Kingdom's Hope (14 page)

Leinad read the concern of his large friend and knew that his quiet demeanor was a deterrent to his accepting the leadership of the Noble Knights.

“Audric, you are the most experienced, the most skilled, and the most worthy of all the Noble Knights.” Leinad said. “I understand your hesitation, but that is why you are perfect for the position. You are not a glory seeker. What you do will be tempered by humility, wisdom, and experience. Tess is more than capable to help train, and Kendrid can be your second, for he has won the respect of the other men as well.”

“You sound as if you are going away,” Tess said to Leinad with one eyebrow raised. “Is there something you're not telling us?”

Leinad paused, unsure how to respond to her keen insight. “All of this is part of the King's plan for the future of Arrethtrae.” Leinad swept his hand, as if across the city of Chessington and the valley beyond. “But something is missing, and I know that somehow I must find out what it is. We have arrived at the door to a grand kingdom, but the key is missing. This key is the vision in my life that I've been searching for, Tess. Over the past months, I have realized that my mission is the quest for this key. It is what my father spoke of. He knew—and now I know—that I must find it. I feel the call of the King, but I do not know where to go.” Leinad turned to Audric. “That is why you must take leadership of the Noble Knights.”

Audric's attempt at a rebuttal was interrupted by the hasty approach of a mysterious rider. He rode off the main street and directly onto the square. He was dressed in full
battle attire, and his size, especially atop his large powerful steed, was intimidating.

“Sir Leinad of Chessington?” he asked in a deep voice.

Leinad stepped forward. “I am Leinad.”

The warrior glared at him as if to adjust his preconceived perceptions. “Sir Gabrik is in battle with the Dark Knight and his Shadow Warriors. The situation is grave, and he has dispatched me to bid you to come to him.”

“Let me gather the Noble Knights, and we will come to his aid,” Leinad said.

“No. The distance is too far, and Chessington will be vulnerable,” the warrior said emphatically. “This is not a fight for them yet. They are not ready to fight the Dark Knight or his Shadow Warriors.”

“Then how can I be of service?”

“Mount up and ride with me back to the battle.”

Tess stepped forward. “I will come with you.”

“This is for Leinad alone,” the rider said.

Tess turned toward Leinad while not turning her back completely to the mysterious rider. “How do we know that he is not an enemy of the King and is luring you into a trap?” she asked with concern in her eyes.

“Sir Gabrik has what you search for, Sir Leinad,” the rider said impatiently. “It is why he sends for you, but we have no time to spare. If Lucius overtakes our force, Chessington will not survive, and the future of Arrethtrae will be lost forever.”

Leinad put his hand on Tess's shoulder and looked into her deep blue eyes. Tess was an interesting balance of beauty and warrior. She was too tough for the ladies of
Chessington but every bit as refined thanks to Lady Weldon of Daydelon. She was too lovely to be treated as one of the men of Chessington but every bit as skilled with the sword thanks to Leinad. Her allegiance was to the King, and her heart belonged secretly to another. Leinad sensed more than concern in her gaze, but the concern was what he addressed.

“I must go, Tess. It is why I am here!”

Tess stared unapologetically into his eyes and then looked at the mysterious rider. She leaned forward to speak quietly into Leinad's ear. “Watch your back, mister … and promise you'll come back to me.”

Leinad struggled with the passion in her quiet voice. Their dangerous adventures of the past had stirred concern in Tess before, but somehow this was different, and Leinad felt it.

“I promise, Sunshine,” he said quietly and close to her ear. “I promise.” He reached down and squeezed her hand.

“I think it wise to ready the men,” Audric said with a voice of command. “There is a darkness that hangs in the air.”

Leinad turned to Audric and nodded to affirm the transfer of leadership. He then hurried to his horse, mounted, and followed the mysterious rider north out of Chessington in a full gallop.

T
HERE WAS NO TIME FOR
talk on the journey. Leinad and the mysterious rider drove their horses hard, for the urgency of the battle seemed to rise as distance passed.

They continued north past Chandril. At nightfall they
stopped at a river to drink and let their mounts recover some lest they collapse from the strain of the ride. Leinad discovered there that the name of his escort was Greshane.

After a few short hours of rest, they crossed the river and pressed on toward the Northern Mountains, where few men journeyed and fewer lived. At the foothills of the mountain range, Greshane slowed their pace to a quiet trot and finally to a walk. At one point, in a heavily forested area, he stopped their advance completely and held his hand up for silence. Leinad listened and watched, but there was nothing out of the ordinary that his experienced senses could detect. Greshane was finally satisfied as well but still spoke softly.

“Dismount. We can travel more easily through the dense trees on foot. We are close to our encampment, but the Shadow Warriors are close as well. I am not sure what has transpired in my absence. I hope we are not too late.”

