Lords and ladies, let us journey to the Kingdom of Consany. Here dwell knights and their squires, commoners of all ilk, and of course, a castle of old.
A timeless fortress, Consany Castle houses many, among them: squires, their knights and the King of Consany. Seven to 10 knights reside in the castle to protect it and the King, day and night. The King, known to be just and fair, is a stark contrast to the king of Consany’s most formidable adversary, Samsbury.
The Towns of Consany
The stronghold of the kingdom, Consany Castle is the heart of the realm, which is surrounded by several towns: the town of Consany itself, Lystone and Kyorriton. Kyorriton and Lystone, both to the north, are less populated, yet their lands hold folk from peasants to nobles. Some of their residents travel to serve—and make a home in—the land’s beloved castle.
To the west lies the Sea of Fyyorde, which is connected to the Fairmont River that runs through Kyorriton and Lystone*.
The People of Consany
The King of Consany reigns from the castle with protection from his knights—yet they are not the only knights in the land. When war looms, the town knights are called upon from their homes to serve the land, as are foot soldiers.
Townsfolk include everyone from peasants who barely live off the land to nobles in flowing robes to hard-working merchants and vendors selling their wares.
The Characters of Consany
Squire Jonathan: A squire for the noble Sir Grant, Jonathan is learning from the best and has the makings of a valiant hero himself. His family lives among the estates in town, his father overseeing a well-to-do business seeking and selling precious metals. Jonathan’s parents sent him to Consany Castle to train to become a knight as soon as he was old enough, whether he wanted to or not. Fortunately for the kingdom, he gravitates toward the chivalrous world of knighthood, and wields a sword with strength and morality.
Squire Berny: An amicable squire, Berny somehow keeps his cheery nature while serving the arrogant Sir Renscel. Coming to Consany Castle a little while before Jonathan, he continues waiting for Sir Renscel to have him dubbed. Berny is skilled with arrows, which the squires learn as a past-time. He and Jonathan have been friends throughout their squirehood and have gone through countless rigors during their training.
Sir Grant: The knight training Jonathan, Sir Grant is a good-hearted teacher and soldier. Always following the rules of knightly conduct, he freely passes on his knowledge of chivalry and his wisdom on to Jonathan. Well-built and a potentially formidable foe in combat, he instead relies on good principles to win the day, making him one of the King’s best soldiers.
Sir Renscel: Sir Renscel is the knight training Berny—a responsibility that he has basically forgone. More interested in his place as the King’s right-hand man, he instead glues himself to His Majesty and obsesses over anything that could give him power or glory in any way, shape or form. He is also the Chancellor of Consany, who is to someday inherit the kingdom once the heirless King Thomas passes away
Shawmelle: A lovely minstrel in town, Shawmelle has spent her entire life in the Kingdom of Consany. She is a talented singer and lutist, whose chosen “stage” is a simple boulder in town, where she sits and plays music to verses she writes herself. Drawing a crowd with her soft voice and quiet, winning ways, she has a regular fan base that attends her performance.
Bonus—Gallanse: Jonathan’s horse, Gallanse, came to the castle when Jonathan was but a page learning to ride. Though Jonathan fell off repeatedly in his early childhood riding days, Gallanse eventually becomes his trusted steed as he grows through his days as squire and approaches knighthood. As Jonathan masters his skills and rides with Sir Grant onto the war field, Gallanse proves to be a steadfast battle companion—and friend—to Jonathan.
Amongst these pages, you shall enter the realm of Consany
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Stories of a Squire: An Offering of Short Tales
(Books I and II)
*Enhanced map online only. Created with Inkarnate.
Image of Squire Jonathan composited from illustrations by Ravven/123rf.com, PrettySleepy/Pixabay.com and Eleatell/Pixabay.com
