“Hidalek,” the knight ordered, flicking her fingers at the bark. Two sparks flared on its surface, but smoldered only briefly before the bark proved itself most pleased not to light in any capacity whatsoever.

The knight sighed, and rubbed her hands against one another. “Hear me,” she spoke in a low growl. “I am Kayor-fayre, Knight of Plort and child of the East. Tsind-ohn, bark of the forest.”

At the Y’ii’diish words, a handful of sparks dropped from her fingertips to the bark. This time, it caught flame.

“Gdelu,” ordered the knight, and the flames grew, catching on the logs that made up the rest of the campfire. She spread out her cloak with a sigh, angling it toward the heat. “Good.”

The Knight Kayor-fayre, or Eshakhar (as she was most frequently called in Plort), had been traveling for nigh a week on her way to De’endee. Her cloak was damp, her boots muddy, and her horse irritable; however, her spirits remained high enough, and the contents of her saddlebags were as yet unruined. So long as a fire could be built, and food could be had, she was content.

She touched the front of her tunic, where lay a precious book, wrapped in oilcloth. It, too, was unharmed, and wrapped in protections of words as well as the cloth. After all, it would not do to arrive at the abode of Lady Iximaz, Plort’s most recently ennobled baron, without the gift. Not at all.

Eshakhar was a traveler by nature, and her loyalties had shifted more than once. Perhaps the only one that would remain was to Ye’akkav, and to Ydyff, its sister-land. Her childhood had been spent mostly in Ye’akkav, and her studies of magecraft and the knightly arts had taken her to both Ye’akkav and to Ydyff. She came now from Odolotos, following the Coast Road until she could cross the River Gu-Gel. There it was that her cloak—and her horse—had picked up moisture.

Tonight, she would rest. Nigh twenty miles remained between her and Castle De’endee; upon the morrow, she and her horse would brave the wilderness through which those twenty miles lay. If they pressed on, and were not unwise with their provisions and their pace, she believed they would reach the castle by nightfall. And there, with any luck, the Lady Iximaz would prove herself hospitable.

Kozar lowered his head onto her shoulder and nickered quietly. She tilted her own head to the side, and solemnly imitated the noise as close to her horse’s ear as she possibly could.

Kozar took a step backwards, and snorted, stepping then to the opposite side of the campfire. Knight Eshakhar laughed.

“Eat well,” she told him, and pulled her own provisions from their wrapping. “The grass is plentiful, and we will need much strength to reach De’endee tomorrow.”

Kozar snorted again, then lowered his head and commenced chewing the shrubs which grew among the trees.

Tomorrow, the knight thought. Tomorrow, we will reach De’endee. And then we shall take the measure of this baron.

*

Keep De’endee was a squat stone castle, perched on top of a grassy hill and overlooking a cliff where iron-grey waves pounded the rocks below. Knight Eshakhar approached it with tired interest, urging Kozar on even as his steady walk turned to plodding.

“Mitn gantsn koyekh,” she murmured to him. His head lifted slightly, and he began to step with more energy. “We have nearly arrived, my friend.”

By the time they approached the doors to the Keep, Kozar’s walk had begun to slow once more. The knight dismounted and tied his reins around one of the hitching posts that stood by the double doors. She fed him a handful of grain bought in Odolotos, stroking his neck with her free hand, before stepping away and raising one fist to bang on the right-hand door. The dark wood made what was hopefully enough noise to rouse a servant sleeping nearby, yet several minutes went by with no answer.

Eshakhar raised her hand again, preparing to speak amplification into the sound. However, before she could do more than open her mouth, a bolt was drawn back and one door was pulled open just enough for a boy dressed in simple clothes to look out.

“Can I help you?” the boy asked, rubbing at his eyes.

Eshakhar folded her arms, and met his gaze when it fixed on her properly. “I am Eshakhar, Knight of Plort. I have arrived this evening from Odolotos, and seek Lady Iximaz’s hospitality for myself and for my horse.”

“Oh!” the boy said, his eyes widening. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting guests.”

Odd manners for a serving boy, the knight thought. Perhaps he was as new a doorman as Lady Iximaz was a baron. “It is evening,” she allowed. “However, we have traveled far this day, and require hospitality as would match our journey for intensity.”

“Oh.” The boy blinked several times. “Um, just a moment—”

Another servant — who else would wear such a shabby cowl? — passed by. “Who might you be?” he asked. There was something corvid in his voice.

The knight held back a sigh. “I am Knight Eshakhar,” she repeated, putting the title first in the hopes of sparking appropriate servantly manners.

“Milady.” The servant bowed. “What might you be looking for, here?”

Finally. “I have come this day from Odolotos,” she informed him. “I am tired, as is my horse. We seek the Lady Iximaz’s hospitality. Stable my horse, and allow me entry; should the Lady wish to throw me out upon the morrow, she may do so.”

The servants exchanged amused looks, and the knight let her face grow stern. This was not the appropriate reaction to a road-weary knight and her horse arriving in the evening and requesting shelter. She wondered, perhaps uncharitably, if these servants would have been so remiss had she arrived in the pouring rain.

“I think you might be just a little tired from your journey,” the second servant said. “Knight Eshakhar, this is Milady Iximaz, Baron of this land, that you are so frowning at.”

The first servant— no, Lady Iximaz— gave a small wave. “Hello.”

The knight opened her mouth, then closed it. “Ah,” she said finally, and bowed, less graceful than was normally possible for her due to the long journey. “I beg your pardon, milady. The road has been arduous, and—forgive me—you are not dressed as befits your station.” You are also answering your own door late in the evening, she added mentally, with a servant by your side...

“Can I chuckle now?” the other servant said.

“Thanasius, don’t be so mean,” Lady Iximaz chided.

“I should, I guess, formally introduce myself,” the cowled man said. “I am Baron Thanasius Ampelius of the Monastery of Spectacle.”

Ah. “Of...course,” Knight Eshakhar said. Why not? She bowed to him as well. “My apologies for not recognizing you, milord.”

Thanasius waved a dismissive hand. “No need for apologies.”

The knight bowed to him again. “Milord.” She turned then to Lady Iximaz. “Milady, I do most humbly ask your pardon… but also your hospitality. It has indeed been a challenging journey, and both Kozar and myself are in need of food and rest. Should you wish for us to leave come morning, I will, of course, comply; however, I ask your understanding and your mercy—” and your courtesy, she did not say “—and ask that you allow us to stay the night.”

“But of course!” Lady Iximaz said, standing aside and holding the door open for Eshakhar. “It is a sad day I turn away someone in need of hospitality. Come inside; I will have a servant see to your horse.”

“You have my thanks,” the knight said, and bowed again. She paused only to pat Kozar’s long nose with a murmured “be patient” before entering the Keep at last.

Glossary:

In the language of Ydyff (RL Hebrew):

Hidalek=light! (on fire, second person, imperative)

Gdelu= grow (second person plural, imperative)

...Eshakhar=Dawnfire (or Firedawn, if you prefer)

In Y’ii’diish (RL Yiddish):

Tsind-ohn=light! (on fire)

Mitn gantsn koyekh=’with all one’s strength’ (so says the Weinreich dictionary)

...Kayor-fayre=Dawn-fire (the other word for dawn is baginen. You can see why I went with kayor.)

Disclaimer: Plort is a wonderful setting that was most likely thought up by Huinesoron. Eshakhar and Kozar are DawnFire’s; Lady Iximaz belongs to (guess who? That's right...) Iximaz; Baron Thanasius Ampelius is the work of Desdendelle. This story was written and the ideas (magic, etc) in it were developed by DawnFire, Desdendelle, and Iximaz.