Kingdom's Call Read online

  “Drop your sword,” the stranger said at Braden’s approach.

  Moments later, Demus and Braden, carrying Jayden between them, were walking away from the stranger. Demus paused and turned to look at the stranger once again. They had come to kill this man, and he spared their lives.

  “Are you truly the King’s Son?” The question left Demus’s lips, and he felt as though someone else had spoken it. The question was spontaneous, something he could not contain.

  The stranger’s eyes pierced Demus. “What does your heart tell you?”

  Beyond the hill, the three men approached their horses, and Jayden began to stir. Demus and Braden laid him on the ground to give him a chance to recover before the ride back to Chessington. They remained silent. Questions and excuses filled their minds until they heard the approach of a rider. Sir Gavin galloped around the hill, dismounted, and quickly came to Jayden, who was now holding his head and moaning. Gavin knelt beside him.

  “What happened? Is he all right?” Gavin quickly searched Jayden over for any fatal wounds.

  “He is fine,” Braden replied tersely.

  Gavin rose and faced Demus and Braden. “Is the traitor defeated?”

  Demus and Braden looked at each other and waited for the other to speak. Their silence was enough, and Gavin felt the anger rise within him again—anger that they had failed, anger that this traitor was still standing in defiance of the Noble Knights. It was an emotion he was not accustomed to, but it was present and building. Gavin looked toward the hill where the three knights had come from and began to draw his sword.

  Demus grabbed his arm. He looked Gavin squarely in the eye. “He has the power to kill you in an instant!”

  Gavin quelled his anger, seeing truth in Demus’s concerned expression. He relaxed and let his sword completely return to its scabbard.

  “Sir Jayden needs attention, and Kifus will want a full report,” Gavin said. A more severe course of action was required, much more severe!

  It was a silent ride back to the great hall of the Noble Knights, and Gavin did not envy the position his comrades were in. Once again, the stranger had shamed the best of the Noble Knights, and his influence over the people was growing, not diminishing. What troubled Gavin most, however, was the change he sensed in Demus. Was it possible that the stranger’s influence was reaching even into the realm of the Noble Knights? Gavin resolved in his mind to arrange a private conversation with Lord Kifus.

  Demus, Braden, and Jayden met with Lord Kifus at the palace that evening, and Gavin accompanied them. In a chamber off the great hall, Gavin remained silent as the three knights described the encounter with the stranger. Kifus listened intently but did not show any disdain for their efforts or their defeat, as Gavin had expected.

  When they had finished, Kifus stroked his beard and turned away from the men.

  After a moment of silence, Braden voiced the question Gavin was thinking as well. “Where could a man with such skill come from?”

  “The skill of this traitor is even greater than I thought,” Kifus responded. “It is a skill beyond the capabilities of mere men; there is no denying this. Since his words are blasphemous against the Code and the King’s Noble Knights, there is only one answer as to the question of his origin.” Kifus turned to face the men again. “He comes from the domain of the Dark Knight!”

  Gavin could feel the alarm and fear among his comrades as they considered this possibility. To his knowledge, no one had ever seen the Dark Knight, and Gavin often wondered if the legend of his might was more myth than truth.

  “Is such a thing possible, Lord Kifus?” Gavin asked.

  “It would be unusual but very possible. A man under the influence and training of the Dark Knight would be a formidable foe. We must use every weapon at our disposal and be more cunning than the Dark Knight himself if we are to overcome and destroy this powerful enemy of the King.”

  Gavin looked toward Demus, but there was almost no expression on his face.

  “Gentlemen, we must act quickly and decisively. Remain here while I send for some of the other knights to devise a plan,” Kifus said.

  Before long, another thirteen of the top Noble Knights had arrived. Kifus ordered his servants to bring refreshments to the knights as they assembled in the great hall. A young servant boy quickly set about filling the knights’ goblets with fresh wine. Gavin refused his portion, for he wanted to think clearly. He noticed that Demus had refused as well.

