A Hero's Journey: It Takes Two - Part 1

      The war room of Meridell Castle was full of knights either seated at the table, jostling for position on the floor, or standing around wherever they could find room. All shields and weaponry were organised and placed in their proper positions; the same could not be said for the knights, who exhibited varying degrees of interest or boredom as Jeran explained a strategy sketched on the map of the Plains of Retreat mounted on the board in front of them. There were various circles, lines, arrows, and X’s sprinkling the plains, hills, and woods on the map, as well as two marked fortresses on either side – one adorned in the Meridellian colours, and the other in green and gold.

     “…and this is where we will be placing the archers. They’ll be on the battlements of Fort Skarl,” the Blue Lupe was saying, pointing to the red and blue citadel. He frowned briefly when he saw a Speckled Gelert toss a coin into the air over and over. “Jaco, this really isn’t the time for your Snargan impression.”

     Jaco raised an eyebrow, smirked, and made a show of tossing the coin one more time before stopping to lean back in his seat.

     “Anyway, the Brightvale Guard will be moving from the east and will be taking the easiest path through the plains….”

     A short Striped Kougra hid a yawn behind his fist as his eyes began to droop. As the rest of him followed suit, the burly Yellow Lupe beside him nudged him before the Kougra could fall right onto his shoulder. A Strawberry Pteri glanced out the war room’s only window and tapped the wing of her companion.

     “…we’ll keep the war machines here on this side, as our last line of defence….”

     Danner leaned forward with interest, only to emit a stifled “Hey!” when the Striped Kougra leaned against him instead. “Oakley, seriously?”

     Jeran sighed and rubbed his temples. “That’s our strategy for this year’s war games with the Brightvalian Guard. It should be simple enough – they march into our territory, but they won’t march out with a victory. Any questions?”

     “What? I’m listening!” a Red Draik called out, jerking into wakefulness suddenly.

     At first, there was no other response. Having commanded the Order of the Knights of Meridell for years, Jeran’s authority was unquestioned. Asking whether anyone had any questions had become a mere formality in case someone did, in fact, have questions that were not, “May I go to the little knights’ room?”

     Which was why Jeran was slightly taken aback when a hand shot up at the rear of the table.

     “Yeah, I have a question.”

     Jeran grimaced when he saw that the hand belonged to Sir Rohane of Trestin, a Blumaroo who achieved international fame as an adventurer across five Neopian lands, including Meridell, and who received a hero’s welcome and a place among Meridell’s knights as a long overdue reward. While Jeran did not discount Rohane’s proven skill and expertise in battle and strategy, he had not counted on Rohane being extremely vocal whenever they had discussions like this.

     “Why aren’t we using the mountains over on that side?” Rohane asked, standing up and pointing to the mountains on the northeast side of the map. “The terrain is rough for fighters who are unfamiliar with it, it’s a good vantage point for archers who can snipe the Brightvalian forces, and it provides enough cover for us to set up an ambush.”

     “The mountains there are difficult to trek, especially in full armour,” the Lupe pointed out tiredly as though they had been through this song and dance before. “It’s too risky.” Jeran shook his head.

     “It’s a risk that could pay off if we want to win the war games. Again,” Rohane commented. He strode over to the map, so he was now standing next to Jeran, raising a finger to trace a path from the mountains down to the plains. “Post a squadron here to start whittling Brightvale down. A little goes a long way, and you don’t want so many knights in one area.” He gestured to Fort Skarl.

     “The games end when Brightvale takes our fort. That’s why our forces are heavy here.”

     “Then we’ll make sure Brightvale never gets to our fort,” said Rohane, shrugging. “The mountains will keep us out of reach while we use them to our advantage.”

     “Your reason is what’s out of reach.” Jeran scowled. “Why don’t we talk about this later? Privately,” he added through gritted teeth.

     “Why not now? The games are two weeks away,” Rohane shot back.

     Knights who were previously distracted or listless were now listening intently, sitting up or standing straighter depending on their position in the war room. The two female Pterii got down from their perch, one of them occupying the chair the White Blumaroo had vacated. Wide, alert eyes followed the debate from one hero to another as the debate began to escalate into something more intense.

     “This strategy has always brought us victory,” Jeran pressed, pointing agitatedly at his map. “It’s why we win almost every year.”

     “Have you ever considered that Brightvale has been taking notes? What if this year they decide to put all those notes to good use?”

     “That’s why we have a Plan B, and I was about to get to that when you interrupted me. Sit down, Rohane.”

