Kingdom's Call (14 page)

Gavin turned to Nias. “Then I am indeed indebted to you and all the more pleased to have met you, sir, that I may someday repay your good service to me.”

“I am not the one to thank, sir, for I had little to do with your recovery. I was simply a messenger.”

“Can you join us for supper?” Weston asked Nias.

“Thank you, but I must decline your kind offer. I have come to deliver a message, and then I must be on my way.” Nias turned to Gavin and looked at him as though he was unsure if he should speak his words.

“Sir Gavin,” he paused. “The Prince you saw on your way to Denrith did also appear to me and commanded that I deliver a message to you this day. He said, ‘By the shores of the Crimson River, you shall be made whole.' ”

Gavin waited for more, but there was none.

Weston looked at Nias. “He would have to travel through the Forest of Renault to reach the Crimson River.”

Nias looked somber. “The message is not mine to change, Weston. I must be on my way.”

He mounted his horse and prepared to leave, but first turned to face Gavin.

“You should know, Sir Gavin, that word of your change in allegiance has reached Kifus. The Followers in Chessington tell us that he has sworn to find you and kill you. Contingents of Noble Knights are searching for you as we speak.”

Nias looked at Weston, saluted, then turned and galloped back toward Denrith. Gavin and Weston spent a moment in silence as they watched Nias disappear over a grassy knoll in the distance.

Although Gavin had expected such a reaction from Kifus and the Noble Knights eventually, he was not fully prepared to hear Nias's blunt warning, especially since he knew that it was likely very few of the Followers even believed that his heart had truly changed. He felt like an outcast between two kingdoms at war.

“My presence here is putting you and your family in grave danger,” Gavin said to Weston.

“I knew the risk when I agreed to bring you to my home.

We will be all right.”

“I admire your courage, my friend, but I will not be the cause of any more anguish to innocent people.” Gavin's gaze left the knoll and rested on Weston. “I know the Noble Knights. They will be ruthless in their search and execution of those abetting a traitor. How do I find the Crimson River?”

“You don't understand, Gavin. The journey there is—” Weston paused.

“What is your concern?” Gavin asked.

“There are regions in the Forest of Renault that are extremely dangerous. Are you familiar with the caralynx?”

“I have heard of such cats, but have never seen one.”

“The caralynx of Renault are very aggressive and thus make travel through the forest quite treacherous,” Weston said.

“Why are they more dangerous than any other wildcat?” Gavin asked.

“Because of the manner in which they attack. They have skin that joins their forelimbs to their hind limbs. This allows them to glide through the air when leaping from trees, which is where they dwell almost exclusively. They descend silently on their prey from above. What makes them especially dangerous are the dewclaws on their forelimbs.”

“Dewclaws?” Gavin said.

“Dewclaws are the usually harmless appendages above the claws on an animal's paws, but the caralynx's dewclaws are highly developed ripping claws. The cats often sharpen this claw on the bark of a black walnut tree, which can poison its prey through an open wound.”

“What a lovely creature,” Gavin quipped, but Weston did not reply in kind.

“During mating season, they are extremely territorial and aggressive,” Weston said.

Gavin shook his head. “I have no choice. I will leave after supper.”

Weston looked as though he was going to protest, but remained silent.

That evening during supper, Gavin arrived in the dining
hall dressed and prepared to travel. Weston and his family were all seated at one end of a grand table that had formerly hosted exquisite banquets for many guests. Gavin placed himself in a chair beside Addy.

“I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude for your kindness and gracious hospitality over these past days,” Gavin said. “I must, however, take my leave from you.”

Addy and Keaton appeared sad and looked down at their plates.

“Where will you go?” Marie asked.

“There is a river that beckons my heart to come,” Gavin replied.

“You are hardly fit to ride, my friend, let alone embark on a journey through treacherous country,” Weston said, still looking concerned. “I will accompany you.”

Gavin smiled at his new friend. “You have given too much already, and this is a journey I must make alone.”

“Will you come back to see us?” Addy asked. Keaton looked up with the same question in his eyes.

“You can count on it, little miss,” he said, winking at Keaton.

The meal was simple but delicious, as usual. Afterward, Gavin returned to his room to gather his sword and a few miscellaneous items. Addy and Keaton appeared in the doorway.

“We're going to miss you, Sir Gavin,” Addy said with big sad eyes. Gavin turned and knelt on one knee. He lifted his good arm, and the two children ran into his embrace. At that moment, Gavin experienced the beginning of the healing of his heart. He held them tight, and some of the ache disappeared.

“I'm going to miss the two of you,” he said with tears in his eyes. “I want to thank you for teaching me how to like children.”

