The Priestess by the River Meets the Terror
Peony is watching, waiting for the creature....the one Medeina sent her to.... Then the waters stir and a great beast rises and lets out a hiss..... She raises a hand and her eyes get brighter for a moment....
Cramden comes closer and begins to speak.... harumph....sorry....haven’t spoken in ages.... you from the Goddess? Yes, I’m her herald, Peony.... Ah....very good....can you take a message to her for me?
The village was on fire...people fleeing and crying.....something old and very dark was making it's way through the cottages....it was dark and stormy when lightening bolt flashed across the sky illuminating the Terror that raised up to look at those fleeing....Basilisk came the call....Knights arrived and quickly were over run by it....tail dashing horses and riders against walls...until just then a bright golden light glowed in front of it....someone materialized and looked the old dragon in the eyes...You There....come over here....Merlin had arrived...
Cramden came close and started to sniff test Merlin when...
Merlin places a hand on the serpents nose and instantly translocates him to the river away from everything....Cramden looks around and realizes he's out matched....sorry, sorry didn't mean anything by it....just a bit of fun....Merlin just cocks his head and says.....bit of fun huh?
Merlin turns saying...don't let my eyes fall upon you again Basilisk....then he's gone...Cramden gets a funny feeling and then notices he now has two arms....What?
Marshall was walking the wall on duty that night when something slithered past the parapet....
A scream came from the gate as the guards went silent.... The sounds of bone crunching sent the men running, not towards but away....the gate was hammered and shook....but held fast.... A low hissing sound emanated from beyond and then all was quiet....
Marshall musters the Knights and they ride out into morning light....they have a clear trail to follow in the sand....heading for Ptellamy town....
William was returning from a visit at the Palace and swooped low over the riders....Yo! Where are you going? Marshall halts the line and looks up to see Vashon and William come to a hover, then land next to him....
Basilisk....fort attacked in the night.... William studied the trail in the sand and confirmed.... Marshall, you’ll need more than swords against this foe....here.
William hands him three black balls....be careful with those and don’t drop them....throw them at it from close quarters and soon....you’ll have to be standing in the fire to be effective....
Marshall rides off without a word.... They are the bombs used in the Griffin War. King Ponteous sent them with him for Po to store....in case.
Marshall had his back to the wall when the Basilisk came up....It was taller than the fort wall and could have snatched him easily....but it didn’t see him....Marshall was protected....Medeina.
The Knights followed the trail and came to a cave entrance....the beast was inside.....
Captain....came the call....what shall we do.... Marshall just looked at his hands....Send in the scout.... Soon a young man of about eighteen came up from the back.... Sir! Recon son....Be silent....Sir, yes sir....
The afternoon passed in scorching heat....and then a griffin lands behind them....it’s William. Marshall shakes his head....I’ve lost a scout....Hmmmm....says William, possibly....
Marshall just asks him....can you help? What’s our play?... William looks at the cave....Bombs? yes here....post someone up there, above the entrance....give them one....Marshall looks like hope has arrived....
The lieutenant comes over and takes the bomb....looks at William.... Wait until it stops, then throw it on its head....The Knight runs off to his post.... Wait here, Marshall....I need to check something....
Approaching the entrance, William spots the scout coming out and motions him over.. Give me a sitrep, son....Sir....the Basilisk is sleeping....Good. Go tell our commander....
The Basilisk woke and began moving out....William was in a bad spot, caught in the open....just as it got to the opening it stopped....William was holding still, trying not to be seen.....The beast looked up....and then at William....Come on....come out....he thought....
And then it spoke, out loud.... You there.... Yes?...come over here....uh...
The Basilisk then tells him with an upward nod....call your man off.... William motions with two fingers to the side....the man retreats....
Good, now come here, it says.... William walks right up to it and says....Sir, you’ve offended the Knights.... It lowers its head and William takes a step back, convinced he’s toast when.... What’s your name? Ptellamy, William Prellamy....
The Basilisk responds.... Cramden.... Basilisk extraordinaire....nice to meet you....and sorry.... It rolls its eyes....old habits....raises up and looks over at the Knights....SORRY....
William motions for it to come closer....then says, where are you headed?... Cramden looks at him and whispers.... I’ll bet you know....actually I have an appointment with the Goddess....it was arranged....