     But Rohane did not sit down, and instead folded his arms across his chest and stood squarely where he was, glaring daggers at the other knight. “Not until you hear me out.”

     “We don’t need to change my strategy!” Jeran retorted.

     “Well, maybe you should change your mind!”

     “My mind is made up. Nothing can change it.”

     “Oh, yeah?”

     “Five hundred Neopoints says they’ll take this to the duelling grounds,” a Yellow Lupe whispered to Danner and Oakley as the argument raged.

     “Seriously? You’re thinking of making bets right now, Tuffold?” Danner whined.

     “This war room’s not big enough for the two of them, apparently,” Jaco commented as he watched with a sardonic grin. “Makes for interesting briefings, though.”

     Beryl, the Strawberry Pteri perched on Rohane’s chair, shook her head. “This isn’t going to end well.”

     “Why won’t you hear me out?” The Blumaroo’s voice had begun to rise – but so did the Blue Lupe’s.

     “Okay, I’ll hear you out.” Jeran paused before shouting his next words for everyone to hear. “On the duelling grounds!”

     “Fine!” Rohane accepted the challenge in a heartbeat. “Now?”

     “Now! May the best strategist win!”

     “Nice, five hundred Neopoints!” Tuffold proclaimed, pumping a fist into the air.

     * * *

     “I’m so glad you two could come at such short notice,” gushed a Blue Acara in a wizard’s silvery robe as she walked through the castle hallways with a Green Eyrie in a neat periwinkle blouse and skirt, and a Red Techo in an ornamented black robe and royal blue cape. “Kayla, Lisha and I are almost done with the Mirror Crystals. They’ll allow the audience to see what’s going on during the war games from different angles. Everyone will be able to see the knights clearly….”

     “That sounds like a lot of complicated magic,” the Techo noted, stroking his chin.

     “Not for the best in Meridell!” a Red Zafara in star-spangled robes crowd, meeting the three in the middle of the corridor. “Hi, Talinia, hi, Velm! Oh wow, Rohane’s in for a big surprise when he finds out you two have dropped by for a visit!”

     The Eyrie lifted a finger to her beak, smiling faintly. “Shhh, he might hear. Then it won’t be a surprise anymore.”

     Kayla waved a hand dismissively. “Nah, he and Jeran and the other knights are still holed up in the war room discussing the strategy for the games. It’s going to be exciting!”

     “And not just because of our Mirror Crystals,” Mipsy added. “These are going to be Rohane’s first war games.”

     “I’m looking forward to seeing how he’ll help the knights plan their strategy,” said Talinia, nodding. “He’s always been a good strategist and tactician….”

     “When he’s not being reckless or when he hasn’t lost his temper,” Velm interrupted, rolling his eyes. “I hope he isn’t giving them a headache.”

     “Doesn’t he usually get along with everyone else?” asked the Eyrie. “Well, he and Jeran have had a few disagreements….”

     “Oh, I’m sure that’s all in the past,” said Kayla confidently. “You guys wanna head for the war room? You could wait outside till the knights come out and ambush Rohane! That’ll be a real surpri – “

     The Zafara’s voice trailed off. The four of them heard the loud clashing of metal interspersed with a lot of enraged yelling.

     “I thought the knights were still in the war room,” Mipsy began slowly. “That came from the duelling grounds.”

     “Maybe it’s a bunch of rowdy guardsmen?” Kayla offered. “Let’s go see!”

     She beckoned the others to follow her down the hall opening into the duelling grounds, which was part of the larger training grounds of the castle but was often reserved for more serious matches. When they arrived, they noticed that there were many onlookers circled around a Lupe and a Blumaroo engaged in a very intense swordfight. Blades flashed in the sunlight as the combatants struck, parried, and swung, grunting, bellowing and trying to make snatches of conversation.

     “Jeran – just – listen – to – “

     “Yield – already - !”

     “Oh, sweet Fyora,” muttered Velm, grimacing. “What’s going on? Something tells me this is no ordinary sparring match.”

     “It’s all part of the war games briefing,” a Blue Wocky replied, his eyes still on the ongoing battle. Jeran and Rohane had locked swords, each one not giving in to the other. Danner laughed nervously. “All part of the briefing!”

     Talinia squinted at him. “Something tells me that isn’t part of the briefing at all.”

     “It’s not!” Danner burst out. “Jeran and Rohane argued over our strategy, and now…” He flapped a hand at the duel. Jeran feinted and would have disarmed Rohane if the latter had not dodged in time, skidding against the grass and slashing widely at his commanding officer’s legs.

