Kingdom's Call (6 page)

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?”

The room fell silent, and for the first time since the questioning had begun, the stranger lifted his head to stare directly into Kifus's eyes. In that moment, Gavin was shocked at the authority that seemed to emanate from this stranger.

“I AM!” the stranger said. “And there is no man in Arrethtrae who has ever truly fulfilled the Articles of the Code, nor will there ever be. I have come to fulfill the Code so that all men may become true Knights of the King by Me. No one may come to My Father except through Me!”

Shouts of protest from the Noble Knights rose up throughout the hall. The very core of their existence was to live by the
King's Code, and for this peasant to claim royalty equal with the King was blasphemy. Jayden drew his sword and struck the stranger's head with the pommel. The stranger fell to the ground, and blood flowed freely onto the stone floor beneath him. Others descended on the fallen man and began to kick him. The gauntlets they wore struck his back until he was bruised and bleeding everywhere. Kifus did nothing to stop the men, but looked upon the abuse and appeared justified.

Gavin felt the heat of the stranger's insult as well, but he was glad it was the fists of others that brought silence once again to this man. Gavin looked for Demus, but he was gone. When the anger of the knights had abated, Kifus ordered that the stranger stand before him to receive his sentence.

“For the words and acts of treason against the King and the Code, I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.”

Shouts of approval rose up from the knights. Gavin looked over the shoulders of his cheering comrades to see the stranger's reaction. He offered none.

 CURSE OF A CHARLATAN

The following day, word spread throughout the city that the imposter was to be hanged in the city square on the afternoon of the next day. Kifus wanted all the citizens of Chessington to see the judgment of this man. It would serve to show the people that the authority of the Noble Knights was still supreme, and it would eliminate any foolish attempts by his followers to continue in their unsanctioned training.

Over the course of that day, Gavin had many long conversations with other knights regarding the stranger and the remarkable influence he had gained over the people in such a short time. By midafternoon, he was weary of such talk and sought solace in a garden on the palace grounds.

Questions entered his mind that would not go away, and the peace he was searching for evaded him.
Is the death of this man the only way to end the rebellion that is sure to come
if we let him continue?
he wondered.
How truly dangerous is this man?

Gavin's thoughts turned to Demus and the two or three other knights who had disagreed with their judgment regarding the stranger. For just a moment, Gavin entertained a possibility that he had never dared let his mind consider: what if the Noble Knights were wrong? Gavin could only know one heart for sure, and that was his own. He knew that he was wholly committed to the King and the Code, and this imposter had threatened and ridiculed the Noble Knights in front of the entire city of Chessington. That was enough to solidify in his mind that their course of action was indeed the right one, and he vowed never again to question their resolve as a force of nobility to protect the King, the Code, and the people, even against one as skilled with the sword as this imposter was.

“Sir Gavin,” a sweet and gentle voice called from behind him.

Gavin turned to see the lovely form of Leisel approaching with all the grace of a princess. He stood to greet her. “Good afternoon, maid Leisel.”

“May I join you for a moment?”