The Tale of the Preserver (historical romance)

(A fantasy historical romance short story)

By Amy Potter

She arrived alone at the tournament, side-mounted on a stocky palfrey. She wore a deep emerald green linen gown with red roses and light green foliage embroidered around the low neckline, shoulders, cuffs, waist, and hem of the dress. Braided into her waist-length coppery-tinged hair was a simple golden chain, and it and her thick hair swayed gently from side to side with the horse's gait.

The crowd of villagers noticed her as she rode to the edge of the grandstand but did not recognize her. She dismounted gracefully and held the mare’s reins as she searched the crowd. She was looking for someone — a kindred soul, perhaps, or an old friend she had not yet met. She had to find him soon or she would have to return empty‑handed to her homeland far away, and failure was not a word she relished to have associated with her long journey.

She recalled, with a panic borne of frustration, the last conversation with the Preserver.

“You must do this,” he had said, “without speaking a word to him or anyone, for that matter. They will hear your accent and know something is amiss.”

“I have studied their language for many years,” she had replied. “My accent should be most similar.”