A Long Trail...

[DungeonMaster]

The man with unending endurance stepped out with the puppy, letting the puppy make its way back to Sir Cornelius. He laughed and cheered, "Hooray! praise Sir Cornelius, Ogre slayer extraordinaire!"

[Chronica]

A single breathy laugh escaped the knights helmet. "That was nothing. I battled practice dummies tougher than that. The Ogre's live to the east of here. It must have been in exile for not being ugly enough, large enough, strong enough, or dumb enough. But I am not bringing back a trophy from that. I think the stench it has left upon me will be proof enough."

The Knight whistled to the pup as he started walking, and it sprang to follow him.

[DungeonMaster]

He kept stride with the knight and sniffed the air once, carefully. his face contorted like a piece of abstract art at the stench, "I agree... that should be sufficient."

[Chronica]

Cornelius stopped and sat down right on the trail. "Unlike you, I can become exhausted." The little black pup curled up next to the knight, "And I suppose I'll have to name you. Can't call you pup all the time." Cornelius scratched the pup behind the ears and it rolled on its back reveiling that it was a boy. "Hmm, how about Duncan?"

[DungeonMaster]

"Duncan suits him, I think." He sat down and smiled, opening the bag on his belt. 'My grandfather said a demon gave him this bag. i don't believe him... but... how else can you explain something like..." he stuck his hand into the fanny bag until he was in up to his elbow, and he pulled out a full-sized mandolin and began playing it, "...that?" He grinned and played a merry tune that filled the air, "And so it was that Sir Cornelius the Brave did slay the mighty banished ogre and his untiring friend gathered the herb they required... to... ummm..." his tune faltered and he laughed, "Cross the bridge..." he said with n music, and then began to play again.

[Chronica]

The knight laughed. "Oh no stories of bravery just yet. I am on my first mission for my chapter house. I am what they refer to as a virgin knight. I have been on many journey's but only as a squire lending a hand to the knights that were to be the true chapmpions of the missions they were given. I have not yet had a mission, and have not yet earned the right to have my name in a song." The knight went on to scratch Duncan's belly.

[DungeonMaster]

"Well... I do say that one line of verse is hardly a song. I... am composing your melody. It will be complete some day in the distant future, when your name rings throughout Xanth eternally.

[Chronica]

Cornelius snorted in laughter. "I highly doubt that my name will ring through Xanth." The knight tilted his head to the side as if pondering somthing under his helmet. "Come to think of it, I do not know of any names in Xanth other than that of the Good Magician. Godmother Elaina never gave me any information on Xanth other then the location of the Good Magician."

[DungeonMaster]

"Have no doubt, great sir... I will tell great tales that never end about you. My voice will ring for all eternity with your name cooly floating through the forests of Xanth. From now until the days of Xanth's end, you will be known by all who encounter me." He got quiet as he walked, and then he stopped and looked up at the sky, "Ifeel like fate has brought us together somehow..." he nodded, "Yes, fate... that's what had to have done it."