Kierra - 07:44pm Sep 21, 1998 MST
KoRT Squire to Felena

The journey to Murtano's Homeland truly was an adventure!  With all the many tasks I was to accomplish along this journey. It was all I could do just to keep up with the rest of the group. I felt that somehow, somewhere along the way, I had outgrown my childhood and now I was given more responsibility. I felt proud that my Knight Sponsor would entrust me with my many tasks, and I was determined not to let her nor anyone in our group down.

Milady Felena had instructed me that along the way of our journey, I was to quest for 4 seeds, keep Melazar's Steed Bruno in a state of welkeptness and keep track of Buford.  I must admit I was doing quite well until we reached the Elfin forest where Buford escaped my sight and got himself into a bit of a bind. With the aide of my sister Squire Jacella's acute mental abilities, she quickly located Buford and retrieved him with only slight injuries to his Doggy pride. Bruno had decided I was to be trained (by himself none the less) into the art of caring for war-horses. I soon learned that male horses do not like to have their manes braided and that only the tail may be bound. Bruno was quick to teach me and when I wasn't paying close enough attention to him, he let me know with a quick nip to my backside. By the time we reached the crest near the forest however, I had managed to find two of the seeds. The first I stumbled across quite by accident, as we were traveling south along the beach just outside of Southgate. I found it while trying to pick the pretty flower growing out of the stone for Milady Felena in hopes that it would cheer her. I had noticed just before our journey began that she was indeed very sad at the disappearance of her betrothed. This too saddened me and it was up to me to see that Milady was as content as possible. Once we had stopped for the night and the tents were up, I took the flower to Milady and asked her leave to find the seed that Milord Melazar had told me about. With her approval I headed out to check on the animals.

Once Bruno and Buford were settled for the night, I took a quick trip north up the beach. While passing the graveyard on my way to the docks I came across a fellow posting a sign near the cross headstone that read: Adventurers Beware Two of KoRT's Finest Milord's Melazar and Balin, were discovered here in a hole. Chuckling quietly to myself and wondering if this was perhaps the reason Milord Melazar said I should look for it this way. He was the ever-continuing prankster. I quickly headed straight to the docks and on to East island where I took the first canoe to Elizard Isle then the first canoe again. Upon embarking I saw a small hut which I entered after dispatching a few fire lizards. I slipped into the hut quickly and searched the chests within finding the seconds seed in the top left chest. I was quite thrilled, and left post haste.

Sneaking back into camp, (trying to be quiet never works for me), I stubbed my toe on a bolder and had to bite my tongue to keep from yelling out and waking the entire camp. I sat down on a rock and removed my boot to inspect the damage. Suddenly I felt a sharp nudge in my back. Turning quickly with boot raised in order to fend off the intruder I was taken aback to see that It was Bruno and he was laughing, or at least it sounded like laughter. He had a look to him as though he was telling me what a dunce I was to think I could slip into camp unnoticed. After tethering him back to the horse line, with him fighting me every inch of the way I hobbled over to my tent and bedded for the night, restlessness set in. I didn't sleep most of the night worrying about my beloved, home at the Keep and Milady Felena's sorrow. I decided that upon daybreak, I would show her two seeds that I had found in hopes that it would cheer her. Just as I had finally drifted off to sleep, (or so it felt) I felt another sharp nudge. This time it was Jacella waking me to get things ready to begin our journey again. "Kierra, you look awfully tired, did ye not sleep well last eve?" "Nay Milady" I said while shifting me body weight off my side and rubbing the sore spot left by the two seeds in my breeches pocket. "I was on a short trip of me own last night" carefully pulling the seeds out of my pocket, I showed them to Jacella. "I am going to show these to Milady Felena, I hope they cheer her. She sent me on a little quest to find these and two others. I am half way through it!" I said smiling brightly at Jacie.

After freshening up, feeding Buford, and grooming Bruno, I headed off to Milady's tent. "Milady, is it alright if I enter?" I asked quietly just in case she might be resting. Upon her summands I entered the tent and hugged her tightly, while saying a silent prayer to Tyr that her troubles be sided. "Milady! Look what I have found!" holding out the two seeds, I beamed a smile. "I found two! Only two more to go!" Milady carefully took the seeds from me and inspected them. Smiling at me she said, "Kierra, ye have done well child, now off with ye we have a lot of work to do to get on our way."

