Michael Simms: A Commentary on the Saga of Milon Redshield 

By Tatatungia the witch, known as The Wanderer, visiting the court of Queen Oleanna Vth

~ parchment, entered into the Chronicles in the Royal Library of Windkeep

The old songs and stories are wrong in so many ways. Milon Redshield was no hero, but a murderer who violated the will of the Goddess Nilene. It is true, as is sung, that he and his soldiers built a snare of heavy rope and suspended it across the River Iskar and waited in secret until Morf the dragon flew up the river listening for salmon dreaming under the water’s surface, and thus distracted, did not see the ropes hanging loosely across the river. At Milon’s signal, his men yanked the ropes taut, catching Morf by his talon, tangling him so he fell into the water. The soldiers pulled the dragon to shore half-drowned, wired his jaw shut so he could not breathe fire and tied his legs together, so he could not rip with his talons.

The men lifted Morf into a wide quarry wagon and carried him to Windkeep, the stone tower where Milon Redshield ruled the three valleys. And here is where the sagas depart from true history, for the dragon did not become Milon’s willing servant, but rather Milon kept the dragon chained beside his throne as a warning and augury to any who would oppose him. He saddled the dragon like a pony and rode the sentient beast through the kingdom, falsely exhibiting courage to his subjects.

Edwige the Princess was envious of her brother and wished for a dragon of her own. So Milon gifted her Tenwen, the gentle sister of Morf. And Edwige kept Tenwen beside her to impress suitors, but soon the Princess grew bored with her pet and had the unfortunate dragon removed to the dungeon. And there Tenwen, who was known by her kind as The Sweet One, died of hunger and despair.

Following Milon’s example, his vassals captured dragons, roasting their hearts and decorating walls with their heads. Wings were clipped to keep the beasts earth-bound, and young dragons were trained to fight each other with their talons while men wagered on the contests. Dragon eggs were sliced open and eaten. In the fashion of the day, women wore bracelets of baby dragon teeth. Thus, all manner of cruelties were done to the dragons who were once protectors of the earth.

At last, the race of dragons who had resided in these valleys since the Age of Ice, and who’d always lived in peace and harmony with other creatures, rose up against men. And Milon rode Morf into battle against the dragons, but Morf turned on his master, so Milon stabbed him through his right heart with a spear.

In his last moments, Morf turned his majestic head to the sky and asked Nilene, Mother Of Us All, to curse the kings and queens of Windkeep until the end of time.

And thus, it was done.

Copyright 2023 Michael Simms. An excerpt from Windkeep: Volume Two of The Talon Trilogy by Michael Simms. Published by Madville. Available in paper, e-book, and audio.