     “Hasn’t anyone tried to break them up?” asked Mipsy. A few knights looked at her as though she had told them to go turn the giant marrow into a boat and sail the river with it.

     Tuffold shook his head grimly and jerked a thumb at Jeran, blocking a quick sword thrust from Rohane. “You try getting in the middle of that, short stuff. My ear nearly got nicked by a wild riposte. So now we’re just standing here waiting for them to tire….”

     “They haven’t tired,” said Danner, who sounded tired himself. “When those two get down to duel, nothing on Neopia can stop them until one or both of them fall.” As he said that, the knights collectively winced at Jeran hitting the ground, but they watched with a mix of fascination and dread as he continued to parry Rohane’s strikes from where he was.

     “And when we say fall, we don’t mean that kind of fall,” said Beryl. “Really, it’ll take an otherworldly force to make th – “

     A loud trumpet blast pierced everyone’s ears and even caused both combatants to freeze and scramble to their feet. As they stood up, everyone could see that the Blue Lupe and the White Blumaroo were cut, scratched, bruised, and dirty from their battle. Their tunics and breeches were torn in a dozen places, and their chests were heaving from the exertion.

     The trumpet belonged to a Green Quiggle wearing purple and maroon livery. He took a deep breath and proclaimed grandly with a sweeping gesture toward the Royal male Kyrii at his side, “His Excellency, Baron Cuthbert!”

     Everyone scrambled to bow while the Kyrii looked down his nose at them. He glanced at the Quiggle and said, “Your announcing voice still needs some work. More aplomb next time, if you please. But for now, leave us.” He clapped his hands, and the Quiggle scurried away, trumpet in tow. Before anyone could ask what Baron Cuthbert was doing on the duelling ground, he gestured imperiously at Jeran and Rohane, a frown of disdain passing over his features briefly.

     “You two, come along with me.” He sniffed. “Surely, you two lowborn brutes can handle a job better than a squad of soldiers.”

     Rohane tensed, making a strangled noise, brows deepening in a scowl. Jeran, in response, clamped a solid hand down on the Blumaroo’s shoulder.

     “What’s his problem?” Mipsy whispered to Talinia, who merely shrugged.

     “Nothing. He is the problem,” said Oakley, pursing his lips in distaste.

     As the two knights stepped forward to approach Cuthbert, he wrinkled his snout and backed away. “But first, make yourselves presentable, please. I won’t have you tracking mud into my study.” The Kyrii tut-tutted before turning on his heel without another word.

     “Saved by the stuffy noble,” the Striped Kougra blurted out, only to quickly clamp his mouth shut when Cuthbert glanced over his shoulder. But all Cuthbert gave him was a withering glare before he disappeared into the castle.

     At first, silence reigned on the grounds. Jeran lifted his hand from Rohane’s shoulder, and the two of them relaxed.

     Velm was the first to speak as he approached the two bedraggled warriors. “Are you all right?” he asked.

     “Velm? You’re here?” the Blumaroo asked in surprise before adding, “Yeah, I think so. He felt a scratch on his cheek before checking one of his shoulders.

     Jeran nodded, rubbing his arm where his shirt had been sliced open. “We didn’t know you were coming.”

     “Okay, good.” The Red Techo gripped his staff decisively in his hands and swung it against Rohane’s head.

     “Owww!”

     Jeran tried to stifle his laughter but failed. What stopped him from laughing was likewise getting struck on the side of his head with the staff.

     “Seriously?!”

     “You idiots. You meatheads,” Velm growled, jabbing one end of his staff into the ground and creating a small hole. “What were you two thinking, trying to kill each other?”

     Mipsy leaned toward Talinia again. “Yikes, Velm is hopping mad.”

     “I’m not surprised,” the Green Eyrie said in a very deadpan tone of voice.

     “We weren’t trying to kill each other!” Jeran objected, raising his hands as though in surrender. “Someone just wouldn’t listen to me during the war games meeting!”

     “Maybe if someone just learned to listen to a few suggestions!” Rohane argued.

     Danner rubbed his temples. “Maybe two someones shouldn’t have tried to solve their problem with violence.”

     “Shouldn’t you be headed for Cuthbert’s study?” Talinia asked slowly. “We wouldn’t want to displease the stuffy noble, after all. Can you patch them up, Velm?”

     “I’ll patch them up now, but the next time they pull a stunt like this…” Velm shook his head disapprovingly. “They’ll each be getting more than a rap on the head!”

     To be continued…