Buddy the Knight and The Queen of Sorrow

The Monster and the Curse

Mieya slept cocooned within her flower-patterned comforter and bed sheets. Black braids twirled around her powder blue pillow like a crown. Soft snores spoke of the asthma she fought when awake. Yet, the peace upon her brown freckled face indicated she had fallen into the Dream, far from school and family and home.

The blackened claw a hair’s breadth from Mieya’s chest told a different tale. Chipped and cracked, but ending in a wicked point, the claw appeared to be ancient. Bitter sparks showered the covers around Mieya as the claw scraped rhythmically against a silver halo protecting her.

Gripping his sword Aura with both paws, Sir Buddy the Knight stood his ground atop the broad wooden headboard above Mieya.

Short in stature but long in thread count, Buddy was a mishmash of patches and repairs. Faded over time, they had become proud badges of his bravery and heroism. For Mieya would never know the many foes Buddy had faced or the countless battles he had fought to protect children like her.

Inside Buddy might be polyester stuffing, but further still came the steady beat of a heart. But this was no ordinary heart. This was the Heart of a Knight. The Heart of a Hero.

His feet were planted for proper balance. It was a warrior’s stance, long practiced and well worn. Aura’s soft silver light was the source of the shield protecting Mieya. While it could not ward Buddy from harm, like its wielder, the light was a barrier that would neither yield nor break against any enemy. So long as both wielder and weapon possessed courage, honor, and truth.

Mieya was Buddy’s charge. She was his Person. And he would never fail her.

Face me at your peril, Monster, Buddy declared without fear.

A deep chuckle rumbled from the Monster. You would dare challenge me?

Crouched at Mieya’s feet, its hungry eyes glowed a deep amber. More than a claw, the Monster was thrice Buddy’s height, and nearly as wide. Drizzled throughout its misshapen black and gray form were hairy warts, both big and small. A curved horn at the center of its scarred forehead matched the twisted and broken teeth in its gaping mouth.

I give warning twice, villain, Buddy replied. Return to The Realm-Under-The-Bed and trouble us no more, or you will incur my wrath.

The eyes blinked once before the Monster uttered a sinister laugh. Is that so? Using its claw, it drew a jagged and twisted sigil above the rippling silver shield. Buddy recognized the magical sign: a vile Rune of Taking. It quivered over Mieya’s still form.

Your Person is ours, the Monster whispered with dark satisfaction. We have claimed her. Leave us to our prize.

Steeling himself for battle, Buddy answered, That, I cannot do.

He launched himself from the headboard. Aura shone brighter, her edge clean and sharp. Silver flame burst along her length. Before the Monster could react, Buddy slashed at the foul creature.

What is this? it hissed, recoiling from the painful cut.

Your end.

Buddy landed beside the Monster. The bed offered a battlefield wide enough to fit the two combatants, with plenty of room to spare. Buddy swung again, barely missing the Monster. He forced it from Mieya and toward the footboard.

Cut and slash, feint and parry. Their battle raged across a field of flower patterns, scattering pillows, and knocking two from the bed. No quarter was given. They knew this would end only one way.

The Monster howled, furious. It swiped at Buddy. He tried to dodge but its claw tore into his leg, shredding brown fur and fabric. Buddy cried out. Clumps of stuffing bled from the vicious wound.

Buddy? Mieya groaned, shifting in her sleep.

Both Buddy and his adversary froze. Buddy kept a firm grip on Aura. Despite the searing pain in his leg, he could not afford to cry out a second time.

Mieya moaned again. Her brow furrowed as her lips moved in silence. One of her hands searched the empty bed sheet for him.

I am here, Buddy wanted to shout, but he could not.

For children could never know about The Realm-Under-The-Bed, or about Knights and Monsters. That knowledge would spell the end of their world. A delicate balance had to be maintained. Such was the curse of magic.

Buddy and the Monster exchanged a wary look, for it too understood the danger. The Monster needed Mieya to remain asleep so it could slake its thirst by feeding on her essence. But both Buddy and the Monster knew the price should Mieya awaken.

The Monster’s hungry eyes strayed toward its prey. Aura’s protective glow no longer covered Mieya. A malicious grin spread across the Monster’s slavering maw. It inched closer, silent as thought, daring Buddy to stop it. Buddy shifted his weight to his uninjured leg. More of his stuffing covered the comforter. Buddy had to make a choice, and soon.

Stay asleep, he urged silently.

Mieya coughed, then settled herself against her pillows. After a few moments, her snores filled the quiet.

Sensing his need, Aura lent Buddy her strength. Magic filled his failing body. He ignored the pain in his leg and leapt over the Monster, meeting it before its claw touched Mieya. The Monster raked at him, but he blocked the attack. More silver and red sparks melted as they fell to the covers.

The Monster was relentless. It was more powerful than the others Buddy had faced since he had come to be with Mieya. Despite his renewed strength, it was all Buddy could do not to be torn apart.

Fear gripped him. Perhaps today would be his last. There was a measure of comfort in that thought. Regret, too. For all tales have an end. It was simply the way of things.

