Why did the ancient ones build so big when they were small? Vashti puzzled over that as they climbed… something. They weren’t actually certain quite what, but they thought they’d be able to see from the top, usually when the bipedal beings of old built something tall it was to see for a long way, or so Vashti had observed, towers and the like, so this, which seemed to have the steps much more conveniently located on the outside, was probably something similar.

“LITTLE COURSER. WHERE IS YOUR KNIGHT?”

The structure shook and rumbled with the sound, so loud Vashti wondered if it was an earthquake. Their dam always warned them that would happen underground! But Vashti’s dam had been wrong about a lot of things, and no courser they’d heard talking about their dungeon adventures had ever mentioned earthquakes. Once those thoughts jumbled their way to the surface Vashti remembered how to breathe again and looked around. The noise sounded like words, big words from a huge being. Looking up, Vashti realised the rock was looking down on them.

It might have been built, or carved, or maybe it was always there, waiting. Right now, all Vashti could think was: it’s big. It was one of the bipeds, but big, bigger than any piece of armour Vashti had ever seen. It was sitting on some kind of oddly shaped rock, and Vashti was standing on its upper legs looking up the length of its torso to the apparently friendly face way above.

The question, Vashti realised they hadn’t answered, but what was it asking about anyway. “Beg your pardon Rock Being, but what is a knight?” They hoped the inquiry wouldn’t offend.

The rock creature moved more, its forelimbs coming forward with those strange appendages two legs had instead of hooves. Vashti’s eyes closed involuntarily, sure they were going to be crushed or eaten for asking. Instead they were gently scooped and placed on their hooves back at ground level.

“YOU ARE NOT READY. IT’S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE. GO BACK.” Awed and terrified by the huge creature Vashti decided to listen for once in their life and made a hasty exit from the chamber. Now, they just had to find out what a knight was so they could answer right next time.