The evening sky was clear, and the stars began to appear as diamonds in the tiara of the heavens. ShadowFax moved slowly across the hanging bridge over the Rhue Gorge, and as he approached the landing at the southern end, Princess Tara nodded off to sleep, a smile playing with the corners of her lips. The Black Knight held his arms in tight, protecting the young princess, providing a safe haven. She was nearly home. It was a moonless night, and dark as the underside of the Sanguine Mountains they had just left, but the sound of Rogue’s wings flapping almost silently above them was soothing and eased the hold and power of the world of night. A lone wolf sounded a mournful cry some distance to the south, the direction of their travel, and the Black Knight knew that Twilight was on the move and they would be safe.

The night air was still, the sky clear as crystal. A slight breeze picked up and wafted gently through the trees as they passed along the road, and night creatures observed them in silence from afar.

Well before morning ShadowFax had noticed things in the darkness surely missed by the eyes of his master. As dawn approached, he could contain himself no longer, and whispered softly to the Black Knight that dark forces were at play in the realm of King Fissure. He noted that the forests on both sides of the river had been torched, and many of the trees downed; the fields of grain were no more, singed and blackened to mere stubble; the roadways were barely passable, damaged and torn by powerful forces. And, many of the homes they passed had been reduced to rubble, smashed and burned.

“I have observed all you describe,” whispered the Black Knight.

“As have I,” whispered Princess Tara, very much awake.

“Ah, you have returned from the worlds of wonder and dreams,” said the Black Knight; “Good! But rest still, for you are nearly home.”

“Count Tanner and the evil Wizard, Haliburton, have been afoot,” interrupted ShadowFax, “The Princess Tara is sorely at risk.” ShadowFax whinnied softly, “You had best summon Twilight; he knows the dark hidden places of your world.”

The Black Knight agreed it was time, and pursed his lips and let out a high-pitched whistle, barely audible above the night sounds. ShadowFax pricked up his ears, the almost silent alarm just on the edge of discomfort.

Twilight appeared out the darkness and padded silently alongside ShadowFax a short distance before either horse or rider noticed him. “This way,” he said coolly, and then he was gone again as quickly and as silently as he had appeared.

ShadowFax blinked. “Hmmm,” he said, puzzled.

“He is not far,” said the Black Knight.

“No, he is there behind you,” whispered Rogue, appearing out of the darkness and hovering just above their heads. ShadowFax blinked again, and Rogue smiled.

Two yellow eye slits peered out of the darkness at them. There, sitting silently in a cleft in the rocky hillside was Twilight, and were it not for Rogue’s night vision, he would have been missed. Twilight nodded, and beckoned them inside.

Once inside a deep cavern opened up within the hillside. Rogue said he had seen dark shadows on the move throughout the moonless night, and they were about no good. “I saw the one known as Count Tanner,” said Rogue. “The evil Wizard Haliburton was with him.”

“Then the news is not good,” said the Black Knight, removing his gloves. “What were they about?” he asked.

Rogue paused, then replied, “The two were at the head of an army of foul-smelling men, and armed were they all. They marched in the direction of the castle of King Fissure, and all bore firebrands.”

“The King’s men had closed the gates and drawn the bridge, and bowmen were visible on the castle’s turrets and at the window slits,” Rogue continued.

“By morning the castle will be fully surrounded, and the King helpless,” observed Twilight, “The wells are outside the castle walls.” ShadowFax snorted, “We must come to the aid of the King.” “We must first ensure Princess Tara’s safety,” interjected the Black Knight.

As the night gradually gave way to dawn, and the sun’s amber and golden fingers touched the far side of the eastern mountains, stillness lay over the valley of Embaline. A cock crowed once, then a second time. The gathered army stood in rank and file along the banks of the Jasmine River, and spread out across the rolling plains surrounding the castle, and awaited the dawn.

With first light, they will attack the castle, quell all resistance, and wrest the domain from the hands of King Fissure.

Count Tanner stood with Wizard Haliburton on the banks of the river, prepared to give the signal to launch the assault on the beloved King. Count Tanner looked into the eyes of Wizard Haliburton, and nodded. “It is time,” he whispered.

The Wizard drew a vial of lavender sand from the folds of his robe. Holding it up to the morning sun, he closed his eyes and mumbled an incantation: “Fyssich, uniyar crazhnii krystoi, yassich ozhniikov, uchiinaya…”

He opened his eyes, and hurled the vial into the air – it traveled a simple path from his hand through the air, and at the top of the arc there was suddenly a blinding flash, and the vial flew into a thousand pieces, the sand scattered to the winds. Haliburton drew a small leather pouch from within the folds of his robe, and emptied its contents – the powdered entrails of newt – into the palm of his hand and held it up to the heavens. He mumbled, again invoking the dark powers of his calling: “Fylum ushiima, cardizyem, kruzho, endruzhnii mazhdrovnya.”

Wizard Haliburton thrust his hands into the air in one swift movement, and the cloud of powdered particles caught the air and drifted downwind. Count Tanner smiled; the spell was cast, and the King would not survive the coming assault.

Princess Tara overheard the Black Knight and ShadowFax speaking softly, while Rogue and Twilight scouted the regions between the cave and her father’s castle. With the dawn rapidly approaching, the light would be sufficient to see for fair distances.

