The Knight and the Killing Shadow
The tale of an indestructible warrior
It was a tale that was told since the beginning of time. One was about a Knight who could not be killed. The Knight Jermaine Saint-John was a warrior of the highest degree. He was not of noble blood, as the rest of the Knights were at the time. However, he wielded his blade like he was a born warrior. No one knew about his early years, or the names and clan of his family. The Kingdom of Dastranat was ruled by a wise King, Casimiron, for several years. He had one heir the Princess Nimurana, who was wise at the young age of seventeen.
Several witnesses had observed, that although the Knight Jermaine was struck several times on the battlefield, he would never fall. A few of the survivors of those battles also witnessed a shadowy Knight that seemed to fight every battle alongside, Knight Jermaine. It was not long before the tale spread about the Knight and his killing shadow, and it gradually became a legend.
Suitors came and suitors went, to see the beautiful Princess Nimurana. She was not pleased with any of them. She felt that she would know the person when she saw him. The King sent his daughter to visit her aunt Hermoine in the neighbouring land of Falevia, with a group of knights and soldiers. As the small group went through the forest, they were attacked by a small band of thieves. They were only a distraction. The knights overpowered them. It was during the night, when a group of assassins attacked the camp, that the group were in real danger. The assassins had one target and that was Princess Nimurana.
Knight Jermaine and his group were in battle with the trained assassins, under the light of the hunter’s Moon. The knights and soldiers fought to protect the princess. Several were killed in the attack. It was when the small band of seven and the Princess were surrounded that Knight Jermane and his killing shadow appeared and within a few seconds vanquished the rest of the large band of assassins. At that instant Princess Nimurana, looked at Knight Jermaine’s countenance and she knew that he was to be her husband.
The wise King Casimiron was grateful to Knight Jermaine for saving his daughter and gave her hand in marriage to the victorious knight. They were a lovely couple. However, there were spies everywhere and they were not pleased about the marriage between the princess and the Knight and his killing shadow. They knew he was a warrior who could never be killed. The Princess would have children, grow old and perish, but ultimately, Knight Jermaine would occupy the throne of Dastranat.
The evil Minister Farahka, had spies everywhere and it was one night, as the princess and her husband lay in bed, his secret was discovered.
“Promise me that you will be safe in battle,” said the young princess.
“I can never die,” said the young Knight as he stroked his wife’s head and kissed her.
“That is impossible, my love”, said the young bride.
“I have two hearts that beat within my chest”.
“No one has two hearts in this world”.
“Some animals do, like the octopus, earthworms and squid”.
“How do you have two hearts, were you born with two of them?”, asked the puzzled princess.
“No, my mother told me that I almost died as a child after an illness, but my father a sorcerer got the heart of an octopus placed in me, with a magical spell”.
This was just what the evil Minister needed to kill Knight Jermaine.
The next evening, as the Knight with the killing shadow had his meal at the local village Inn, his drink was poisoned.
The knight fell to the floor.
The assassins stabbed him in the chest as he lay in a pool of blood. The deed was done and the assassins sent by the evil Minister disappeared into the night.
The next morning, Knight Jermaine appeared in court with the Princess by his side. He was bruised but he was still alive. Minister Farahka was astonished.
One of the assassins was captured and brought before the King.
In full view of the people, the king and his council, he pointed to the traitor in the court.
The power-hungry Minister was beheaded as were the conspirators and assassins.
There was peace and prosperity in the Kingdom, for several years, when the old King died and the throne was occupied by his daughter and her husband, the Knight Jermaine.
The immortal Knight Jermaine, became King Jermaine after a hundred years, having outlived his children and grandchildren and it is said that he still rules the Kingdom of Dastranat.
The secret to the immortality of Knight Jermaine Saint-John was that he not only had two hearts, but he also had a hidden shadow of a mystical heart in his body.
