Excerpt: Unnamed Humorous Fantasy Project 2

-- PROLOGUE --

Once upon a time, there was a third son of a third son. He lived with his father and two older brothers on the family estate, which wasn’t nearly as grand as that sounds. His father’s holdings were large enough to support them and the Mulls, the one family of peasants that grew the crops, tended the livestock, and ran the manor house.

The oldest son was tall, strong and handsome. He was the athletic one, and spent his free time riding, hunting or journeying to the nearest village to find sport with the other boys his age. The middle son was bookish and thin, and he carried a perpetually thoughtful expression. His leisure time greatly resembled their morning lessons, and he was either absorbed in a book or tinkering with some experiment that none of the other boys could understand.

The third son was neither tall and strong nor thin and smart; he was supremely average. Yet he was known for being constantly cheerful and friendly. All who met him found him charmingly personable. He would spend his days lying on the hillside watching the clouds, or whistling to the birds, and sometimes convincing the six Mull brothers that the best thing for it was for them all to go swimming in the lake across the valley.

He, like his brothers, had lost their mother when they were young, and were raised by their father’s stern guidance and the brusque but excellent care of Mrs. Mull. She was the one who had told them the wonderful stories as they grew up, the ones that let them know their destinies. Binby, as the eldest, would go off to become a proud military officer, to have an impressive career, fight in epic battles, then return to inherit the family estate. Wencel, the middle son, would become a scribe or cleric, or perhaps even a professor at some prestigious university far, far away.

Norby would be neither a soldier nor academic. Starting with only a few trinkets, he would wander the land in search of his fortune. Having only the clothes on his back, his personality and just the perfect mix of skills to befriend creatures of great power, defeat ogres, and perhaps even win the heart of a princess, he would have grand adventures and bring a wonderful reward for his travels.

Norby’s father died suddenly, while the boys were still in their early teens, much sooner than the tales would have led them to believe. Binby, the eldest, tried to be the lord of the manor, but couldn't quite manage staying at home, and went off in search of adventure. He had a chance encounter with an old storyteller, who gave (well, actually sold) him a map to a magical world, which turned out to lead to an rather disappointed theme park. Then Binby found it wasn't quite so disappointing after all, and he did have rather a bit of adventure in a magical world, where he fought Evil Wizards and monsters and ended up saving the day, and then was well rewarded for his efforts and returned triumphantly home; but this is not his story.

Following the proscribed destiny of a Third Son, Norby gathered up his meager belongings, gratefully accepted the neatly-wrapped packet of bread, cheese and salted meat from Mr. Mull, who had an uncharacteristic tear in her eye, and set off down the road to seek his fortune, whistling cheerfully as he went.

This is also not his story.