Chapter 1: "Justin! The Queen Needs You!" Chapter 2: Odette Chapter 3: Seeing the River Chapter 4: Moving Waters Chapter 5: Training Chapter 6: A Fight to the Death Chapter 7: Knighted Epilogue: 5 Years Later

Chapter 1, Part 1: Hello! I am Justin. I live in a small village called Stone Valley. Our kingdom, Knightsbury, is fading. Queen Arielle has banished all knights from the kingdom because she thought that the kingdom did not need the extra protection for the last time we had been attacked was 13 years ago. "Justin! The Queen needs you!!" said a voice behind me. I realized it was the Queen's nephew, Milo. I quickly followed Milo to the castle. "Justin! I'm glad you could make it!" said the Queen. "I have bad news. The knights are coming back to destroy the kingdom! You have to defeat them and get back your fathers sword!" I was shocked.

Chapter 1, Part 2: "But I can't! I'm not trained to be a knight!" I said frightened. "True, you are only 15...," said the Queen, thinking. "You shall be sent to Lord Minis." "THE LORD MINIS??!!" I almost shouted in surprise. "Yes, Lord Minis. Now, you must hurry! We don't have much time! We think that the sword is somewhere in The Tower of Fire," hurried the Queen. "No...not the...you can't mean ....THAT tower of fire. Can you?" I asked scared. "Justin. Look at me. You are forgetting that it was your father that saved this village from Amora's army many years ago. You can defeat them. It's in your blood!" she comforted. "Now get on your way."

"Thank you, and good luck," finished the Queen. I started on my journey. I walked and walked and walked and walked and walked. It felt like I had walked for hours! Would I ever make it to the tower? Was I meant to do this adventure? Would I ever see the village again??

Chapter 2, Odette: Finally I reached a village! I was standing in a village hidden in the tall pines of the forest. Suddenly a girl with long blond hair wearing a long dress was coming to me carrying a basket full of wildflowers. "Hello, fellow traveler. I am Odette. Are you from around here?" she asked. "No, I come from Stone Valley, the kingdom of Knightsbury," I answered. "Oh my! What a long walk! It must be at least 8 hours away! You must be tired! Come, I will get you some food and drink." I followed. She went inside one small cottage and came back with bread, fruits, and one pitcher of both water and wine.

"Now why did you come here? This village is not well known throughout the kingdoms," she asked, interested. "Well...," I hesitated. I didn't know if I should tell anyone about my journey to the tower. "Well...I..uh..uh..am going to the tower of fire," I said quickly. Odette's eyes grew large. She gasped. After a long pause, she spoke. "No one has ever returned from the tower." She spoke so quietly I had to strain to hear her. "I know," I answered softly. "Well, this will sound super crazy from a girl picking flowers, but, can I join you?" she asked. "WHAT? I mean, well, if you want to, I guess..but I'm going to Kong Goul to train with Lord Minis. I have to capture my father's sword."

"Great! I'll be right back!" she said. After a few minutes she came out of the cottage with her hair in a braid with a hiking dress on. Better clothing for a hike across hills and stones. "Ready!" she said. As we began our journey across the valley, Odette wanted to know about Knightsbury and a little more about why this quest was so hard. I told her all about the journey ahead. "You know, I lost my parents when I was little. William and Liana Ward," I said. There was a long pause. "I lost mine too. Meyrek and Catherine Gaunt," Odette said. Suddenly, we reached a mountain. "Aha! If we climb this mountain, to the VERY top, we can see the tower and the best route to get there," Odette said.

"Are you ready?" asked Odette with a serious look on her face. "Yes," I answered with the same amount of seriousness. "Great! You first!" said Odette with a sudden startling amount of eagerness. She shoved the grappling hook into my arms. "Uh..," I said a little scared. "Really? Are you serious? Are you gonna make me do lady's first?" She asked with her hand on her hip and her foot tapping on the hard stone. "Be my guest?" I suggested. A smirk then a smile then a laugh spread across her face. "Ok, I'll go," She threw the hook to the top of the mountain and we started to climb (of course with her first).