"Amigo mío, a friendly voice called from the floor behind him. Methinks you dropped this!"

With a soft whoosh, a black frisbee sailed up and over to Buddy. On its face bore the words Papa Gonzo’s Pizza, Mieya’s favorite restaurant. But beneath those words were runes of Buddy’s own crafting, binding and protection magics taught to him long ago by The Nameless Wizard.

Shifting Aura to his left paw, Buddy caught the disk with his right. Sliding his arm through the makeshift strap, Buddy leaned on his good leg and brought Aura and the shield to bear. Just in time, too, for the Monster’s claw smashed into Buddy hard. It was a telling blow that would have finished him if not for the shield. His ruined leg nearly gave out, but he held firm.

Buddy needed a distraction. Removing his arm from the shield strap, he hurled it at the Monster’s face. Out of instinct it rose to protect itself. Buddy took that moment to charge at it, then drove Aura into one of the Monster’s vulnerable eyes.

At her touch, silver flames devoured the creature. Its agonized howl disappeared as soon as it began. Soon nothing of it remained, not even a smudge, as if the Monster had never been.

Exhausted, Buddy slumped against a pink pillow. Aura slipped from his paw. Released from his grip, Aura transformed from silver steel into a wooden sword with a painted blue flame along her blade.

"I never doubted you for a second, amigo mío," the friendly voice said from the floor.

That makes one of us, Esteban, Buddy sighed. He looked to Mieya. Oh no.

What is it? Esteban called out.

Above Mieya hovered the Rune of Taking, burning brighter than before.

I fear our battle has only just begun.

The Oracle

Is that glow what I think it is? Esteban asked.

Alas, yes, Buddy replied as growing apprehension fought with his fear.

Buddy studied the Rune of Taking. Each Rune was unique to its Monster. It was old magic. He also knew that when a Monster was destroyed, its Rune would die with it. That had not happened here.

Your Person is ours. We have claimed her.

What could that mean? He stared at the Rune. It was different than the others he had encountered. The image was deeper, with more curves and softer edges. Buddy nearly became lost in the swirls within the magical mark. He tore his eyes away before the Rune hypnotized him. Who was the owner of the Rune? Although the Monster had drawn it, Buddy believed the magic came from someone else.

It triggered a memory from long ago.

There be more than Monsters and Knights and Wizards, The Nameless Wizard had said. More than Runes and Magic and Songs. More than Doors and Places, too. Oh, and Persons. The world is vast and unknowable even when you walk all of it and believe you have seen everything.

What does that mean? Buddy had asked.

The Nameless Wizard chuckled. It means don’t be afraid of not knowing. Keep an open Heart. Don’t allow fear to stop you from putting one foot in front of the other. Instead, go looking and finding. Oh, and studying too. And reading books. Yes, yes. Lots and lots of books!

You want me to walk? Buddy had asked. It always irritated Buddy when The Nameless Wizard spoke in riddles, which was all the time. Walk to where?

The Nameless Wizard sighed. I want you to not be afraid to ask for help. And I want you to want to know the things you don’t know, and know the things you do know, and know the things you think you know and don’t know.

That makes no sense!

Perhaps. But if you never walk, then you’ll never know!

Buddy shook himself from the memory. We need to speak with the Oracle. She will know what to do.

Must we? Esteban whined. I do not think she likes me very much.

Everyone likes you, Esteban, Buddy replied.

That is true…but the Oracle does not.

Buddy retrieved the wooden sword and the frisbee, then slid from the bed to the floor. He collapsed with a soft grunt as his wounded leg gave out, dropping Aura and his shield. Strong hands lifted him from behind.

"Why must I always pick up after you, amigo mío?" Esteban chuckled.

In the dim golden glow of the nightlight plugged into the wall, Buddy made out the gray and black emperor Tamarin, a monkey from southwest Brazil. Esteban’s twinkling eyes bubbled with suppressed mirth. He twisted one end of his long, curly white mustache, an old and familiar habit. The faded brown strap of a mandolin was slung diagonally across Esteban’s chest. The stringed instrument’s head and neck peeked over his shoulder.

Whatever will you do when I am not around to save you, eh? Esteban chided as he released Buddy.

Nodding his thanks, Buddy left Aura by the bed, and limped along the thick carpet of the floor. His thoughts reeled with the possibility of losing his Person. Could the Rune be removed? This was magic beyond him. The Oracle would know what to do. He was sure of it.

You would lose all your stuffing, Esteban chuckled as he walked alongside his friend. Or you would become threadbare. Or get caught on a nail in the floor. And then you would wonder where your old faithful Esteban was. You would say ‘I wish Esteban were here’, and, alas, I would not be, because you forgot about me like you always do. You would not notice I was no longer around. What is more, you would then wonder what had become of me. But it would be too late, for old faithful Esteban would be gone. He paused. Are you even listening to me?

The two moved deeper into the bedroom toward a hulking shadowy shape propped in the corner, on the outskirts of the