Rogue rode the updrafts coming off the Sanguine Mountains to the north, and was soon soaring in rarefied air. To the east, the sun was already cresting the mountains, the valley below gaining light.

Twilight traversed the rough terrain quickly, and stole silently through the underbrush along the Jasmine River. As he approached the site of Count Tanner’s command post under the protective coverage of the willows along the banks of the river, he was struck by how well armed the warriors were, and with such modern weapons.

“Woe is to the King,” thought Twilight. High above, Rogue, too, noted the strength of the armed camps, and wheeling to the north, returned to the cavern wherein they had secured Princess Tara. Rogue reported to the gathered band his view from on high. Twilight, who had crept into the cave unnoticed, added that the numbers of men were higher than first thought; the castle is entirely surrounded.

“And first light was striking the turrets of the castle as I returned,” said Rogue.

“It is time,” said the Black Knight.

“Yes, but what can we do in the face of such odds?” asked ShadowFax, his visage dark.

“I know not as yet,” said the Black Knight, “but we must not tarry. It is first light, and we must be into the fray before Count Tanner signals attack.”

Princess Tara touched the arm of the Black Knight and said, “Have not fear, dear friend of my Father. Your mission is safeguarded, and the gods will favor your efforts this morn.”

The Black Knight smiled, and placed his gloved hand over hers: “I fear not for our efforts, dear Lady, for our weapons are strong, and I trust your Father’s men will rally with strength, honor, and a keen eye. I hope only that we have time, before the attack is launched by too long.” And with that, he pulled his helmet on, and strode out of the cavern into the growing light.

He mounted ShadowFax, and at her insistence, lifted the Princess onto the saddle before him. With but a silent signal between rider and steed, they were off as the wind. Rogue lifted into the air and effortlessly soared above, keeping watch over horse and riders. Twilight melted into the shadows and was soon racing alongside the trio

Cresting a hill overlooking the rolling plains around the castle, Rogue let out a piercing screech as though the banshees of hell were let loose. Twilight gave a whoop and a howl that resounded off the valley walls, the sound of a thousand spirits of the night, and the armed men surrounding the castle of King Fissure turned as one and beheld such an apparition flying down the hillside.

Fear struck at the hearts of the warriors, their eyes wide, their mouths open but without a breath, their weapons hanging limply in their hands. The Black Knight held his long sword aloft, and the morning sun glinted off its keen edge, and the flash of light caught the eyes of the stunned warriors, and not a few dropped their weapons harmlessly to the ground.

Princess Tara stood up in front of the Black Knight, holding on to his upraised arm, and raised her fist to the skies. Her steel-grey eyes flashed in the morning light, her golden hair flowing in the wind.

ShadowFax snorted and breathed what those gathered thought was fire from out his nostrils, and his hooves pounded the ground as thunder as they flew down the remaining hillside. Then, the gathered rank and file broke, and the men in abject terror ran as though the daemons of hell were upon them. They scattered to the four winds, leaving their weapons all over the field; they scrambled over each other, and when one fell, scores mindlessly trampled him with concern only for their own escape.

Count Tanner shouted for his men to stop and to hold their ground, but the din of their dash to escape drowned out his words. He stamped his foot, and drew his sword – Exchampion – and holding it aloft, screamed for the men to hold forth, but to no avail. All was lost, as the dust settled on the empty battlefield, now littered with discarded weapons.

Only a few stragglers were seen limping off over the crest of the hills to the west. Wizard Haliburton mumbled under his breath, incantations, oaths, and wishes of the grave, thoughts from beyond midnight. He brought forth a small crystal cylinder from within the folds of his robes, and holding it up against the approaching spirits, mumbled, “Farishnii ullanich, cavounarish, kryzhou yhullanikov, oshnii urzhkovnya…”

The Black Knight dismounted before the Count and the Wizard. “Lay down your weapons,” he said simply, “The King is at hand.”

Halliburton whimpered, and tossing the crystal aside, dropped to his knees begging for mercy. His gnarled and wracked fingers plied the razor edge of the Black Knight’s sword, and averting his eyes beneath his satin hood, drew back. The Black Knight raised his sword and with the razor tip lifted the Wizard’s chin until their eyes met, and he spoke these words: “Fuhrmikov uchinaya, cruvanich kovishnu, yuri oshlav, urhzahn.”

The Wizard’s eyes widened, and with great difficulty, he rose, and scurried in the direction of the road leading north to the Sanguine Mountains. He was never seen again.

Count Tanner spat on the ground, and brushing aside his long hair, glared at his captors.

Princess Tara looked down from astride ShadowFax, and held the Count’s gaze. The Count smirked, and said, “Your Father is ill, and his death knell is heard o’er the land!”

Princess Tara didn’t blink an eye, but smiled back, “My Father is well, and the death knell heard throughout his realm, is that of your demise.”

ShadowFax snorted, and stamped his hoof, raising a small dust cloud.

“She speaks truth,” smiled the Black Knight, “the King is well, and your life is now his.” And with that, the Black Knight placed Count Tanner under house arrest, and he lived out the remainder of his life in the dungeons deep in the bowels of the castle he would claim as his own.

Princess Tara was reunited with her Father, King Fissure, who, true to his word, granted the Black Knight, trusty ShadowFax, and the spirits of the night, free reign throughout the Valley of Embaline for all eternity. Thereafter, in the name of the King, they ventured off to realms as yet unnamed…