I gasped for air...."I can't go much longer...," I told Odette. "Oh, for heaven sakes, we've only been up 1 yard!" she said laughing. After 30 minutes of straight climbing, cold sweat ran down my face and on my vest. My heart was beating so loud, I couldn't hear Odette screaming to get out of the way! I looked up and a huge boulder was running down the mountain towards me! I grasped for a ledge or SOMETHING to hold onto but my hands were too wet and they slipped from a crevice! But as I was about to fall to my death,...........I didn't?! I looked up to see Odette struggling for dear life to hold on to me.

Chapter 3, Seeing the River: Where was I? Oh yes, I WAS ALMOST PUT TO DEATH, and when it was over and Odette had pulled me up, I was thinking how I would ever survive the tower if I had barely dodged that. But a voice interrupted my thoughts. "Here!" I saw Odette was at the top and I only a few feet away. When I got to the top, the view was breathtaking. A large river lay at the bottom of the mountain, and at least 6 more mountains surrounded us.

But as I looked out at the scene, I thought about what would happen to my village if I didn't succeed in capturing the invader. He or she would destroy it! Drive the townspeople away! They would wander across the endless valleys hopeless and starving until... "JUSTIN!!" screamed Odette. I jumped with suprise! I had been so deep in thought that I didn't hear Odette talking to me. "Finally! I thought you were in a trance or something!" she shook her head laughing to herself. Then it hit me. "How do you know so much about this area?" I asked. Odette turned her head. "I don't want to talk about it." Gallahant had told her not to say anything about anything when she captured Justin.

She regretted having anything to do with Gallahant. She loved me. But I didn't find out till later. Odette was too afraid that our friendship would end if I didn't feel the same way about her. Then we started our descent down the mountain. Then we arrived at the river. There ahead was the most rickety, crickety (yes, I know crickety isn't a real word) bridge ever! It wasn't even safe for a squirrel to walk across! No, I'm serious. I saw a squirrel walk across the bridge and it fell trough the planks. I looked over at Odette's face and it looked like she saw a ghost. This was the first time I had ever saw Odette scared, even though I had only known her for a couple of hours.

Chapter 4, Moving Waters: "Be careful..," said Odette wearily. "That bridge is really old." "Oh really? I never noticed," I said sarcastically. Odette looked back and smirked. When she got a better look at the bridge in front of us, she said, with her voice shaking, "Oh no. No no. No no no no. No way. No more lady's first. This is your turn." I muttered to myself. I took the first step on the old bridge. "No way. Not safe. I would much rather, like, humanity collapse than die on a rickety bridge," I said. "OH COME ON!" Odette shouted. "Woah! Ok, ok I'll go! Sheesh!" I said, muttering, as I stepped on the plank again. Things went well until we got to to middle.

Suddenly I heard Odette scream! I wheeled around to see the plank under Odette's feet collapse!! I grabbed her hand right before she was about to fall into the murky waters below. "Odette!" I screamed. Suddenly, the plank under ME started to wobble and my hand started to lose it's grip on Odette! "It's over! I'm done! I will never see my village again. The village...," I thought. "The village!" Suddenly a burst of energy and strength boosted me up and I lifted Odette up through the gaps between the planks. "What are you waiting for??!! Go!" said Odette as we hurriedly ran across the bridge. When we reached the other side, Odette hugged me and said,"Thank you Justin."

But as we looked back at the swaying bridge, it collapsed and fell into the rushing waters. Odette was staring at the water open-mouthed. And without a word, we continued our journey. When we were getting close to Kong Gaul, Odette spun around to me. "There is something I need to tell you. I'm working for a man who wants to capture you. I..I..I just can't do it!" she sobbed. At first I was speechless. Then I felt like I was going to explode! "I helped you! I took you along with me! I trusted you!" I said. Odette started to softly cry. "I'm so sorry! He gave me money in exchange for you! I had to pay for food and shelter for my family! I'm so, so, so, sorry...," she cried. I softened. I couldn't leave her alone.

Even though she betrayed me. "It's ok, Odette," I told her. "But..I..I betrayed you! How could you forgive me?" she asked. "After all we've been through? No way am I going to leave you!" I said. Odette smiled. "You're the best! Now I know a shortcut to the tower." She hurried on. We continued our adventure to Kong Gaul. But in just a matter of minutes, the castle was in front of us. "And this, is Kong Gaul!" Odette said in wonder.

