mutable as the sea."
Taylor nodded, her mind racing with thoughts. "But doesn't that make stories dangerous? If truth can be so easily molded, what’s to stop people from creating their own versions of reality?"
"That's just it, Taylor," Emma replied, her voice enthusiastic. "Stories aren't just about escaping reality or fabricating it; they're about understanding it from different angles. They challenge us to think, to question, and to empathize. Maybe the squire was both a hero and a manipulator. Maybe his actions were shaped by circumstances we can barely imagine.”
The minstrel’s tune shifted, the playful notes turning into a somber, haunting melody that seemed to echo Emma’s words. The room quieted down as the patrons listened, the earlier debates fading into a collective contemplation.
“I remember the scary tales told to us at bed time by older kids. At the time they were scary, maybe a bit mean, and didn’t really have a point. Now that I am older I understand why the stories were told and why they exist. They aren’t even scary anymore and are just dumb stories to get the littler ones to do what they are told. Or else some scary monster will get them.”
“Except those monsters do exist. Maybe not near Henoes, but somewhere beyond the walls.”
As the minstrel ended his piece, the room erupted in applause once more. The atmosphere was charged with a newfound appreciation for the stories just shared. The minstrel bowed gracefully, his eyes twinkling with the joy of having engaged his audience so deeply.
“Don’t remind me of those filthy skeletons. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near them. If I had to fight them it would have to be at a distance. Just there smell…”
“I know all to well unfortunately. Priest Damon, that uncaring beast, sent me and Brad, Greg, and Wilson out to clean up the mess as punishment. When I finally threw up because of the smell I lost my dinner rights. He’s a monster.”
“That’s awful. I know I could never do something like that. How did the other workers out there not say anything?”
“It was a mix of they were busy in their own work and Priest Damon has a serpents tongue. Twisting our punishment into a benefit for the community and a job we were meant to do. I don’t even think they know how bad it is some days for us. I thought with the addition of a new Priest things would lighten up for us. But.”
“The new priest is overwhelmed from what I can tell. He has taken over so many things that Priest Damon has more time to let loose on those he wishes,” said Emma.
As the tavern's atmosphere settled into a reflective silence, Emma and Taylor found themselves in a corner, their conversation drifting away from the tales of squires and monsters to the realities of their own lives. The minstrel's music, now a gentle background hum, seemed to encourage a more personal dialogue.
Taylor leaned in, her voice a whisper as if sharing a secret. "You know, Emma, sometimes I dream about what life could be like outside the orphanage walls. Not just the adventures and the freedom, but the simple things... like choosing what to eat for dinner or not having to share a room with a dozen others."
Emma nodded, “I’ve heard stories of the orphanage in the capital. It sounds better. I’m not sure if it could be called great. The stories are just that though. As real now as the minstrel’s tales.”
"There are days," Taylor continued, "when I wish we could just run through the fields without a care in the world, not worrying about chores or punishments. Just... being kids, you know?"
Emma smiled, a wistful expression on her face. "I imagine that too. Running until we're out of breath, lying in the grass, and watching the clouds pass by without thinking about what tomorrow might bring."
"But then," Taylor sighed, "reality crashes back. We return to the orphanage, to the rules, the chores, and the ever-watchful eyes of Priest Damon and his punishments."
Emma's expression hardened slightly. "It's tough, Taylor. But we've got each other, and that counts for something. We can't let the harshness of our reality steal away our dreams. Maybe one day, we'll find a way to make them come true."
Taylor looked at Emma, a spark of determination in her eyes. "You're right. We shouldn't give up hope. Even if we don’t have a plan right now. An opportunity might arise. The poisoning and illness of a caravan before a battle with bandits. At the right time a simple thing like that could cause cascading problems until the root of it all is dealt with.”
Emma nodded, her voice firm. "Exactly. And who knows? Maybe our stories will change too. Just like the squire in the minstrel's tale, we might find ourselves in a situation where we can be the heroes of our own story."