Addy released her hug, but Keaton held his embrace a little longer. When he finally let go, he turned and ran out of the room. Addy stayed a moment longer. She gently put a hand on Gavin's wounded shoulder.

“When you find Him, will you tell Him hello from Keaton and Adelaide?” Addy asked.

“Find who?” Gavin was somewhat perplexed.

Addy smiled and left the room to find her brother.

Gavin said good-bye to Marie and then walked to the stables, where Weston was saddling Triumph. When all was ready, he turned and looked at Gavin.

“Are you sure you're up for this?” Weston asked. “Couldn't you wait at least until morning? You only have a few hours of daylight left.”

“I am compelled, Weston. I have much to sort out. If I am to live at all, I must find my way again.”

“I understand.”

Gavin mounted Triumph. His sword hung at his side, but there was no whole or skilled arm to use it.

“I put provisions in your pack. You know you are always welcome here,” Weston said. Gavin nodded his appreciation.

Weston handed Gavin a long-knife.

“You may find this useful.”

Gavin instinctively tried to reach for the knife with his right
hand, but his lame arm did not move. He reached across his horse with his left hand and took the knife.

“Thank you,” Gavin replied and stowed the knife in his belt.

He looked out across the countryside in all directions.

“The Crimson River flows from the Boundary Mountains across the Brimshire Plains and eventually into the Forest of Renault. Traveling northeast should get you there,” Weston said as he pointed. “Be careful, my friend.”

Gavin took a deep breath. “Perhaps this time Triumph and I will work together,” he said as he patted the steed's powerful neck. Gavin looked down at Weston. “In this short time you have already become as a brother to me.”

Gavin extended his left arm to Weston. “That is what the Prince creates between men—brotherhood.” Weston grabbed his forearm. “I am honored to have known you, my friend. May the Prince guard and guide you in your quest.”

“And you!”

Triumph seemed anxious to be on their way. Gavin crossed the Wickmere River and traveled away from Chessington, on toward a land he had never seen before, searching for a resolution to a forsaken past and a hopeful future.

 UNDAUNTED QUEST

Later that evening, Gavin was at the fringes of the Forest of Renault. He made camp and was thankful for the warmth of the season. The sounds of the still night enveloped him. His shoulder was stiff and ached clear to his fingers. He wondered if he would ever be able to use his arm again.

Early the next morning, Gavin broke camp and was quickly underway. He remained alert and cautious as he entered the forest, but hours of peaceful travel eventually calmed his fears. Progress through the forest slowed as the vegetation became dense. At one point, he had to dismount and walk ahead of Triumph just to navigate beneath the sprawling limbs of the trees. After many hours of traveling in this manner, the forest seemed to open slightly. Gavin found a small stream, and he and Triumph drank the cool water to satisfy their thirst. As he went to mount Triumph, the horse became
agitated and began to back away from him. Gavin wondered if the horse was reverting to his prior stubborn nature, but then Gavin stopped.

“What is it, boy?” Gavin stroked the horse's neck to soothe him.

Triumph snorted and held his head high while turning it from side to side. The horse then violently turned into Gavin and reared up. The force of the impact sent Gavin reeling to the ground. As he hit, the excruciating pain in his shoulder instantly returned. He was just a couple paces beneath the raised hooves of his powerful stallion, and he wondered if the animal was going to trample him. But then he heard Triumph's scream mix with the spine-chilling screech of a beast from above. Gavin looked up and saw a caralynx gliding toward Triumph with his deadly claws stretched forth to tear into whatever it landed upon. Gavin then understood that had not Triumph turned to meet the attack, the creature would surely have landed on him.

Triumph pounded the air with his hooves. It was too late for the vicious cat to alter its flight enough to avoid the deadly blows. Gavin rolled to the side as the caralynx shrieked again and swiped its deadly dewclaw at Triumph's chest. The cat imbedded the long claw deep into the steed's muscled shoulder, just as a hoof caught the flying predator square in the chest. The hideous sound from the throat of the caralynx was instantly silenced as the tremendous force of Triumph's kick sent the creature flying four paces in the opposite direction, simultaneously tearing muscle and hide from the steed's shoulder.

Gavin rose to a kneeling position and pulled the long-knife from his belt as the cat hit the ground and recovered. Triumph whinnied in pain and turned away from the wildcat. The enraged caralynx instantly poised itself to pounce on the retreating horse. It sprang again with all its claws extended. Gavin was just to the side of Triumph and leapt at the creature to meet it in the air. He sunk the long-knife deep into the side of the animal. It shrieked, turned midair to attempt a swipe at Gavin, and bumped harmlessly against the body of Triumph. It fell to the ground, and Gavin quickly pulled his sword from the scabbard, but there was no need. The caralynx made a weak attempt to rise, then sunk lifelessly to the ground.