By Glenn Francis Faelnar
Billy was the squire of the greatest knight in the kingdom of Vonheim. To everyone else, the knight was a hero. To Billy, he was also Dad.
Billy loved hearing stories about his father’s adventures. He imagined riding beside him through deep valleys, facing giant snakes and rescuing villages.
One sunny afternoon, a royal messenger galloped to their cottage. The king needed Billy’s father at once.
Before leaving, Father kissed Mother, ruffled the children’s hair and reminded Billy to help at home. Billy finished every chore, because heroes always kept their promises.
Father returned after moonrise. At dinner, he explained why the king had summoned him.
A golden dragon egg lay hidden deep inside Mount Alithea. The king had asked Father to bring it safely to the castle.
Mother knew the mountain paths could be dangerous. Then Father said something that made Billy’s spoon stop halfway to his mouth.
“I want Billy to come with me as my squire.”
While his parents talked, Billy waited outside beneath the stars. Somewhere beyond the dark fields stood Mount Alithea.
At last, Mother and Father joined him on the grass.
“You may go,” Father said, “on one condition.”
Mother took Billy’s hands. “If danger comes, you must listen to your father. If he says run, you run. If he says hide, you hide.”
“I promise,” Billy said. Mother kissed his forehead and sent him to bed before the early journey.
The sun had not yet risen when Billy and Father climbed onto their horse. Mother had packed food, water and a warm blanket.
Father carried his sword and round shield, but he wore no armour.
“Don’t you need it?” Billy asked.
“Mount Alithea is usually peaceful,” Father replied. “But we still stay watchful and prepared.”
They rode through the silver dawn until the mountain filled the sky ahead of them.
At the foot of the mountain, they tied their horse beneath a great tree and left him water. Billy carried the bag while Father carried his sword and shield.
The trail wound between ancient trunks and mossy stones. As they climbed, Father told Billy stories no one else had heard.
Billy imagined adventures of his own: dragons in the clouds, sea monsters beneath shining waves and castles beyond the mountains.
But every spider and distant rustle made him jump. Soon his excited smile disappeared.
Father noticed and knelt beside him. “It is all right to be afraid, son.”
“But if I’m afraid, I can’t be brave,” Billy said.
Father smiled. “Bravery does not mean never feeling fear. It means knowing you are afraid and still taking the next step.”
“Have you ever been afraid?” Billy asked.
“Many times,” Father answered. Billy stood a little straighter. If a great knight could feel afraid, then fear did not have to stop him.
Near the top of the mountain, they found a dark cave mouth between two rocks.
Billy hesitated. Father placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We will go together.”
They wrapped cloth around a sturdy stick and lit a torch. Its flame painted warm shapes across the cave walls.
Billy stayed close and held the edge of Father’s tunic while shadows shifted around them.
“One step at a time,” Father reminded him, and they walked deeper into the cave.
Then Father stopped and lifted the torch.
On a stone nest ahead of them rested a golden dragon egg. Its overlapping scales shone like tiny shields, and a warm light filled the cavern.
Billy stared in wonder. He had imagined dragon eggs many times, but none had ever looked so beautiful.
Together they wrapped the egg in the blanket, placed it carefully inside the bag and began their journey back.
On the mountain trail, a strange whisper moved between the trees. Father raised one hand and Billy stopped.
Smoky shadow monsters slid from behind the rocks, their small eyes glowing in the dusk.
Father crouched beside Billy. “Take the egg and run to our horse. I will meet you there.”
Billy wanted to stay and fight, but Father reminded him of his promise to Mother.
“You are helping by keeping the egg safe,” Father said. Billy nodded, gripped the bag and ran.
Two shadows followed him. Billy ran as fast as he could, but his boot caught on a root and he fell. The egg rolled from the bag and stopped near a boulder.
Billy hid behind the rock, trembling. Then he remembered Father’s words: bravery was taking the next step even when you were afraid.
He found a pebble and threw it far across the trail. Clack! The shadow monsters turned toward the sound.
Billy dashed out, scooped up the egg and ran downhill without looking back.
At last he reached the horse. He hugged the warm egg, breathing hard, proud that he had used courage and his wits.
Billy waited beneath the great trees. The minutes felt very long, and worry crept into his heart.
Then a familiar voice called, “Sorry to keep you waiting, son.”
Father stepped from the forest, tired and scratched but smiling. Billy ran to him and wrapped both arms around his waist.
“Are you hurt?” Billy asked.
“Only a little. I will be fine,” Father said. Together they secured the egg and rode home beneath the evening sky.
That night, the whole family gathered around the dinner table. Billy’s brother and sister listened with wide eyes as he told them about the cave, the glowing egg and the shadow monsters.
He told them how frightened he had been and how Father’s lesson helped him think clearly.
“I kept my promise, Mum,” Billy said. “I wasn’t ready to fight, but I could still help.”
Mother hugged him. Father smiled proudly. “You took the next step when it mattered. That is true bravery.”
Later, Billy climbed into bed. Moonlight lay across the quilt, and the golden egg glowed safely from its basket nearby.
He thought about the mountain, the cave and the moment he chose to move despite his fear.
Someday, he hoped to ride beside Father as a knight. For now, he was proud to be his squire.
Billy closed his eyes and dreamed of their next adventure together.
The End.
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