I quickly headed to the horse line and groomed and saddled Bruno for Milord Melazar. It was there that I heard another of the squires speaking about the seeds. Listening carefully I discovered that one of the seeds may be found on Ibans Island. I took a few short moments to check my map and saw that it wouldn't be too far out of the way for me to go there looking. Milord Melazar appeared to take Bruno out and saw the map, "Kierra, are you making plans for a trip of yer own?" he asked. "Aye Milord, my Knight Sponsor has asked me to quest for the four seeds, I have two already" I said showing them to him. "Aye I see, where did ye find these Kierra?" After filling him in on the details, he offered to help me get the other two. "The third will be easy for you, but the fourth may require a little help." This was being said while he hefted Giantklr, his trusty sword.  As soon as the party was safely on the way, Milord Melazar asked me to join him. We rode to the front of the caravan and he explained to Milady Felena that he wanted to take me out on a half days journey and that we would meet them as soon as our task was finished.
We rode to East isle once more, heading northeast and taking the canoe to Ibans Island. On the island we ran into a nasty group of  Ibans, who thought they could take us out. Milord Melazar soon dispatched two with great ease and I a third. I was standing near a tree when I felled the monster and it was here that I found the third seed. While I inspected the seed a fourth Iban threw his spear narrowly missing me. Not wanting him to alarm anyone, I soon chased after him. "Milord a fourth is trying to escape I am on him!" I yelled as I chased the creature east across the small island and north to a shallow inlet. The Iban ran across, after quickly scanning and sensing no danger I followed. Alas to no avail, he escaped on a tiny canoe. Not wanting to let him escape, and fearing others would come, I worried and I waited for Milord to catch up. "He took a canoe Milord, mayhap we should try to get him before he warns others about us?" "You stay here Kierra! I will go ahead and see what dangers await on the other side. If I do not return then you must go back to the party and tell them what became of today's events."  After agreeing most reluctantly, I stood there and fretted until I saw the small canoe return with Milord Melazar. "There are two guards and a huge nasty fellow on the other side. I saw no trace of the Iban. I netted the small party and if luck is on our side we should be able to dispatch with them and get to the northwest side of the isle where the fourth seed is said to be."

Quickly we rowed across to the island and dispatched the uglies. On the huge fellow I found a ring belonging to King Regis. I had remembered seeing the post about it, I Slipped it into me breeches pocket with the three seeds.  We quickly ran up the coast to the northwest, stopping only once to catch my breath under an island tree I found the fourth seed. "Milord! Look!!" I shouted, "Here it is! What luck I have today." Smiling brightly I tucked it safely in my pocket.
"Milady ye have done well and yer sponsor will be very proud of you, but yer quest is yet finished.
Do ye know what ye are supposed to do with the seeds now that ye have found them?"" Nay Milord," I said looking rather sad. "Have ye heard of the farmer Magdale? Ye are supposed to take the seeds to him so that he may plant them in a special garden." Remembering how fond Milord is of gardens I quickly agreed to do so. "Ok you have a special power to will yourself home, now I want you to do this, take the ring to the Kings court and meet me at the docks as soon as you can."

After willing myself back into me room, I went straight to the King's court and gave the ring to Sir Gent, then just as quickly headed out straight for the docks. "Kierra we need to go to Elizard Isle one more time, except we are going to take the big ship here, he said pointing to the biggest ship. It will be much faster and a safer trip for us." We boarded the ship which promptly took us to the isle. Once on the isle we followed a small path around the castle and found Magdale hard at work in his garden. I quickly handed over the seeds. Milord Magdale was so impressed with the seeds that he gave me a new shield to carry.

It was a magnificent shield, purple with golden inlay, "I shall ever be grateful Milord's!" I said to both Milord Melazar and Magdale.

We wished ourselves home once more then rode out to meet the rest of our party on our way to Milord Murtano's homeland. We arrived just in time to join the festive occasion with the Elfin king and his kin. That night truly was a night for celebration, I was very proud that I had succeeded in my quest and I showed off my new shield to Milady Felena and the other squires and Knights.  I felt a great sense of relief from my Knight Sponsor and saw for the first time since embarking on this journey a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes when she looked into Milord Murtano's as they danced.

When the festivities slowed a bit I took it upon myself to see to Bruno and give him the special treat I had saved from this nights fine eatery. A bright shiny apple, he gobbled it up and for the first time, placed his head near mine as if in a small hug. I began to feel a deep sense of pride in my accomplishments, with a song in my heart I headed off to find Buford who was fast asleep with Talia. I decided it was better for him to be with his own kind tonight, and headed off to my tent where I had a very restful sleep.