Or accidentally kill you."
"It made me think that you were from a group that was chasing us."
"Yeah," Marik replied sheepishly. "I could tell. You started going faster right after that." He slapped Conner on the shoulder as he stood up. "At least it all worked out. I thank you again for helping the princess. You have done this kingdom a great service. If the princess spoke even half truths about your adventures, you are a very brave young man.” He held out his hand. Conner gripped it tightly. Marik continued, “I am sure the king will reward you well.”
Conner replied softly, “I didn’t do it for the reward.”
“No,” Marik said. “I am sure you didn’t.” He released Conner’s hand and looked around. There was little to indicate where they were. “We are kind of in the middle of nowhere. Do you need help in finding your village?”
Conner shook his head. “I’ve hunted these woods before. It’s maybe a day or so to the north. I can manage.”
“Very well. I’ll make sure you have provisions for your journey. There is plenty for lunch. Our fine knights are pretty good cooks and made a fine stew for us. You are welcome to stay and feast with us before we leave.”
The princess, overhearing the conversation, pulled herself up from the underneath her blankets. “Sir Marik, Conner will be coming with us to the castle.”
Marik looked uncomfortable. He clearly didn’t want to argue with the princess, so he chose his words as carefully as he could. “I am sure that Conner would like to return to his family as soon as he can.”
“I don’t think you quite understand what happened out there,” Elissa replied. “Conner saved my life. He is to be named my Champion and will return to the castle with me.”
“Princess, we are all very grateful for what Conner has done to bring you back safe. It was very courageous and quite frankly, pretty amazing. And I am sure he will be well rewarded.” He turned to Conner and nodded again his appreciation. “But you must understand…”
“You must understand,” Elissa said firmly. “That I am Princess Elissa, heir to the throne of Karmon. And you will do as I say.”
Marik smiled as if he were talking to a young girl half Elissa’s age. “If you had a brother, he would be heir. You…”
“She is as strong as any boy I’ve ever seen,” Conner interjected.
“Her strength does not change the laws of the land,” Marik countered with a sharp glare. He was not used to being interrupted, much less by someone who was not of noble blood.
Elissa stepped out from underneath the lean-to. “My father is the law of the land. I think you forget yourself, Sir Marik.”
Marik, recognizing a battle he could not win, retreated. “Yes, my lady. You are right. I will do as you ask. But be careful about the words that you use. Calling a man your Champion is more than just words. It has meaning and importance.”
“I know what it means,” Elissa said softly. “He saved my life and he is someone that I desire to be my Champion.”
“He must wish it as well,” Marik replied. He turned toward Conner to give him the opportunity to reject the princess’s crazy notion.
“He has agreed," Elissa said.
“He has agreed to what?” Conner asked, stepping into the conversation, suddenly realizing that they were talking about him. “You are talking about me as if I am not here. What are you talking about?”
“When a princess or queen cannot defend herself, or protect herself, she declares a Champion to stand in her stead. He is to uphold her honor and fight for her if need be. The champion is duty bound.”
“Yes, I understand,” Conner said. “We have discussed this already.”
“Do you understand that you are duty-bound for life?” Marik asked.
“Okay.”
“Your one purpose in this life is to serve her. Everything else is meaningless.”
“Sir
"It made me think that you were from a group that was chasing us."
"Yeah," Marik replied sheepishly. "I could tell. You started going faster right after that." He slapped Conner on the shoulder as he stood up. "At least it all worked out. I thank you again for helping the princess. You have done this kingdom a great service. If the princess spoke even half truths about your adventures, you are a very brave young man.” He held out his hand. Conner gripped it tightly. Marik continued, “I am sure the king will reward you well.”
Conner replied softly, “I didn’t do it for the reward.”
“No,” Marik said. “I am sure you didn’t.” He released Conner’s hand and looked around. There was little to indicate where they were. “We are kind of in the middle of nowhere. Do you need help in finding your village?”
Conner shook his head. “I’ve hunted these woods before. It’s maybe a day or so to the north. I can manage.”
“Very well. I’ll make sure you have provisions for your journey. There is plenty for lunch. Our fine knights are pretty good cooks and made a fine stew for us. You are welcome to stay and feast with us before we leave.”
The princess, overhearing the conversation, pulled herself up from the underneath her blankets. “Sir Marik, Conner will be coming with us to the castle.”
Marik looked uncomfortable. He clearly didn’t want to argue with the princess, so he chose his words as carefully as he could. “I am sure that Conner would like to return to his family as soon as he can.”
“I don’t think you quite understand what happened out there,” Elissa replied. “Conner saved my life. He is to be named my Champion and will return to the castle with me.”
“Princess, we are all very grateful for what Conner has done to bring you back safe. It was very courageous and quite frankly, pretty amazing. And I am sure he will be well rewarded.” He turned to Conner and nodded again his appreciation. “But you must understand…”
“You must understand,” Elissa said firmly. “That I am Princess Elissa, heir to the throne of Karmon. And you will do as I say.”
Marik smiled as if he were talking to a young girl half Elissa’s age. “If you had a brother, he would be heir. You…”
“She is as strong as any boy I’ve ever seen,” Conner interjected.
“Her strength does not change the laws of the land,” Marik countered with a sharp glare. He was not used to being interrupted, much less by someone who was not of noble blood.
Elissa stepped out from underneath the lean-to. “My father is the law of the land. I think you forget yourself, Sir Marik.”
Marik, recognizing a battle he could not win, retreated. “Yes, my lady. You are right. I will do as you ask. But be careful about the words that you use. Calling a man your Champion is more than just words. It has meaning and importance.”
“I know what it means,” Elissa said softly. “He saved my life and he is someone that I desire to be my Champion.”
“He must wish it as well,” Marik replied. He turned toward Conner to give him the opportunity to reject the princess’s crazy notion.
“He has agreed," Elissa said.
“He has agreed to what?” Conner asked, stepping into the conversation, suddenly realizing that they were talking about him. “You are talking about me as if I am not here. What are you talking about?”
“When a princess or queen cannot defend herself, or protect herself, she declares a Champion to stand in her stead. He is to uphold her honor and fight for her if need be. The champion is duty bound.”
“Yes, I understand,” Conner said. “We have discussed this already.”
“Do you understand that you are duty-bound for life?” Marik asked.
“Okay.”
“Your one purpose in this life is to serve her. Everything else is meaningless.”
“Sir
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