Sir Jedediah Collins
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 5142
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"A toast!" the Duke cried out and raised his glass. All eyes in the grand
ballroom turned to the man. He
stood on the raised stage at the head of the room, King Emry by his side.
Sir Jed turned to look at the
Duke and his eyes lit up with pride. Of all the fetes and accolades he had
received today, this would be
the most cherished, for Duke Barnabas was Jedediah's uncle and mentor.
After the death of Jed's father,
Jeremiah, Barnabas had taken him in and treated him like his very own son.
The love and pride between
them was strong. Jed glanced down at his jerkin and at the image of a
sea-hawk embroidered upon it.
Duke Barnabas bore the very same image on his escutcheon, for Barnabas
Collins was Lord Knight of the
Order of the Osprey. And the osprey was the family crest of the House
Collins. Jed was keenly aware
that when he ventured out to hazard the Dragon's caves he would do so as a
Collins and as a knight of
the Order Osprey, as well as a Knight of the Great Kingdom. But in his
heart all that really mattered, the
only thing he wished for, was to make his uncle Barnabas proud.
"My friends," Duke Barnabas began, "we are all gathered here to celebrate the bravery of a young man and his two companions. Tomorrow three men will begin a Quest to the Southern Caves where the Dragon lives. Five others have made this Quest before them and sadly none have returned alive. But I know in my heart that the sacrifices of those who have gone before were not made in vain and that they who go now do so without fear of doom. The risk is great but the prize is greater still and the Dragon, be he ever so mighty and terrible, is not unconquerable. Rather it is we, men strong and true, who carry within our breasts a spirit which cannot be overcome. We will prevail and this monster in our midst shall be vanquished!" Applause thundered in the crowded room. But however sweet the Duke's words there were still those who felt that the Quest to Slay the Dragon was a virtual suicide mission. For them this party was not a celebration of men going forth to win glory, but rather a funeral wake for men already dead. Barnabas waved for Jed to come forward and, gathering his two companions, Jed stepped up onto the stage. Standing together with Duke Barnabas and King Emry, Jed looked down at the gathered nobles and knights. From the lowest to the highest they had all come because of him. They had all come because he had been chosen, he was the one in whom all their hopes now rested. For Jed this was like a dream come true and he was loving every minute of it. But there was a price to pay, because after the final toast, the ending dance, the last hurrah, the knight would be left on his own. No nobleman or fellow knight would follow him where his steps would lead. He would be all alone. Jed then turned to the two others that had ascended the stage with him. No, he thought, not alone. His squire, Rafael, and the wizard Valen would be with him. And perhaps the three of them would succeed where the others had failed. Perhaps, after exploring the Dragon's caves, they would succeed in getting back out again alive. "And so," Duke Barnabas' voice rang out yet again, "For the men who tomorrow go to seek the Dragon, I raise my glass in a toast! For their success and for their return. Hip hip hurrah!" And everyone in the ballroom raised their glass in step with the Duke, shouts of hurrah and of victory on their lips, and drained their champagne dry.
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WolfRun
7/26/2000 9:28:20 PM
24960912 episodes viewed since 9/30/2002 1:22:06 PM.