Scratching and tearing flesh the dead, dried branches ran across my body, as I stood planted firmly in my sled as the wolves raced on toward Tanglewood. The yelping of the wolves sounded off the forest walls in a rythmic pattern of low grinding growls with a pattern of finding a yelp, high pitched and ear splitting in one unnerved second. But it was steady and Ivor was calm which made me sing.

Tears, idle tears, I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy Autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.*

The stings of the dried branches do not hurt me. I feel as if I am immortal among the gods, or one of the heroes gliding swiftly on my chariot ‘wixt and ‘ween my enemy. The fell of the sword upon my face and the jab of spears into by chest as I battle through the thicket. My blade is drawn and I slash through the tangles. Finally, right when I begin to enjoy it, I come upon the fort. It appears through the mist like an unexpectantly blooming flower in the mist of weeds. The tower was built with impecable perfection and its spires stole the view from the rest of the world, blocking out the sun. The gates were imposing and guarded with hounds. I gutteral the words, “Daguodoro, and my wolves heeled behind me. I approach the hounds and hold out my hand in order to let them smell. I throat a command to the irish wolf-hounds and they obey and allow me to enter the gates.

It has been a long time since I have dealt with Valerin. Of what I do remember is that he was a man overrun with debts, even in the periods of splendor when his varied fortunes of a bandit king, when he held high military commands. All of that is just a mere memory now as I walk through the courtyard of Tanglewood Castle. Finally, I see Valerin in the company of a lady - a spoil of war, no doubt. You may think me unfair to think such about a man I barely know, but the title he claims as king has been a bitter taste since I met him.

All his life he had been an inveterate gambler. He alluded himself quite openly to the current story how once, during some campaign, he had gambled away his horses, swords, knives, shields, lances, and entire front line, to a rival king, playing chess with his soldiers the night before the battle. I spoke loud and clear in the dialect of this land.

”You have come out yourself. Nothing less to be expected from a king of all kings, of course”. Valerin’s glance shot hard at me as if I had startled him. The revolution had begun here long before Valerin had started terrorizing local villages and the name of Valerin had reached Tanglewood.

“Alas, our worst fears have been realized!” He moaned affectionately. Valerin stepped forward and hugged me. Indeed this was the time for men of intellect and conscience to rally around the endangered cause. The woman glared at me with mortal contempt, as if I were already dead and the thought was unthinkable for me to be in her presence.

It was then that Valerin, the adopted child of Western Britain, felt the absolute change of atmosphere. He submitted to being embraced and talked to without a word. He was moved in spite of himself by that note of passion and sorrow unknown on the more refined stage of British politics. But when the tall woman, advancing in her light step came up closer, almost wary, I knew what Valerin was up to. I recognized the woman at once. She was Gweniver, wife of Arthur. I knew what Valerin was up to, and I knew what I needed to do.

I got to the point without furthur hesitation, and began talking about the quality of the meat I killed earlier that day. Valerin surveyed the meat with apprehension. I was critical about the meat, as it had been exposed for too long and began to take on a grey coloring.

“How much do you want for it?” He asked after carefully scrutinizing the produce. I hesitated before answering. I laid down my claim. Valerin looked shocked, but that was a reaction I expected from petty kings and one I have recieved from others in the past.

“No. That is too much. I won’t pay that much for rotted carcases”, Valerin spoke clear and to the point.

“In that case, I may have a bit of useful information for you.”

Valerin raised his head from inspecting the carcasses.

*Tennyson, Tears, Idle Tears.