The
Integrity Tech Times
Interviews:
Valiant:
White Knight


ITT: Hello Valiant. Thank you for agreeing to this interview.

VT: Not a difficulty. Not even for a busy White Knight of the Order of the Brotherhood.

ITT: Where did you get your training as a knight?

VT: The Elders of the Circle pass on from generation to generation all of the teachings of the Order and then training comes as a matter of service in the field.

ITT: What is the Circle Of White Knights?

VT: We defend those whom evil would threaten and destroy, we serve those who are treasures within the twilight, we honor those traditions of the Towers of Templar.

ITT: How long have you been an "Elder?"

VT: Several thousand years, actually...but that's a tale all unto itself...just remember it is never to be confused with Elderly Knights. An Elder has achieved status as a Defender, master of all forces and friend to all things.

ITT: How do the Knights Templars of your time, relate to the Knights
Templars of Earth's history?

VT: Just as the original Knights of Templar were formed to defend and serve those on the road to Palestine from bandits and peril in the Ages of Old, we are on the same mission but our directive spans the Universe. We are, in the most circumspect analysis, their direct ascendants.

ITT: I see. With this mission, how would you rate the difficulty of the
Princess's rescue?

VT: A daily requirement of her guard, I must say, and -- with good fortune for her -- I stand alone in this service, Defender to the Princess Airisa... any more would only trip over themselves just trying to determine her direction.

ITT: Was there ever a time when you thought that you would loose it all?

VT: Well, I was requested to keep it brief in response -- impossible for a true Knight-- and those tales would take days to discourse in their exact description as to challenge and glory...every moment has the possibility of total loss or total victory...I'm told there is a truthful new book about these greatest of times, though.

ITT: But could you give us one or two specific close calls?

VT: Ah well, I can banter a short tale or two. There was the time, of course, of the The Black Storm and its heathen leader, Terrible Ned Par Knell. That was the first time the sector of the galaxy housing true wealth and circumstantial rule found itself strangled to unconsciousness by the viciousness of the enemy attack. And it was a time when boldness was required, when the Order of the Brotherhood of White Knights road the Great Red Dragons with Kantu across the Silver Plain. No army had ever successfully crossed its heat and metallic winds. The Black Storm was felled and put in full chase into the hideouts of the Star Orron, to the distant four quarters of the galaxy. And still they were not defeated. On into the...

ITT: How many years (your time) have you been a knight?

VT: What is this obsession with age? Several thousand years, give or take a hundred or so. Unique for any time, I know...but I was blessed by the Goddess herself and granted such stature.

ITT: In all that time was there ever any special lady that took your heart?

VT: Are you asking if there was one? Not any particular one. The question is preposterous. There are many that have fond memories in my heart...but now...the Princess...she is special...no more noble of a mission could be issued than as her Defender...to serve and honor her until her ascension into her Queendom and the benefactress of all Ja.

ITT: You do quite a bit of traveling. How do you cope with that?

VT: Sorry to say we Knights no longer get Traveler Miles. The Circle is a little down on budget and cut those long ago...but the original Papal Bull issued to the Knights of Templar suffices to keep our benefits high enough.

ITT: What is your favorite dinner?

VT: A bottle of truly good wine, followed by something light, a little quaisil, say, and then a cheerful evening of drumming and song and the sharing of additional good wine. We Knights have a traditional simple menu. There is an old saying among the circle; fat knight, foolish future.

ITT: When comparing the weapons of our time to the weapons of your time how do you think that yours are better?

VT: Your old powder combustion missiles or liquid explosive fuel propellants? Surely you jest? All of our weapons are of light producing deadly lasers. And our minds, naturally. We learned to point our thoughts and not our weapons.

ITT: How old are you? Come on fess up!

VT: This age thing again. Tell me truthfully, has the Princess or Tamerin set you up as a prank?

ITT: No, not at all...your lady readers want to know!

VT: No? Then you should think of me as I appear to you: nothing more, nothing less. We came long ago to realize that aging is a process of your thinking...especially about yourself...and a symptom of chronic worry. And nothing ages you quicker than pestering someone all the time about it. I could be forty...I could be four thousand .

ITT: Oh, really...you don't look it at all. How did King Nuntukamen become the keeper of your life stories?

VT: Money, I'm afraid...the swine.

ITT: How do you feel about his recording of your history?

VT: Well, he has done a good job in many, many ways. He's actually an old friend and Knight himself, gone on to be a King, of all things. Older than I am, if truth were told. Why don't you ask him how old he is?

ITT: Are there times when you think that the story got away from him? You know where he used "poetic license?"

VT: His one true talent. The man is a wizard with words. With his poetic license he can drive across the stars. Why, at times I feel as if his voice has placed the very words I am speaking in my own mouth, he is that great a wonder. No, I must confess I've ordered several of the books myself--as gifts, of course.

ITT: We have it on great authority that there will be another book released soon...when can our readers expect that?

VT: A portion of the first chapter is included at the very end of the first book. Rumor has it that a trilogy is in the making. So...I must be off soon to provide future adventure...a Knight mustn't lay about too long or his strengths begin to wane. I may make it a quadrilogy. Who knows?

ITT: Will these chronicles be illustrated too?

VT: The artwork--what little he lets me see--is astounding in its representation of what has truly transpired. He has nearly a dozen of the best young minds from all over the known present world...New Zealand to Norway to here. Even Canada. Did you know there were artists in Canada? I thought only the television comedians came from there.

ITT: Perhaps, the only one I know that is from Canada is Bill Shatner! Oh well! If you had just one wish, what would it be?

VT: That the Princess and I could settle quietly in the mansions built for her and augment a Way from War, A Path to Peace and Laughter Out of the Sadness. Maybe a little goddess or two. Or a wee knight. But alas, evil lurks in even the closest and dimmest of shadows. And that I get my fair share of these books.

ITT: If you have just one thing you could go back in time to change what would that be?

VT: Well, I would imagine that you would think that my first thought is Orex Landrel and the heinous Shadow Rule, but a member of the Circle knows they would change nothing...for everything is a process of balance and what has been is forever so and it is that which is perfectly creating the present. And this truth is for all of us, you may seek change from the past only by learning today so that it may not repeat tomorrow.

ITT: Well, we thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us.

VT: Well, perhaps evil feels it has gotten a leg up on the universe while I've been idle...more good then for the coming day. And another book.

ITT: The quadrilogy, huh?

VT: Precisely .

ITT: Good travels to you!

VT: And to All a good knight.

ITT: There you have it knight and ladies of the realm...Of course, there are hearts breaking all over the universe...who could have guessed? Perhaps one of you ladies are bold enough to take a stab at him...as for me I never mess with OLDER knights!

Copyrighted by the Integrity Tech Times 1999


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