Bright Knight

The crowd gathered quickly as the sky grew light with morning. It was not often that Colin was willing to tale this tale, even cloaked in allegory, and it was always worth hearing. The pie sellers had stands, but did not dare their usual hawking, as it might have disrupted the tale.

"Once...There was a Bright Knight. He fought in lands both near and far, and eventually came to a land so distant from his homelands that the stars themselves made different patterns in the skies. There he found a land ruled by the Dragon Queen, and the Sons and Daughters of the Dragon. He saw that she protected her lands, and demanded that all her children do the same, and so he respected her and offered his sword."

There was now light enough to see the steam from the Hero's breath as he spoke.

"But the Queen of the Dragons was not sovereign, and ruled in the name of another. This Other demanded she take actions that would hurt her people, and she refused, raising her own banner in defiance. And the Bright Knight followed her...But grew less bright as he broke his oath to the Other to serve. But, the Queen was valiant and kept her people safe, as the Other did not, and the Knight followed. Together they vanquished the Other, and brought the islands upon which the Dragon Queen roosted to heel. And for a time, the Knight was content."

The first rays of the sun were striking the towers of the Palace, causing bright points of reflection to scatter across the streets.

"But the Queen of the Dragons was lost at sea one day. The Bright Knight led the search, and eventually recovered her, as was proper for her most favoured Knight, but the Dragon Queen had grown strange. She no longer looked to guard her people above all, but ordered harsh and terrible deeds. And one of her Sons strode forth to defy her, raising an army of her children. And he looked to the Bright Knight, who was known throughout the Queen's lands as a brave warrior, to lead the charge. But the Queen claimed him as the leader of her defenses, and the Knight was torn. This was not as before. The Queen was his liege, he her vassal...And even in her madness, he loved her still, as one loves an older sister. But he could not aid her in destroying all he had helped build. So he fled, and in his cowardice, he grew far dimmer, no longer Bright at all."

The sunlight glanced off the buildings of the market as the story continued.

"He sought new lands...A clean fight where he could serve with honour. But he was entangled, again, and again, in battles where all paths brought dishonour and shame. And he fought, trying to choose the least of the evils, and his armour grew black as his heart despaired."

The light of the sun finally illuminated the face of the talespinner, and the tears streaming down his face reflected rainbows in that white light.

"He longed for one last battle...Only one valiant cause in which he could give his life freely, to redeem his wasted honour. But all he approached refused him, fearful of losing some advantage, and he wondered if there were any service he could yet serve with his life...And whether he could bear to wait any longer."

The voice was hoarse with pain.

"Such is the tale of the Bright Knight. May Qyrvagg have mercy upon his bitter soul."