Chapter 5, Training: I looked up and up and up and up! The towers never seemed to end! It was amazing! But there was no way to get across the lake in front of us! I saw a giant church bell on a stand at the edge of the lake. "Maybe this will call the boatman!" I said. I walked over to the bell and rang it. No answer. I rang it again. No answer. I rang it hard 3 more times. "OK! OK! I HEARD YA! I'M COMING! YA HAPPY?" shouted a voice from the other side of the fog. "Well I guess that worked," said Odette as a boat appeared from the fog. "You rang?" asked the man on the boat. He was wearing a robe with a hood that covered his face.

"You must have important news to travel all the way here," said the mysterious figure as we stepped on the boat. "You don't know why we came here," I said. "Justin, Justin, Justin. I know everything about you and why you came. But this tower hasn't used it's magic in centuries. We may not be able to fully help. Nevertheless, the Queen sent you to fight and no matter what, you SHALL fight," he said as if it was a normal thing to be sent on an adventure across the kingdoms. "Come. Welcome to Kong Gaul," he said as he stopped the boat at the shore of the lake. "Who was the guy that you were working for?" I asked Odette as we stepped out of the boat.

"Uh..I think it was Galahoot or Golahont...no, wait...I think it was Galahant..yeah that was it. Why?" she asked. "I had an Uncle named Galahant," I said after a pause. She gasped. "Do you think...?" but Odette didn't finish because the man interrupted her. "Ok. Now! WITNESS THE AMAZING MAGIC OF KONG GAUL!" he said as he spread his arms out to the front doors. Nothing happened. "I said, WITNESS THE AMAZING MAGIC OF KONG GAUL!!" he said a little louder. Nothing happened. "This guy is a nutball," whispered Odette to me as we both stared waiting for something to happen. "Ok, hold it. Where did I put my wand? Dang it! Where the heck did I put that thing?

Sorry, this happened a few months ago when some other kids like you came down here and I can never find that darn thing. Oh ok, here it is," he said as he cleared his throat a couple times then started again. "WITNESS THE AMAZING MAGIC OF KONG GAUL!!!" he shouted. The doors creaked open. "Maybe not," corrected Odette. We walked inside and the only noise was the sound of water dripping from the top of the room. "Sorry about this mess. This castle hasn't been used for a LLLLLLLLLLOOOOO...(3 MINUTES LATER) ...NNNNGGGG TIME," he said. Light from the stained glass windows slowly filtered in and lit the room. When the room was lit, he led us into

a room. I gaped at the walls! There were statues of former knights! As he led us to the end of the hall, he turned. "Perhaps it is time for you to know who I really am," he said as he took off his hood. I gasped! I flashback suddenly appeared in my mind. A baby was screaming and he was there! Lord Minis! He hid with the baby. Then soldiers stormed in and took the parents, and after they were gone, Lord Minis ran and left the baby alone in the crib. I snapped out of it and looked over at Odette. "I don't get it," she said. "Are you serious?! I'm not gonna explain the whole dang thing!" Lord Minis said a little annoyed. "Wait, is he Lord Minis?" asked Odette.

"No he's not......OF COURSE HE'S LORD MINIS! CATCH UP!" I said to Odette equally annoyed. Her eyes popped with suprise. "A little late on that one Odette!" I thought. "Let us get on our way," said Lord Minis. He led us down a dark hallway. We arrived at a black door. "Not a very welcoming color," I thought. We walked in. "And this is your statue!" said Lord Minis as he showed us a statue of me. "Me??! Why me?" I asked in fright. "Because you're our hero!" he answered. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" I shouted. I felt a huge shake. It was Odette. "Huh? What?" I asked confused. "You were daydreaming again," said Odette impatiently. "But the statue!" I said.

"Oh yes, the statue of your father! It is 30% marble....," said Lord Minis. "You weren't listening?" asked Odette. "Um..I guess not," I answered. Then Lord Minis led us into another room. It had swords and spears hanging on hooks on the walls. In the center off the room, under a glass case, was a sword. "This was my sword when I fought armies of raiders," said Lord Minis thoughtfully. Then we walked through doors at one side of the room. Inside, there were two beds with engraved bed posts and a velvet colored canopy around them. The mattresses were as soft as a feather. The comforters had designs of castles and thrones and they were like silk.