Sir Finn of Glenrydlen Read Free

alll the time, and one who was not her
friend because of who she was. He smiled, then placed his hand on
her head, her soft hair felt sleek and gentle in his large
fingers.
     
    "I know what we
will do, we will find you someone to spend time with you here, in
the castle. Someone who isn't a work friend, would that be good?"
he asked. Princess Bracken smiled widely, and her eyes opened like
flowers on a late spring morning.
     
    "Yes, that
would be wonderful! We can play all day and take lessons together,
we can go riding and fishing and play in the fields.." She smiled
again and continued her list of possibilities in her head reeling
around until she went through the door into her private wing of the
castle. Her father could hear the elated cries of his daughter as
she ran through the corridor towards her room where she no doubt
began to imagine what she could do first.
     
    Prince Hans
cleared his throat, and drew the room to his attention. As everyone
turned and quietly waited for him to speak, the Prince began.
     
    "I have a duty,
we need a friend for my daughter, someone is to go into the town an
find a girl of Princess Bracken's age. She must be fair of heart
and just of mind, and so I need a Knight to be my judge. Who will
take this challenge?" Prince Hans looked around the room at his
court and waited for an answer. The wise adivsors all huddled
together and asked themselves questions, the knights looked up but
when they heard there was no fights to take part in, most of them
went back to their conversations. Then, from the crowd, one knight
stood forward. In a loud and heavy voice, Sir Finn addressed his
Prince.
     
    "I will go, if
I may, Sire?" he asked, his chainmail vest rattled as he bowed
slightly, offering his services. Sir Finn was a young knight, who
had recently joined the ranks a couple of years before. He had seen
difficult times in his duties but was still a beginner when it came
to battle, his training had been in the practice sessions. Sorting
the just from the decietful was something he had been good at in
the past and was often called upon to help with problem solving and
for finding out who had been responsible when crimes were
committed. Prince Hans knew that Sir Finn was an ideal candidate
for this duty and so he allowed him to take it.
     
    "I will ensure
the Princess extends a favour to your Lady, so you may wear it with
remembrance for your hard work." Said the Prince, who was talking
about his wife, Princess Serene. She was away on official duty
preparing the Ladies in waiting for the dance on the next evening.
It was very important that the young men and women knew the steps
and formailities as to impress their partners and win their hearts
for future days. Sir Finn bowed in a deep bend of his body to
signify that he was about to leave. He took several steps backwards
while facing the Prince and when his eyes moved away from the
knight's, Sir Finn turned and walked through the main door. Upon
his exit, the court began to chatter and banter, bicker and brew as
before, Prince Hans returned to his simple throne and sat, thinking
about who Sir Finn might find.
     
    As the eager
Sir Finn walked through the courtyard, he looked for his esquire, a
young man of fourteen years who was in charge of looking after his
horse. Realising they would all be at the dance rehearsals for the
following evening, he decided to hand some extra duties to Sam, his
squire, who was only eight years old. Sam was playing with a wooden
sword and shield in one of the empty paddocks and Sir Finn called
him over. It was rare for Sam to speak directly to his knight,
usually Edmund, the esquire would trickle down requests but today
he had a direct ear. Beaming with a gappy grin, Sam ran across to
see how he could help. Any work done for Sir Finn would go towards
his career as a knight in the future and so he was always looking
for ways to help.
     
    "Suit up my
horse, Sam, I'm headed for the village", he commanded, with