Royal Messenger

Jordan Helmsmen grew up in the small village of Campton within the heart of the kingdom of Atheon. He was born into a poor family containing six sons and three daughters. Jordan’s only dream was to distinguish himself as more than just another lowly peasant and to become part of history. So, he decided to begin training at the young age of 12 as a man-at-arms under the direction of the village knight Sir Edwin Locksley. He soon distinguished himself as a capable and brave soldier as a member of King Theon’s Royal Army. A position Sir Edwin secured for him through his influence as an excellent weaponries teacher. Jordan’s efforts as a man-at-arms in the ongoing war between Atheon and the neighbouring kingdom of Sundown soon secured him a new position as a Royal Messenger at the young age of eighteen.

*********

A cool breeze seeped through the cracks of the old derelict barn where Jordan had stopped for the night on his way home from a routine message delivery to the nearby village of Castleton. It was a beautiful winter morning. A crystal clear blue sky above a world blanketed in freshly fallen snow. The snow-laden evergreens encircling the derelict barn drooped pleasantly with the soft weight of the ever-melting snow.

Jordan woke with a start. He’d overslept. He knew he shouldn’t have stopped at that tavern in Castleton. He cursed softly to himself. He had to be back at The King’s Keep before midday. That gave him only a few hours to travel close to 15 miles. He saddled and bridled his horse as fast as possible completely oblivious to the beauty around him. Then he gathered his things and jammed them into his saddlebags. He mounted his horse so fast he almost fell off the other side. Then he was off at a gallop through the winding game trails he’d been following in order to gain time and avoid the traffic of the King’s road. As he made his way through the trails he couldn’t help thinking of the night before at the tavern in Castleton. It had been great he hadn’t been able to let loose like that since before he became a messenger, almost a year ago. However, he now regretted it, his head was pounding and he couldn’t remember how he even got to the old barn in the first place. He just didn’t have the head for str ong spirits. He’d disgrace himself and he knew it. The Royal Messenger’s were supposed to be noble and only live to serve their king. Not run around getting drunk with common mercenaries.

There wasn’t anything he could do about it now though. So, he decided he would make up for it by getting to King’s Keep on schedule.

So he rode like he’d never rode before and in what seemed like no time at all he was home. King’s Keep, the official residence of King Theon the king of Atheon.

Once Jordan had returned his horse to the stables and washed up he went to the mess hall for dinner. As he was eating his dinner among the other messengers, to everyone’s surprise King Theon himself accompanied by his royal guard entered the mess room.

"Attention!" ordered the commanding messenger, Sir Charles Wallace.

Everyone stood up.

"His majesty King Theon wishes to address us!" yelled Sir Charles

"Thank you Sir Charles", said King Theon "I have some very important tidings to share with you all, as you know of the ongoing war between our kingdom and the kingdom of Sundown I won’t bore you with the details and get straight to the point. We have a chance to end this war!"

This statement caused an uproar of excited voices.

"SILENCE!" bellowed Sir Charles

The room was instantly silent.