The Kingdom of Eire

Once the Battle was underway, Basstone attacked the Wizard’s Castle causing so much destruction and commotion that it was all the Wizard could do dealing with the Dragon to save his own life! During the major diversion the traitor Borac, who had hidden out until the Wizard was fully occupied, quietly broke into Blackthorn’s Chambers and stole the Jew of light! Once he had the Gem in hand, he ran to the northwest Tower and gave the Jewel to Basstone who in turn carried it back to the King at his Castle!

Once the King’s Knights saw Dragon Basstone leave the Wizard’s Fortress, they ordered in their reserve force they had standing in the wings and destroyed the Wizard’s Army. Seeing they were fighting a losing battle, Blackthorn’s Dragons returned to the Wizard only to find him running around and screaming like a mad man!

Once again there would be peace in the Kingdom, for the balance of power had dramatically changed that day as goodness had finally won out over evil!

They road along slowly, in fact when they saw the Castle, their home, their safe haven, they even road along slower. It was almost night and a terrible storm was almost upon them, yet they road slowly! Tired and battered from their long ride and hard fought battle. One would think they would ride faster being almost home. However, their thoughts were of sadness, of sorrow, of anger and of great loss!

Two hours earlier they were a detachment of five strong and hardy Soldiers, escorting a Coach, the King’s Coach. Their cargo was precious, worth all their lives to defend but yet, now just the two of them road on, road home! There was no Coach and three of their comrades had fought valiantly by their side but had died in vain, because their precious cargo, the Princess was gone along with her Handmaiden!

The mighty Wizard Blackthorn had sent one of his evil Dragons to attack them and steel their precious charge and the Jewel of Light that she was carrying!

Finally the Tower Guards saw them and shouted out their arrival, and the two Soldiers sped up as they approached the Castle Gate. Waiting in the Courtyard for them was King Galyard and Queen Abathiss. "Where is my Daughter?" The King shouted, almost running to their side!

Tamber, the Captain of the Guard, blood running down his left arm from a shoulder wound almost fell off his horse as he dismounted and said, "Sire we were attacked by one of Blackthorn’s Dragons! Three of my men were killed and the Princess and her Handmaiden were taken!" The Captain collapsed from his fatigue and great loss of blood!

The King shouted, "Guards take the Captain to my Doctors at once!" Then he had the remaining Soldier tell him the whole story. "And what of the Jewel of Light?" The King asked.

"Gone Sire, the Princess was wearing it in a pouch she wore around her neck."

"My Daughter, the Gem, all is lost!" The King said, suddenly feeling very old and frail. Queen Abathiss took his arm to steady him and walked the visibly sickened King into their private Chambers.

The next morning the angry re-invigorated King Galyard called all his Knights to the Long Table to plan his strategy to rescue his Daughter and recover the Jewel of Light. "My Lords, darkness has fallen on our Kingdom, Blackthorn has captured my Daughter Princess Aliece and the Jewel of Light!" Shouts of anger and disbelief went up loudly from the Knights!