The events in this tale occurred a long time ago—at a time when Iosia was still discovering its identity, grappling with war, brutality, and yes, even some magic despite the ban—and the accuracy of what happened to Sir Emeric and his squire, Aldric, are as accurate as any legend. King Rumilar did order his royal scribes to put the story to parchment, which was the version you just read. However, what was not shared with you was what happened to Aldric.
The “official” version, passed down through generations in nurseries throughout the kingdom, is that Aldric settled in the outskirts of Andoria near Ebony Crag, became a farmer, and lived happily ever after. However, we all know that true fairy tales do not have happy endings. And, I am sad to say, neither did Aldric.
I remember that morning when Aldric rode past the window of my shop, Blaze galloping as fast as he could, eager to escape from Caelius and his memories of his final journey with Sir Emeric. Such a loyal, clever lad. He would have had a bright future as a knight himself if things had been different…if the lantern had remained undisturbed. Alas, the gods decided to twist the squire’s fate. For what reason? I cannot say, but it is not my place to question. Nor is it my purpose today. I am here to share with you a few tids (and several bits) of information about Aldric, the rumors, and the Lantern of Lyre.
Now, rumor has it that Aldric spent the remaining years of his life, as I said before, as a farmer. I do wish that were the case. Poor Aldric spent the rest of his life as a hermit. He wandered about the desolate lands of the Forgotten Regions between Mount Gumarich and Megiddo Mount, where few beasts dared venture and even fewer people. Aldric’s life was one of self-imposed isolation. When he left Thorne Castle, he never spoke to another soul again.
The days were long and arduous for the squire turned man, and the nights—unbearable—his dreams haunted by the memories of the cave, of Sir Emeric’s final moments, of the knight’s empty stare…proof, in Aldric’s mind, of his failure to his mentor.
Ten years and one day after leaving Thorne Castle and one day after Sir Emeric died, Aldric exhaled his last breath, ending the nightmare for eternity as the lantern claimed its final victim.
What’s that?
Yes, I called Aldric a victim of the lantern. He was as much, dare I say even more, of a victim than Sir Emeric. The Lantern of Lyre stole the knight’s soul in that cave on Megiddo, thus ending his essence and his ability to know, to think, to suffer, to regret. However, Aldric also lost his soul that day on Megiddo Mount beside his mentor. It merely took a decade of torment before his heart followed suit. Young Aldric suffered the worst version of the curse of the Lantern of Lyre, the curse of being the one left behind to deal with the grief and the loss, for that is a burden that would haunt even the bravest of knights and heartiest of kings.
Every relic, every antique, and each curious trinket possesses a secret. As you discovered in reading The Hollow-Eyed Knight, no secret, much like the secluded cave atop a mountain, remains hidden forever.
What happened to the lantern? It still resides in this realm. It is safe and secure, tucked away in a dark corner of my vault—in the same satchel that Aldric transported it in from Megiddo Mount to Thorne Castle—where no one can accidentally stumble upon it or gaze into the flames. The tale of the brave young squire and his knight has faded from the minds of most Iosians, with only a few historians remembering bits and pieces of the legend. Time has a way of dimming memories, but it does not impact cursed relics.
Time has not erased the power of the lantern’s flames. They remain as lethal as when their first victim, Giselle, the youngest daughter of a dewberry farmer, discovered the lantern when running away in a desperate attempt to escape an arranged marriage and the life she believed would be the death of her. My, how wrong she was.
I still have not discovered how the lantern traveled from the Island of Ernes to the mountain cave in the Forgotten Regions, but I will…in time.
The Lantern of Lyre has claimed its final soul… Or, at least, I hope that it has. One can never be too sure when it comes to cursed relics and foolish people what the future may hold. That, my fellow realm dweller, I choose to leave to fate.
The Lantern of Lyre does not speak, but if my mind is drifting when I am tending to my vault, I can hear the faint call from within the satchel. If you ever venture into my vault, heed my warning and that of Aldric, the brave young squire, and stay far away from the lantern. For, if you get too close, the flames will whisper to you the secrets of the souls that they have stolen.
And that, my dearest wanderer, is a sound that will haunt your dreams forever.
“A lantern took a knight’s soul. A young squire brought back what was left. But the lantern was not to be robbed of its prize, for the flames claimed both souls in the end.” —Zelinda
This is may be the end of Aldric and Sir Emeric’s tale, but I assure you, there are many more relics in my vault with secrets to share. I am meeting with the Realm Keeper to scour the scrolls and the vault for the next tale that wishes to be discovered. Until then, my dearest wanderer, share the story with others who believe in magical whispers and lost legends. And, remember… do not look into the flame.
Be sure to share this tale with someone who believes in magical whispers and lost legends.