Plus, I’m looking for a certain Valkyrie....Peony, I think was her name....ever heard of her? Just then Marshall signals to the lieutenant to chuck his bomb....and without looking, Cramden raises a hand, catches it, and tosses it away. It detonates in the distance.
Cramden scowls and peers at the Knight....poor guy runs off screaming.... William just shakes his head....William inquires, Cramden....Yes, William.... I thought your kind were limbless....
Yes, well, a certain wizard thought it would be funny....so after dragging them around for a hundred years I learned to master them..Just a moment please.... Sure, take your time....William walks over to Marshall....Son, you’re not going to believe this....
Cramden can’t resist....in a flash he slithers up to the Knights, the horses panic, people are falling off....And then he smiles....sorry, sorry.... And then asks....who’s the leader here?
Marshall raises a finger....uh, that would be me.... Cramden gets real close and sniffs him.... William thinks uh oh.... Then the Basilisk just replies, NOPE, and scurries off on his way.... Everybody is relieved....
What do we do now? William gets on Vashon and leaves without a word.... The Knights return to the fort....
And somewhere Medeina just grins....good, that could have been worse.
Cramden sniffs the commander.....nope...not a bad guy, because the alternative was...chomp....
Fun fact: the two guards were local militia recruited from the street and not well vetted.....they didn’t pass muster with Cramden, hence double chomp.
William caught up with Cramden, yes what is it now? Hold up lets take a break, by the way I'm very close with Princess Peony as it were...Cramden freezes...Say Again?...
Vashon, still in a hover looks down as Cramden gives him the side eye....William pulls on the reigns to stop him but too late...
Vashon speaks up...
Vashon looking into Cramden's eye recognizes him....I know you....Cramden rises up to full height and is now in snapping distance...his eyes narrow, oh? come down from there....
The mighty Griffin King alights on the grassy earth and William slides off and strides over to Cramden....who....ignores him and rather slithers up to Vashon....I don't believe we've met....
Yes well, uh...Vashon is trying to speak but words fail him as Cramden coils around him giving a light sniff....
Vashon loses it and takes flight just as Cramden springs up and snaps his jaws shut just missing him...William shouts....BOYS....Cramden get over here....
Cramden...laughing to himself glides over to William....sorry, sorry....couldn't help myself...just a bit of fun....William begins again, so Peony....Cramden's eyes light up....yes go on....Peony?
Just a minute....sure take your time....William calls Vashon back through mind speak...The Mighty Griffin circles once....William tells Cramden...He's my friend and Peony's Protector. Then Vashon lands by them and walks up to Cramden...I met you by the river that night with my Preiestess....Cramden takes a close look and sais....right, right....that time....sorry....
She will be with Medeina, do you know the way? Yes well the Goddess gave me directions and siad to go around the back way to avoid the town.....Pesky Knights anyway...We'll go on ahead and let them know to allow you passage....Thanks can't have too many friends in this world...
Cramden arrived at Medeina’s meadow by evening....he wisely took the detour she suggested to him rather than showing up in town..
She comes out and greets him.... hello old friend, there’s someone here wants to see you.... Peony comes out and Cramden lays down on the ground.... My Priestess, he says.... Peony just pets him and says arise...... They get down to business after a short visit.....
Medeina......can you do something for me..... Sure, let’s see....you want asylum, correct.... Yes my Goddess, there’s no place in this world for me now.... Very well, you may pass....
The portal opens and Cramden goes off into the ages.... Peony asks so what’s he going to do now.... There’s a place for him, the Divine enjoys a game of chess with the old Dragon.... Peony just says, figures.
As Cramden passes over the threshold....Peony watches and something very strange happens....once on the other side....he transforms....into a prince who waves back at them.... Medeina! Yes, Peony, what was that.... oh, just his wish....the Divine loves granting them....
He was the consort Prince with a curse to wander the wastes for all time....then, tired, he hears of a Goddess who stands by a gate to another world and had he not eaten the person telling him this.....maybe it would have turned out different.... Basilisk in the water....Priestess unafraid....Valkyrie on the move....
Cramden came across King Midious and his Holy Maiden brought him lunch....two cows.... thanks ma’am.... come see the King when you’re done.... will do.... Their meeting went well for everyone but the page boy.....dessert apparently.... Cramden was waiting in the courtyard when a hapless page boy came to get him.... um excuse me, the King will see you now.... oh, thanks.... And then with the grace of a grouper snatching a minnow he inhales the boy like a feather. Then heads inside with a burp...