Scarlett, First Knight of Vandora

 

 

For a number of years Megan worked on her medieval novel Scarlett, First Knight of Vandora. She released it in fall 2006. The book cover was designed and illustrated by artist Theo Cobb who completed an oil painting for Ms. Terry's birthday.

Megan started penning the part of Scarlett, then an online novel or role playing game in 1994 with family members and friends. It was the start of the online roleplaying games as we know them today. She loved the Scarlett character so much that she felt very much like she and Scarlett were one. The Novel is available at Amazon.

The young woman climbed from the bed, stretched her arms at length and began to dress for the day. She chose to wear the familiar black tights and gray tunic with Vandora’s symbol on the left-hand corner. She finished up by pulling on her high top, black boots.

As she brushed and braided her long ebony hair, she hummed a happy tune. She secured the single, tight braid at the bottom with a blue ribbon, and allowed it to hang loose and free down her back. An upcoming vacation was on her mind.
Sighing audibly she left her room. She was greeted by many servants and knights who were carrying out their daily responsibilities. She passed two new guards and gave them a disapproving frown.

They dropped their eyes and stood taller. “Commander!” They both shouted in unison.

“A little slack,” she commented, shaking her head in disapproval.

“Our apologies Milady,” one said.

“Don’t let it happen again or I’ll be forced to discipline you.” She walked away but slowed her pace when someone called out to her.

“Scarlett!” She turned and waited as an older, much respected knight joined her. “Giving our new guards a scare, are you?”

“Me? Now tell me Bardo, would I tantalize our knights?”

He chuckled. “I’ve heard many interesting stories about you, Scarlett. You have those two men so frightened they are standing straight as rods. I tried to make conversation with them and they shooed me away. They said you would punish them if they didn’t hold their posts.”

Scarlett said, “Just because the castle is quiet, doesn’t mean they can slack off. They are royal guards in the queen’s service and should be alert at all times.”

He shook his head with amusement. “I’m on my way to get the new recruits ready for class. Will you be stopping in today?”

“No, not today. I’m leaving on vacation this morning.” She turned to go, but he stopped her again.

“Scarlett before I forget, King Matthew is looking for you.”

“Where did you last see him?”

“Lower hallways. In the Eastern wing near your study.”

“Then I shall not keep him waiting.” She turned and walked away in the opposite direction.

She slowed her pace only when she spotted Matthew and Nathaniel talking together. Matthew looked up and smiled as she approached him. She felt a twinge of guilt because of the way things had turned out between them. Particularly since things had gone so well when he first arrived. She once believed that she could return to Benson with him as his queen. But she glimpsed a streak of mule headed stubbornness, prideful arrogance, and unpredictable weakness in him that she couldn’t accept.

“If you excuse me Milady,” Nathaniel bowed. “I have errands to attend to.” As he walked away Matthew took her hand and brought it to his lips.

“The stable boy informed me that your coach is waiting. Do you plan on going somewhere?” he asked.

“I’m going on vacation. A long overdue one at that.”

“Oh?”

Before he could ask where she intended to go, she raised her finger to her lips and whispered, “It’s a secret.” She started to walk away but he grabbed her arm.

“You belong with me. Benson is your home now. I demand…”

Her warm chocolate eyes turned two shades darker and glinted with fury. “You Sir, shall not demand anything from me. I’m not some silly girl whom you may order around. You couldn’t control your horse when you were young, and you never had, or will have any control over me.” She jerked her arm free and walked away.

He looked angrily after her. “How dare she speak to me that way?” he fumed. It was destined for them to marry. He truly believed their relationship would work out. He loved her, and he knew in his heart that she loved him.

Matthew turned and headed to his room. It did not take him long to reach the wing he and his men were currently occupying. As he approached, his guards opened the door

“Did it go well Sire?” Nathaniel asked as his king entered the room.

“Not as well as I had hoped,” he said grimly. Nathaniel stared after him as he entered his personal quarters and shut the door behind him.

King Matthew walked over to the bed and lay down. He closed his eyes and began to remember the past.
He recalled the year he turned seventeen. Scarlett, who was sixteen, had just returned from a trip with her father. It was a sad time because King Ralph had been killed when his horse reared up and threw him off. His head had come in contact with a large rock and he died from the injury.