  “Noble Knights, it is clear that time has not resolved our problem as we had hoped,” Kifus said seriously, with an edge of frustration.

  “The imposter in our midst is gaining more influence with each passing week. His insults toward the Noble Knights are becoming more brazen, and his followers are growing in number. This man is an ally of the Dark Knight and an enemy of the King. We must act now if this threat to the Code and the kingdom is going to be eliminated!”

  The knights joined in Kifus’s enthusiastic denouncing of the stranger, and Jayden in particular seemed satisfied at last with the course they were taking. Gavin looked once again at Demus and saw anguish in his countenance; he had suspected that there was conflict within Demus’s heart. Gavin had intended to bring his concern about Demus before Kifus in private, but he saw in the next instant that perhaps that would not be necessary.

  Demus rose from his seat. “Lord Kifus, I have heard this man’s insults toward the Noble Knights, but I have also watched his actions. I find it difficult to believe that he is of the Dark Knight and his domain.”

  The silence that followed was thick. Kifus looked toward Demus, and Gavin could see anger in his eyes. Much to Gavin’s surprise, Demus did not shrink back but continued with his bold words.

  “I must insist that the council of these Noble Knights reconsider any action that would take the life of this man, for I have not yet seen or heard of him breaking any article of the Code!”

  Jayden walked toward Demus as though he were ready to strike down a traitor. “Sir Demus, your words hint of treason. You must be mad to defend this traitor!”

  “Demus is granted the right of opinion just as any other knight here, Jayden,” Kifus said. “I suggest you consider your words carefully, Sir Demus, for this assembly will deliver justice to the stranger, and that justice will come by the noose of a rope—with or without your consent.”

  All eyes fell upon Demus. Gavin had never felt such tension in the hall of the Noble Knights before. Demus boldly took in the stares of his fellow knights until at last his gaze came to Gavin. Gavin slowly shook his head in a final attempt to warn his friend against foolish action.

  Demus stood and faced the knights. “Then let it be known that I do not consent, and I will have no part of this plot!” He turned and exited the hall.

  Gavin was sad and angry at the same time. He knew that any friendship he had with Demus was over, and he pitied Demus’s foolishness. But Gavin’s anger with the stranger was now rooted even deeper in his heart. He felt a fire in his bosom that he knew would only be quenched when the stranger was gone … or dead.

  “You can see the extent of this traitor’s influence,” Kifus said, attempting to regain the attention of the knights. “We must act decisively and with full force.”

  “The stranger’s skill with the sword is overwhelming,” one knight said. “How do we take a man who has no weakness?”

  Kifus thought for a moment. “The traitor does have one weakness,” he said. “His followers! He may be able to defend himself against great odds, but he cannot defend all of his inept followers. We will attack them, and he will then yield to us.”

  Numerous discussions between knights revealed unanimous approval for Kifus’s plan. He was a brilliant tactician, and that had never been more obvious than now.

  “How will we know when and where to attack his followers?” one knight asked Kifus.

  Kifus smiled wryly. “There is one amongst the followers who has a fancy for silver. Prepare yourselves and the rest of
the men. When I call, be ready to ride, for we will end this man’s treachery once and for all!”

  Kifus dismissed the knights but asked Gavin to remain. “Gavin, these are becoming desperate days, and I am concerned with the loyalty of some of the knights. I need men I can trust implicitly.”

  Gavin looked directly into Kifus’s eyes. “There is no breach in my resolve to defend the Code and the order of the Noble Knights against such imposters as this stranger. You can trust me, Lord Kifus. I give you my word.”

  Kifus smiled and placed a hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “I believe you, Gavin. And in the days to come I will need to rely upon you heavily, for all that we believe in and live for is at stake.”

  “By the sword of the King I swear my allegiance to Him and to the Code. This stranger and his followers must be eliminated!” Gavin said.

  Kifus nodded and Gavin turned to leave. After he had walked a few paces toward the door, Kifus called to him.

