Beulla's Release

I had awoken in the wee hours of the mornin and lay there afraid to move. How long had I slept this time I wondered? What day was this? How much longer must I stay in bed? Gritting my teeth, I gingerly lifted an arm, testing for pain in my lower back. So far so good I thought, no pain! Then I lifted the other, nothing! "Okay," I said to my self taking a deep breath, "now for the hard part, a leg." Again I gritted my teeth, readying for the pain that had been my constant companion for…how long was it? I didn’t know, but seemed forever. I slowly lifted my left leg ( thought I would say right leg didn’t ya !) , it was weak, but no pain! "Yes" I said, panting from the strain. Now the other. I slowly, though to tell the truth, I couldn’t do it fast, this was tiring. I managed ever so slowly to get the right leg off the bed too. This time pain, momentarily it shot right thru the top of my head, then it was gone! Not altogether, but enough that I felt I could sit up! First I lowered my legs, hard to sit up with yer legs in the air. Then I pushed myself up. The sweat dripped off my body from the strain, but this sweat I didn’t mind, it was from hard work, not a healing fever. I sat there for a while catching my breath. The sweat stopped and I cooled down enough to think of standing, well I’d come this far. I knew I’d have to take this slow, if I fell that pain would be the least of my worries. I did not want to think what M’lady Iser would do if I reinjured my back after all her hard work. I shuddered at the thought of a speedy recovery and a lifetime in the stables! I grasped the strong cord attached to the wall for just this purpose and slowly, ever so slowly inched my way to a standing position. There was pain, though no more than expected. Less than a kick from a knight, but more than a fall from a tall horse. Therefore, felt great! "Yes!" I said to myself my second triumph. "Now what do I do?" I asked myself. I knew I couldn’t go outside, the doors would be guarded by Beulla the night matron, my whole body shook at the thought of her catching me tryin ta go outside! She had a reputation that preceded her, and I wasn’t about to test it. So where do I go with my newly returned legs? I couldn’t answer myself so I decided on a walk indoors, the opposite was from Beulla. Taking baby steps I inched my way to the door. That wasn’t too bad I thought. I reached for the door and tried it. it was unlocked! "Fools" I thought, "I’m free!" I finished opening the door and turned towards the archives, my only choice, but I loved to read. At first it seemed it would take hours at this pace, but each step was a little longer. Finally I talking almost half my normal stride! "Ha Ha! Mel’s back!" I stopped for a second after this little triumph when a stab ran thru my back. It was gone as fast as it came. "Muscles are just tight." I reasoned with myself, need stretchin. I waited a second more then resumed my path. After seven or eight weeks of this, or actually ten minutes, I made it to the archives. The door was open as it always was. Lucky for me, it took a horse to move’m if they be closed! I entered and headed for the last section I’d been workin on. The Squires. The last I’d read was of Jo’s trip to the sewer holder. Though I’d heard it in first hand, I’d read it too. She writes so well I could see it happening as I’d read it! There was something she’d said in the writing that’d peaked my interest. Twas of Ldy Bryne’s own battle with these very holders, or at least their ancestors. Chuckling too myself I went about searching for her writing. I’d searched and searched, no Ldy Bryne. "Hmm..?" I thought, "Had she changed her name?" "Where were her tales. Surely one as accomplished as she would have many a story to tell." So I continued my search.

