Season 2 - Episode ?: A Clash of Kings
On a warm afternoon, many moons before the tragedy that would soon be known as the Malice of the Chalices, Lord bds9992 rode on horseback for King's Landing with his squire, an aspiring knight named Cade.
"Are you looking forward to the drawing of the swords, my Lord?"
"Yes, Cade. Every tournament is another chance at victory."
"Are you feeling optimistic, my Lord?"
"Always, Cade."
"Very good, my Lord."
They rode for several miles through the Valley of the Sun. It was very hot that day. As they rode, they passed the historic Temple of D'Antoni.
"Cade, what is that?"
"It looks familiar, my lord. Many arrows were shot there. Could it be.....the Temple of Lord D'Antoni?"
"Very good, Cade. The Temple of D'Antoni exists to commemorate our appreciation for Lord D'Antoni's tactics in the field of combat. Back then, everything was hand to hand combat or sword play. But Lord D'Antoni surmised that by shooting more arrows, you could theoretically hit more targets at a faster rate. By the time the hand to hand knights figured out what was going on, it was too late. Lords Kerr and Nash..."
"I'm sorry, my Lord, but is that Lord dBKC?"
Lord dBKC was also on his way to King's Landing for the drawing of the swords. They proceeded to greet each other.
"Lord bds! I presume you are on your way to the drawing of the swords?"
"It is good to see you, Lord dB! Yes, I am on my way to the drawing of the swords. Shall we ride together?"
"Afraid not, my friend. I have to send a few ravens out before I can get there, so I might be a little late but I will see you there. Are you excited?"
"Yes, dB. Always."
"Very good, bds. Well, I should get going."
"Safe travels, friend."
As dBKC rode off, the squire Cade's expression was unmistakable, like a young boy receiving his first sword.
"How long have you known Lord dBKC, my Lord?"
"A few years."
"Do you know if he has a squire?"
".....not really, Cade."
"I hear he is the most accomplished lord of our time! He has won seven or eight tournaments and was the second place finisher in the first Savage Tournament!"
"Yes, that's true."
"I would love to fight for a lord like that."
Lord bds paused. He believed Cade had something to say, but wanted him to say it.
"I wonder who Lord dBKC was sending a raven to? Maybe Lord Ash of Mael. Maybe Lord Ben of House Hoidal? Maybe Robert the Dusk?"
"It's possible."
"But, you know, you're just as great my Lord."
"Don't flatter me, Cade."
"No, I'm just saying, you're a great Lord, no matter what happens in the Tournament."
"Thank you, Cade. And what do you expect to happen in this tournament?"
"Well, Lord, I expect the most accomplished lords to select knights with the greatest ability to attack, defend, and gather swords. They are surely the most respected lords in the realm! We all know that as long as knights pass their weapons at least half of the time, the benefits of extended teamwork do not seem to produce greater results, so it is best to find the knights with the most range who also can defend their castle, like Jrue of Holiday or Sir Eric, The Blade. With knights like that....."
"What about Sir Nikola, The Jester?"
"Well, as you know, Sir Nikola The Jester is not a great defender of castles. But I know you know that. All of the other squires understood what you meant to do, of course. I don't think of any less of you for it, really."
"That's.......good, Cade."
"Oh yes, we're all very respectful when we send scrolls to each other."
"I've heard that as well. Scroll talk is obviously very mature, and you ought to be proud."
Lord bds paused for a moment, in order to gather his thoughts.
"Do you know how long I've known Sir Nikola, Cade?"
"......no, my Lord."
"I once watched Sir Nikola against House Spurs in his first year as a knight. They still had the old legend, Tim of House Duncan."
"Duncan, my Lord? That's incredible! I never got the chance to see Sir Duncan fight in his prime."
"Sir Duncan was a great, great knight. He was a fantastic passer of swords who defended his post as well as any knight of his era. He and Lord Commander Popovich ruled the realm for 20 years and won five tournaments together. They were successful because there was a great understanding in their house of teamwork, chemistry, passing swords, giving up good swords for great swords, and the occasional, tasteful dagger. But they did not always use their arrows. They regularly forced opposing houses to hit less than 90 targets. They were excellent defenders of the castle."
"That is fascinating, my Lord."
"I knew Sir Nikola would be a great knight because he hit 23 targets and gathered 13 swords against a house of such reptuation when no one knew who he was. It was uncommon for a knight of his skills to do so at such a young age. When I saw this, I knew the young knight was destined for greatness. I had never selected Sir Nikola before, and felt that my belief in him for these many years would be rewarded. Unfortunately, I did not pick the right knights to go with him and Sir Karl the Lone. Besides them, we couldn't hit enough targets per full battle or defend the castle enough. We let too many swords past, and our fifth house didn't even have Sir Nikola. This was my fault. It was my first time commanding five houses at once.
But you must understand. Not long ago, the realm did not have so many knights who attacked and defended well. Some, like Sir Shawn Kemp, were fine knights. Even though they received penalties for breaking tournament rules, they were very capable knights who possessed uncommon abilities for their class. I had great affection for them, but sometimes I let my affection for older knights cloud my judgment.
I was once a squire like you, and like Lord dB was not so long ago. I fought with such famous Lords as Monium the Sly, Scud the Missler, and C.J. of Okla'homa. I remember Lord Miles T. and Lord Carbon Jones. I even remember Lord Resident Evil. Unlike you, Cade, I never really had a Lord to teach me the way. I was a young squire who had to figure things out on my own. The battles did not come easily to me, but I am getting better."
"That is very good, my Lord! I did not know all of that."
"Some knights disappeared, Cade. I miss some of my old friends. Lady Feline the Fifth, King J.T. the Seventh, Friar Luke, and Lord Leibowitz. I have known many knights. And I now know what I must do. All these years, I have been trying to make the pieces fit, but I think I finally see the whole puzzle. I will show you, Cade. Some of these secrets have been lost to time. Some lords like knights who succeeded in other battalions as if they would succeed in a different battalion. Some lords ignore arrows altogether. But I know something they don't know, and they don't think I know anything. That is a powerful weapon.
"Or you could just be a terrible lord, immune to logic and reason."
"Yes, Cade. I suppose you're right. Some lords have been cruel, but my fight is not with them. It is with the Mad King."
"The Mad King?"
"Yes, Cade. The Lord of Lords."
"The Lord of Lords? You mean the King's Hand, Lord dh?"
"His Lord."
"Lord dh has a lord?"
"EVERYONE has a lord."
"Even Lord Ben of House Hoidal?"
"Even he."
"Forgive me, my Lord, but doesn't this sound ridiculous? Without ONE TOURNAMENT VICTORY, you're saying that not only do you, a LOWLY lord, know secrets that have been apparently forgotten by 23 of the most savage lords in the realm, you question Lord Ash of Mael all the time, author of the Usage Scroll, and now you're saying that even Lords dh and Ben of Hoidal have a Lord? Who do you think you are, exactly?"
"That doesn't really matter, Cade."
"And why the hell not?"
"Because of the Mad King."
"The Mad King. And what is his name?????"
"Seble."
8/12/2020 1:46 AM (edited)