  “Gavin, the work we must do will become, shall we say, a bit messy.”

  Gavin looked at Kifus, confused by the remark.

  Kifus continued, “There are certain aspects of this job that are best suited for men like Sir Jayden and Sir Bremrick. You needn’t involve yourself too deeply in the method of this justice. Do you understand?”

  Bremrick was as brash a man as Jayden but much more distasteful in his habits. Gavin tried to have little to do with him. Gavin did not know how to respond to Kifus, for he did not fully grasp what Kifus was trying to say.

  Kifus looked squarely at Gavin. “You have great influence among the other men and I need your leadership, but I want you to keep your distance from this … this imposter who claims to be the King’s Son. With regard to him, your role will be one of observation only.”

  “Lord Kifus, I am fully capable of dealing with the insolence of this imposter. Believe me, neither my resolve nor my stomach will become weak,” Gavin said.

  “I do not question your resolve or your stomach, but I am not asking; I am commanding. There is no need to bloody your hands with this affair. I need your influence among the men, but you will observe from a distance.”

  “Yes sir,” Gavin replied.

  Kifus nodded and Gavin departed. On his way through the city, he felt compelled to stop and talk with Demus at his home. He did not understand the heart of his former friend, and he hoped that a few words of reason would bring him back to his senses.

  The two men stood in the foyer of Demus’s beautiful home.

  “How have you been so fooled by this man, Demus?” Gavin asked.

  “You have not felt the power of his sword or looked into his eyes as I have. His words are not the words of a lunatic—or an imposter,” Demus replied.

  “I do not want to look into the eyes of a man under the influence of the Dark Knight and be lured by his words of deception as you have.”

  “He could have easily killed me today,” Demus said. “And the moment I looked into his eyes I saw more nobility and compassion than I have ever seen in anyone else. How is that the evil of the Dark Knight? No, he is not an evil man. Instead of taking my life, he spared it. We went to kill him, and yet he showed us mercy. That is true nobility, Gavin, not treachery!”

  Gavin looked on Demus sadly. “You have been bewitched, my friend, and it will cost you everything.” His eyes shifted to take in the riches of Demus’s home.

  “To take up my sword against this man would cost me the very character of my heart, and I am not willing to pay that price!”

  Gavin shook his head as he left Demus’s home. The influence of this stranger was far-reaching indeed, and he wondered for a moment if Kifus was worried that he too could be swayed by his cunning words. Gavin steeled himself for the great task ahead, for he felt in his heart that a day of judgment would bring deliverance for the people of Chessington … even if they didn’t yet realize they needed it.

  THE SILENCE OF A STRANGER

  The Noble Knights rose up for battle on a blistering hot day. With the exception of two or three, all were mounted and riding into the country east of Chessington. The earth shook as the hooves of nearly a hundred battle horses thundered across the grassy fields. Triumph seemed as agitated as Gavin, and for the first time he found it difficult to control the beast.

  Gavin’s armor felt heavy today as he wondered if the followers of the stranger would fight. The knights wanted only one man, and the thought of killing fellow citizens of Chessington to get to him was contrary to his own character, even if they were mere peasants. Though not worried about the outcome if such a fight were to occur, Gavin could not have been more anxious than if they were riding to meet five hundred savage warriors.

  He was also concerned with how the rest of the people of Chessington would react to them seizing this stranger. The stranger had won the hearts of many people.

  Gavin saw Kifus confidently leading their mighty force and was thankful for his wisdom and his ability to control the people. Beside him rode a man Gavin had never seen before.

  As they approached the base of the hill, Kifus halted the men and spoke briefly with the accompanying rider. Gavin watched as Kifus handed a small pouch to the man, who then galloped speedily back toward Chessington.

  Kifus spoke only loud enough for the knights to hear.

  “The traitor and his men are a short distance over this hill. We will split into four contingents and surround them. Jayden, Gavin, and Braden will each lead a contingent. We attack together on my command. For King and Code!”