Scarlett believed that her father had been murdered. She said that a stone had been thrown that hit him in the head and caused him to fall off his horse. Everyone, including himself, thought she was just unable to accept her father’s untimely death. And to make matters worse, she accused Nurum of murdering the king.

One night, late, she came to him seeking comfort. He remembered the conversation well.

“I went to speak to my mother and guess who I found in her bedchamber? The Queen of Nurum. I don’t understand how she could have those murderous fiends in our home!” she ranted.

“Scarlett, your father wasn’t murdered. It was a tragic accident. Everything he drilled into your head about Nurum, is interfering with your rational thought process.” He had been impatient, not wanting to listen to her.

She stood and met his eyes, “Why did I come here? Why did I expect you to understand the way I feel? You are nothing but a spoiled…” She stopped herself. “I must leave.” She turned and climbed down the tree outside his window. He would never forget the tears that dampened her cheeks that night.

He had expected her to return home and work things out with her mother. He never dreamed she would disappear.

Over the years he had searched for her. At first he believed she would return on her own. After all, how could a young pampered princess care for herself in such a cruel world?. But as the years passed, no word of Scarlett was to be heard. He often wondered if she was dead. Many search parties had been dispatched by both King Simon and Prince Matthew. But they never found Scarlett. Unable to concentrate on his royal duties he began to travel with a search party. For years he was on the move, sleeping in tents, bathing in lakes, eating game that was prepared over a campfire, riding through dense forests, and visiting realm after realm. He asked many people, from all classes of life if they had seen his beautiful, dark-eyed princess.

Then it seemed that fate stepped in and gave him another chance. Fourteen years after she left home, he found her. Mistaking her for an intruder in his camp, he had his knife positioned against her throat when he realized who she was.
Scarlett had changed. She was no longer the sweet, sultry princess he remembered. She had become the First Knight of Vandora, and best friend to the notorious Queen Venom. A warrior queen who was well known for her skill with weaponry. And just as her name implied, Queen Venom was a venomous queen of war.

To make matters worse Matthew learned that Scarlett had married a commoner. A man many said was a great warrior. This information angered him more than anything else had. Mainly because she had chosen another man over him.

After her husband Mar’s unfortunate death, Matthew asked Scarlett to marry him and return to Benson with him as his queen. Although she hesitated, he expected her to be agreeable for he was used to getting what he wanted.

Before he heard her answer he was called home. His father had suffered a fall from his horse. He told Scarlett that he would soon return and trusted that she would be ready to leave with him. He was trying to be generous. Trying to give her time to say farewell to her friends.

When Matthew did return, it was not as a prince but as the new King of Benson. His father had died from the accident just as Scarlett’s father had. He was devastated when Scarlett refused to marry him.

But he didn’t give up on her. And as the days passed he began to win her over. For a while they were happy together.

As the King of Benson he had to make regular trips home on business and Scarlett frequently accompanied him. Looking back now, he had been foolish to think she would become his queen. Vandora and the skills she had acquired in weaponry and fighting techniques over the years seemed to be the only things that mattered to her.

There was a time when he truly believed he had her in Benson for good. He was a happy man. She had even agreed to visit Salza and her brother, King Simon. However, while they were in Salza a message arrived from Vandora calling her home. Without a second thought she excused herself and left for Vandora.

Matthew had been angry. That evening he followed her. Once he arrived in Vandora he asked her again to be his queen. Scarlett promised to think about it. Today she turned him down.

He would have dragged her home to Benson if he could. But her position in Vandora, and the power she had acquired there made any such move impossible.

What was he thinking when he grabbed her arm? It had been a mistake. He sat up and rubbed his stiff neck. He needed to speak with Scarlett, at least one more time.

Scarlett fumed as she sat alone in her study waiting for the guards to arrive. Matthew’s conduct had been outrageous. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down before she met with the group. It would do no good to let anger distract her now.
She stood up and moved around the room in an effort to regain her composure. At first she began to pace back and forth while she rotated her shoulders and neck. She quickened her pace and started to twirl. She soon grew tired and dropped into a chair.

A soft tap echoed off the door. “Scarlett, the knights are here,” Bardo called out.

Scarlett stood, straightened her uniform and went to stand behind the desk. “Send them in,” she called back.