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Meantime, here is a story i
found from that bard they call "Martin of
Brune"
z z z z z z
The Tales of Martin of Brune z z z z z z
The Fist of Valkor
Part I of
III | Part II | Part
III
Martin plays his lute to a smallish audience this night, at the Apple
Tree
Inn. The atmosphere is an intimate one. The hearth crackles warmly in
the
corner, and the first snow of the year lopes gently like goose down from
the heavens.
The whole of Palace is subdued
if not somber this evening, with recent
news of international events making the mood dark (more of which you will
hear about later). In recognition of this, Martin plays his lute softly,
in long sinuous passages which he occasionally embellishes with his soft
baritone voice (and which Pip occasionally embellishes with an out of
tune
whistling, until Martin glares at him, as he suspects Pip is doing it
just
to annoy him). The music goes nowhere in particular but rather is an
accompaniment to the mood of the inn and more importantly, a prelude to
the story Martin intends to relate.
Given recent events, he has chosen a story about Valkor, perhaps the
greatest conqueror of Ancient Indis times.
Gradually the music comes
to a halt. Martin looks up at the audience
slowly…
z z z z z z
"You know the story"
he begins "sure you do. You’ve heard about him,
Valkor the Great, conqueror of the east, first emperor of Indis. There
was
no emperor greater and he was matched later only by the emperor Mion."
"So the story is told that Valkor had humble beginnings, and indeed
this
much is true. It is said that Valkor began service in the Indis military
as a common soldier, but worked through the ranks with astonishing speed
to become a general. This is also true."
"History writes that
he first developed a taste for conquest at the battle
of Prescat , where he led a small army to victory against superior forces.
Some, more insightful histories, even point to the fact that he was able
to win by introducing new and innovative training techniques and tactics.
They say that Valkor became thirsty for the praise and popularity that
this victory brought him and this drove later conquests." Martin
gives a
short laugh "well this is not entirely true."
"After a series of successful conquests, Valkor had amassed a huge
military forces under his command. The historians will say that the
senators of the Indigo Republic now feared his power and influence and
that is why they labeled him a renegade general and put a bounty on his
head. But there is more to it than that."
"In short time Valkor
turned on Indigo, usurping the republic and
declaring himself emperor. Many will say that his popularity grew as a
result of this, because the people of Indis felt the senate was corrupt,
opulent and incapable of decision making. And don’t mistake me, for
there
is merit in that point of view, although it is misguided."
"After becoming established as emperor, Valkor set his mind on his
real
ambition, to conquer the lands to the east, with their riches, spices,
corn and metal. It is said he won these conquests by building a mighty
naval fleet of ships much faster and superior to any other ships of the
time. But not enough is ever said about how he was able to do this."
"It is hard to image
where Valkor’s conquests might have ended if it were
not for that infernal disease we refer to as love. He had fallen in love
with the Phaoro of Kran, Loialistra. This cunning praying mantis of a
women, lured Valkor into vulnerability and had him killed in her bed,
after love making. Most people will say this was because she was in love
with one of the senators of Indigo so used Valkor’s affections to
snare
him in a trap. But there was much more to it than that."
Martin leans closer and smiles…
"Well, that is the story
of Valkor the great you might read in history
books. But now I will tell you the real story…"
z z z z z z
Part two of the story to follow, you have
been listening to Martin de Brune (aka Wayne Kington) at the
Apple Tree Inn.
Author: Martin de
Brune (aka Wayne Kington)
created:
14 February 1998 | Last
Updated: January 18, 2002
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