The Raven Knight

A/N: This was written in response to the brilliant Matthew Fromm's #highfantasychallenge. Thank you, Matthew! I hope you enjoy my entry!

Ser Bertram, The Raven Knight, had not always worn his armor of dark shards. He was once a paladin. For years Ser Bertram cut through hordes of the ware-folk in his King’s name. It was only when a large Alpha ware-lion fought him with his words rather than his claws and fangs that it occurred to Ser Bertram - he had been slaughtering intelligent humans rather than savage beasts.

Feeling betrayed by his King, Ser Bertram assumed the guise of The Raven Knight, and traveled the realm - swearing to protect any creatures being unfairly treated.

The Raven Knight was just so, for the next decade. Ser Bertram the noble but foolish paladin who served the cruel King Eadwud was forgotten.

Krasimir was raised as a high-ranking son of the Forest Elves in King Eadwud’s Kingdom. He was the eldest born within the Eiraoderan family.

The prestigious family had once ruled over the Forests within the Kingdom as a Kingdom of their own before King Eadwud cut off their trade roots and forced them to sacrifice their independence for survival. Unfortunately, the King also found great interest in the harvesting of sacred trees to make furniture for his Lords.

Krasimir watched his once proud family beg the King’s armies to stop chopping down their home with his own eyes. One day, he stormed away from his treehouse and ventured deeper into the woods in search of solace. Instead, he found a dark shadow cutting down knights with a black glass sword.

‘The Raven Knight!’ he realized with a start. He had been legend in the ancient woods for years. He was standing as proudly as Krasimir’s elders had told him, defending a ware-wolf from a pack of silver knights.

Krasimir ran home, wrapped bread and cheese in waxed leaves, and set out to follow his hero.

The Raven Knight soon spotted his little follower, telling him repeatedly that he had no interest in protecting trees, nor having an elven shadow.

Nevertheless, Krasimir continued to follow The Raven Knight, using his tracking skills to relocate him when he slipped away into darkness.

One day, a ware-tiger sniffed out The Raven Knight to ask him for assistance. Her name was Mairead, and she was in a bad state.

“Please help us, Raven. Me family ‘ave been slaughtered by vampires, wearing the King’s coat of arms! We could not smell nor hear them before they attacked, and now they have run off into the night!”

“I cannot help you, Mairead. I cannot track vampires, especially in the forest.”

“Perhaps I could help?” Krasimir’s voice cut through the air.

The Raven Knight huffed good-naturedly.

“He is a very good tracker. I suppose we could give this a go.”

Elated, Kirasimir leaped into the air.

“Let’s hunt some vampires!”

And so, The Raven Knight, The heir to the Forests, and a ferocious ware-tiger set off as a team, to thwart the whims of the destructive King Eadwud and his new army of the undead.

A/N: What did ya think? Would anyone be interested in a fully written version of this story? I am VERY interested in writing it!

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