T.J. Lantz - Sir Dudley Tinklebutton and the Sword of Cowardice

Sir Dudley

Tinklebutton

and the

SWord of Cowardice

Episode 2 of the Dudley Diaries

Written by

T.J. Lantz

Illustrated by

Ana santo

Copyright 2015

Happy Gnome Publishing

All rights reserved

This book is a ROSEHAVEN adventure.

What exactly is Rosehaven?

Rosehaven is a multi-series Fantasy world, in which mythological creatures live in hiding on the outskirts of human exploration. It currently consists of three separate book series: Rosehaven, The Chronicles of Gnipper, and The Dudley Diaries. Each of these series contains overlapping setting and characters, but differ in tone and reading level. The goal of Rosehaven is to offer young children an enjoyable fantasy world that grows with them as they become stronger readers. Currently Rosehaven offers:

The Chronicles of Gnipper (For ages 7 and up, fully illustrated single sitting reads of about 50 pages. The order they are read does not matter.):

This series tells the story of Gnipper Tallhat, a twelve year old gnome desperately trying to earn respect in her community for her scientific inventions. Unfortunately, everything she does seems to backfire.

Gnit-Wit Gnipper and the Perilous Plague

Gnit-Wit Gnipper and the Ferocious Fire-Ants

Gnit-Wit Gnipper and the Devious Dragon

The Dudley Diaries (For ages 9 and up, fully illustrated single sitting reads of about 50 pages. The order they are read does not matter):

Follows the tales of Sir Dudley Tinklebutton, a knight of the Coalition of the Burning Heart. Sir Dudley isnt your typical heroic knight: hes scared of insects, hes never slain anything, and hes only chivalrous when he thinks he can get something out of it. Can Sir Dudley overcome his cowardly qualities to become the hero he needs to be?

Sir Dudley Tinklebutton and the Dragons Lair

Sir Dudley Tinklebutton and the Sword of Cowardice

Sir Dudley Tinklebutton and the Unholy Grail

Rosehaven (For ages 10 and up. Novels, 300+ pages, intended to be read in order):

This tells the main story of the retics , creatures forced into hiding by a group of humans tasked with hunting them down. It follows the lives of several key figures: Jaxon the loud-mouthed demon who can control the elements, Tyranna the shape-shifter, learning to come to grips with her new world, and Reginald, a thousand year old Tree-ent knight dedicated to saving as many lives as he can. Together they must navigate conflicts in the human world, and in their own community, before war wipes the retics out forever.

Rise of the Retics (Book 1)

Return of the Fae-blood (Book 2)

Gwenevere Elaine Tinklebutton! Bad dragon! I told you a hundred times not to eat Murray! Now put him down!

Sir Dudley wagged his finger aggressively at the infant dragon. He struggled to hold a smirk at bay, while watching the young creature dangle his squire from her mouth. Murrays one foot was stuck between her teeth, while his other kicked awkwardly through the air. His messy blond hair bounced off the dirty ground with each flap of the dragons powerful wings, creating a tiny dust storm beneath his head.

Look at the bright side, Murray. At least youre not Scottish. Think how weird this would be for both of us if you were in a kilt. Dudley couldnt hold it in anymore, and let out a boisterous laugh.

Sir, Murray said, I appreciate your humorous look at the situation, but Im pretty sure shes going to eat me this time! Though he tried to keep his voice calm and steady, he was clearly starting to worry about becoming a dragon snack.

I dont think so. Shes playing with you, and she barely ever plays with her food.

Shes giving me a very hungry look, Sir.

Poppycock! Do you think I would raise such a dangerous creature without putting thought into it? Ive taught her to be a vegetarian.

Vegetarian? cried the squire in disbelief. I watched her eat two cows last night!

Murray, shes a growing girl and youre going to give her a complex. Besides, cows are an exception. She doesnt eat meat except for beef, chicken, pork, venison, quail, and mutton.

Thats a lot of exceptions. He let out a small yelp as his head nicked the ground.

Its tough to be a vegetarian, especially since she doesnt like fruits, vegetables, or nuts. But shes learning.

I really hope she learns before she decides to add human to her list of exceptions.

Dont worry so much. Humans taste terrible. She would never.

Sir, how do you know what humans taste

Gwen, you wanna play a game? Dudley picked up a thick piece of branch that had fallen from a nearby oak tree. As he reared back to throw, Gwens jaw flew open in anticipation. Murray crashed to the ground with a loud thud, and Dudley flung the stick toward the river.

Gwen launched after it, her leathery green wings extending out and covering the ground in a dark shadow.

Dragons took well over a hundred years to reach physical maturity, and though as strong as an ox, Gwen was still barely bigger than a large dog. Despite limited size, her immense wingspan, thick-plated hide, and curly, spiked tail made her look much more imposing. She was a smaller version of her mother, who had been a magnificent predator in her day. Dudley shuddered at the thought of her death. Though he would never admit it to anyone, it had actually been the first dragon hed slain, and he hoped it would be the last.

Squaoooor !

Svenson, Dudleys ebony warhorse, lifted his head out of the dew covered grass he was grazing in. His ears pointed to the sky as he tried to figure out the nature of the sound.

Dudley already knew. A parent always knew when their child was in danger. Even if the child was a flying reptile that could breathe fire and crush armor into tiny metal toys. That was Gwens calla mix of a bird squawk and a lions roar. At her age it wasnt scary, but Dudley knew that would change as she got older.

Without hesitation he sprinted towards the river. His clanking metal armor alerted everyone within a mile radius that he was on his way.

It only took a few minutes for him to forge through the dense tree-lined woods and reach the water. Each step made his heart beat a bit faster as he worried about the trouble Gwen might be in. In their few short months together, he had grown to love her as if she were his own flesh and blood.

It wasnt a huge river, shallow and only a few dozen yards across, but the current was strong and the moss covered rocks signaled doom to anyone who tried to make their way to the other side.

A few feet above the center of pulsing water Gwen hovered, flapping her wings with vigor. She was okay, and Dudleys racing heartbeat began to slowuntil his gaze met the dragons target. Then it began to flutter wildly in a way that most doctors would have described as an episode.

Just below Gwen was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen.

Her skin was a translucent blue, the hue of crisp polar ice. Her hair looked like the fresh powdered snow of a mountain peak. Her emerald eyes shone like fresh cut gems, and her gown shimmered like the scales of an exotic tropical fish.

Dudley sighed as he lost himself in her beauty.

Are you just going to stand there like an idiot, she called, or are you going to help me? Her voice sounded like an angel and a siren had a baby and gave it vocal lessons.

Oh...huh...what, he stammered as he realized Gwen was pecking at her hair. Oh, of course! Gwen, down! Shes not a fish! Leave it!