There at the very bottom of the many piles, "Naturally the last one would be it." I was disappointed that the be only one, but maybe there were sections unknown to me where more stories twould be found. I took the parchment over to the reading chair. I was loathe to sit in it, after so long without the use of my legs, I decided to read standing. Sides, the legs needed the work. Twas entitled, ‘To the Woods’ ( at this point I’d like to recommend that all pages read the stories posted in the KORT web page! Most wonderful reading, and you can see that the knight’s and squires were once just like us! I know, I know, sounds impossible, but I say Yes! On with my story ). Tis well written, I know because I could see her travels as a young squire traveling from Longsaddle to the NorthEastern woods on a quest from her knight to rid that area of Dracoliches! I was quite impressed at the lack of the word ‘GATE’ in the writing! That is one tough area, I know for I have spent much time and more than my share of blood there too! It was wonderful to see her worry as I do now before entering a battle. Traveling with her now you see utter confidence and a single strike kill. But then, then she was just like us, "Praying to Tyr", "Can I do this?", "Casting every prep spell in her book", Inching her way thru the dark forest" etc…. Just like us. It gives on perspective, you have to learn to crawl before you can run! Profound for one who has learned to crawl, run, and crawl again. I had to laugh to myself here, but stopped when I felt another tinge in the ole back. Ouch. She made her way thru each fight Fireball, Fireball, Long Sword. Twas on one of these fights that she won the prize she even today wears, the beautiful yellow fur cape. Ask her about it sometime. Anyway, it wasn’t long before till she was at the area of the Dracoliches. There she prepp’d to high heavens and entered. I knew the feeling, as I foolishly tried the North Western Dracoliches alone a few times, don’t ask, twasn’t pretty, but that’s another story yet to be finished. Anyway, she prepp’d and entered the area. Slowly at first, nothing happened. Then another baby step, hey, she is the baby knight, goes to reason she was a baby squire too don’t it? Where was I, oh yeah, baby steps. She took another and another, till the world exploded! Banshees and Fireballs everywhere! She atarted right off gettin the tactical advantage of gettin them to surround her! Nice job here I thought, just exactly what I’d do myself. Gets’em close enough ta hit! Here she let blast her whole spell list! The battle was terrific or horrific which ever you chose. Fireballs back and forth were traded! She took damage, much as I can tell, but fought on. First one then another of the dreaded Dracoliches feel as she withstood the back hits of the banshees! Finally the last of the Dracoliches fell, tho low on health she managed to dispatch the banshees and won the day! Twas quite exciting to read, especially if you can see what you read as I. Seeing her race back and forth so. Oh oh! Race! What day was it?! Had I missed the Page Race?!!! I sped down the hall as fast as my wobbly legs would carry me! Who would I ask? Dont want to wake anyone a this hour. That leaves only …. Beulla! Okay Mel, yee can do this, she won’t be too mad will she? Only one way to find out. I bravely strode down the hall till I was at the end of the hallway leadin to the door. Peakin’ round the corner I looked to see if she was there. Yup! Dang. Now I have to ask her. Standing as tall as I could I purposefully walked towards her. I wasn’t 2 steps down the hallway when she noticed me! "Page Melazar!" sounded like a yell to me! But twas only a loud whisper for her. 0.0 "Aye M’lady" I answered rather meekly. "May I ask.." she interrupted me in mid sentence.

"Just what do you think you are doing out of bed?" she enunciated each syllable. This wasn’t going ot be easy. Arrggghhhh! "I feel much better. Really!" I replied as best I could under that terrible stare of hers, better a Dracholich! "You will return now!!" she demanded. I stood my ground, though it was rapidly turnin into a mire. "I have but a question, please" I pleaded. "Nay!" "Please!" "Nay!!" "Please Please Please" I implored, had to resort to groveling here, turn your head for a sec. "Hmmmpfff!" was all she said. Was there an opening here? "Would the Page race be this day?" I asked as sweetly as I could manage. "And what would ye be wantin ta know for, be’in as you be a hurtin still." She demanded of me. "The race! Please I must know!" I begged again. "Well it can’t hurt to ask, if that’s all ye be askin." She eyed me very critically! "ah..Fer now that’s all I be askin." I smiled my most innocent smile. She eyed me again, "When then, yes tis today the race for the..pages not hurt!" "That’s all I asked M’lady." Even more honey this time. "And may I add you have done a wonderful job carin fer me. Why I’d even say you’d completely healed me." I was endanger of slippin in the syrup now! "Back!" she pointed. "Aye M’lady" I frowned. "But I really am feeling much better." "Back!" I knew when I was beatin, and headin fer my room. Of course I didn’t say I’d stay. I grinned to meself. I returned to my room and searched out me armor. Twas gone! Arrrgghhh! All that was in the closet was someones Elvin Chain, not my beautiful plate. I almost slammed the door shut when I noticed a piece of parchment tacked to the door. Reaching for it I read:

"Beulla! Why I knew she loved me all along" I said smiling as I tried on the chain" "I must cut her my best roses this very day!. I finished as fast as I could, and headed to say my thanks. She was awaitin fer me with a big smile and a light hug! "You be careful now. And no hastin, and you report right back here afterwards." She said almost in tears. "Aye I will! I promise!, I be right back! Stay right here!" I demanded. I went as fast as I could to get her the biggest batch of roses I could carry. I’m sure M’Lady Valeana wouldn’t disapprove! As I rounded the corner she burst into tears, me too! She took the roses, breathing deeply, she sobbed happily. "Oh, you shouldn’t have. " I handed her a hanky and myself one too. "Oh, I must get these into water, and yee have a race to run. Slowly as yee can tho." She pushed me towards the door. The last thing I heard was, "Oh, I have to watch that one."