  “For King and Code!” the men intoned and then separated.

  Within a short time, Gavin and his knights crested the hill and were charging in unison with the other three contingents. They descended from the hills upon the stranger and his men. Their swords were all drawn, and the sound of nearly one hundred skilled knights thundering toward their enemy on massive steeds was enough to unnerve any man.

  Kifus halted the knights as the four contingents joined to form an impenetrable circle around the stranger and his men.

  Although the followers of the stranger looked like frightened, cornered rats, the stranger did not. There was a moment of intense silence. Then Kifus moved his steed forward a few paces.

  “Today your lies and blasphemies end,” Kifus declared. “Your death and the deaths of your petty servants will restore order to this kingdom once and for all!”

  The stranger walked toward Kifus with his sword still sheathed. He stopped midway. “Kifus, your grievance is with me, not my men. Spare the needless spilling of blood, and let my men leave peacefully. I will go with you as your captive.”

  Gavin looked at Kifus. This was exactly what Kifus had been hoping for, Gavin knew. He desired to one day be as wise.

  Kifus hesitated, pretending to consider the stranger’s proposal. He did so with an air of authority.

  “So let it be,” Kifus said. “Make way!”

  The mounted Noble Knights opened their ranks and allowed the followers to flee to the surrounding hills unharmed. Once they were clear, the circle of Noble Knights closed in on the stranger until he drew his sword.

  What a fool, Gavin thought. Does he really think he can defeat a hundred mounted Noble Knights? Gavin glanced toward Kifus and was amazed to see fear on his face. Kifus and the knights paused, but instead of fighting, the stranger threw his sword high above and beyond the ring of knights and surrendered unarmed.

  The knights bound the stranger’s hands tightly behind him. They proceeded back to Chessington, and Gavin noted that Kifus chose the longest and most public route to the great hall. It was an opportunity to show the people of Chessington that the Noble Knights were truly the supreme authority, despite the turmoil this stranger had caused over the past months. Word spread quickly through the city, and soon the streets were lined with people. The reaction from the onlookers varied from dismay to delight. They followed behind the knights and their captive until they reached the palace grounds. The throng of people grew to such a mass in
the outer courtyard that Kifus had to assign extra guards to keep order.

  In the great hall, the stranger was placed before Lord Kifus’s table. All of the knights gathered to see how the stranger would endure the shrewd words of Kifus. Gavin remained behind the other knights, just as Kifus had ordered. He was surprised when he saw Demus quietly enter the hall and stand across the room, apparently unnoticed by everyone there.

  Kifus brought the assembly to order before addressing the stranger. “As Noble Knights, we are the keepers of the Code and the protectors of Chessington. We were chosen by the King to defend justice and honor here among the people. Your acts of treason against the Code and the city of Chessington demand severe punishment.”

  Kifus glared at the stranger. Gavin had never seen him so intent in his dialogue before.

  Kifus took a deep breath and seemed to relax slightly. “However, we will consider a lesser punishment if you will refute all of your preposterous claims.”

  The stranger did not respond. He only stared at the ground before him. Gavin thought he looked completely defeated, as though he were a helpless lamb. How did this simple man gain such influence over the people? he wondered.

  Kifus seemed irritated by the silence of the stranger. Without some response or rebuttal, it would be difficult to charge the man. Kifus continued to question the stranger, and his patience seemed to be wearing thin. The rest of the knights were becoming angry as well. After a long and unfruitful interrogation, Sir Bremrick went to the stranger, grabbed his chin, and lifted his head into the air.

  “Well, he appears to still be alive,” Bremrick stated cynically, and the hall roared with laughter. He then walked past the stranger, lowered his shoulder, and slammed into him, sending the stranger reeling backward onto a chair and then to the floor. More laughter followed, and a couple of the knights brusquely set him on his feet again.

  The questioning continued and was met with more silence. Exasperated, Kifus walked around the table to stand directly in front of the stranger. “We heard you claim to be the Son of the King. Are you?”