“Why is there fighting now?” asked Leinad after dismounting.

“There is always fighting, but the foretelling must be given. The Dark Knight and his warriors know that something significant in the King's plan is about to happen, but they do not know what. Thus they—”

The forest seemed to collapse upon them in a blaze of flashing swords and a spine-chilling battle cry from the throats of a six massive warriors … shadow Warriors. Greshane and Leinad quickly drew their swords. Their horses bolted from the rush of the ambush, and the two knights fought desperately against impossible odds. They fought back-to-back and used the dense forest to their advantage.

Greshane made quick work of two of the vicious warriors, and Leinad dropped another. Greshane now faced two enemies and Leinad faced one.

The Shadow Warriors were aggressive and powerful, but Leinad was quick and accurate. He parried and countered an explosive combination, then followed with a crosscut that cut deep into his opponent's torso. The Shadow Warrior dropped to the ground at the same instant that Leinad heard Greshane gasp in pain. With no foe facing him, he turned and saw one of the two Shadow Warriors withdraw a shallow but deadly thrust from Greshane's chest. Greshane narrowly parried a slice from the other before Leinad could cover for him. Greshane winced in pain but recovered his stance enough to face the Shadow Warriors again.

“Leave, Leinad! More will be coming, and you must find Gabrik!” Greshane said.

“I will not leave you, Greshane!” Leinad said amidst the clashing of swords.

“You must! Go now while I still have the strength to fend them off!”

Behind their opponents, Leinad could see an entire army of Shadow Warriors approaching.

“I will not leave you!” Leinad said defiantly.

Greshane was beginning to falter, and Leinad knew that it was a matter seconds before the Shadow Warrior would finish him off.

Just a couple of paces to his left, Leinad saw Greshane fall to one knee with his sword held limply before him. His enemy raised his sword to bring down a final deathblow upon Greshane's head.

Leinad opened himself up to his own opponent, and the Shadow Warrior anxiously took the opportunity and executed a powerful overextended thrust. But Leinad anticipated the move and used the split-second advantage to spin himself full circle away from his opponent and toward Greshane's.

In a blinding and powerful motion, Leinad transferred the speed of his circling maneuver into his blade as it screamed toward the up-stretched body of Greshane's executioner. His razor-sharp blade cut clean through Greshane's enemy, who fell backward, one blow short of another victory.

Leinad carried the momentum of his sword into a vertical cut as he stepped toward his own opponent and delivered a deadly blow to the shocked Shadow Warrior.

Leinad knelt down to Greshane.

“You must leave, Leinad.” Greshane struggled for another breath as he clutched his chest. “It is pointless for both of us to die. You do not understand what is at stake … please …”

The force of brutal Shadow Warriors was approaching quickly.

“To leave you would deny all that I believe as a Knight of the King. I will not leave you, Greshane!”

Greshane grabbed Leinad's shoulder. “You are truly … a man of the Code. Help me stand then, that we might face our enemy … together.”

Greshane made a monumental effort to stand, and Leinad helped him to his feet. They raised their swords to meet the oncoming ferocious attack of the Shadow Warriors.

“The King—” Greshane began to shout, but he could not finish, for the pain overwhelmed him.

“The King reigns!” Leinad shouted with his sword raised high.

Leinad heard movement behind him. He turned, and the entire forest seemed to move toward them. A large number of the King's Silent Warriors emerged from the trees and approached Greshane and Leinad.

Greshane fell to one knee again, and Leinad steadied him there. They had unknowingly traveled right into the leading edge of the battle between two mighty forces.

Gabrik quickly came to Leinad and Greshane and put his hand on Greshane's shoulder. “Well done, Greshane.”

He ordered two other knights to carry Greshane out of the battlefront and then turned to Leinad.

“They outnumber us two to one, and our reinforcements are nowhere in sight. I did not intend for you to be here during this. Retreat to the rear, for it was not meant for you to fight these brutes, Leinad,” Gabrik said, readying himself for the imminent fight.

Leinad raised his sword. “I hid from them once. I will not hide again!”

Gabrik smiled at the man he once knew as a boy. It was the only time Leinad had ever seen Gabrik smile.

“Leinad, you are highly favored by the King and by His warriors.” Gabrik's smile turned to serious resolve.

“It is a good day to serve the King,” Leinad said and stood beside Gabrik to face the wicked and overwhelming force that came at them.

An eerie battle cry precipitated the thunderous clash of
steel. Leinad was caught up in the secret world of battling giants—a world most of the kingdom was unaware of. He fought well. The King's training saved him and enabled him to survive and be victorious in each encounter.

But despite the gallant efforts of the Silent Warriors, the Shadow Warriors were too numerous. Gabrik stayed beside Leinad and fought courageously, But a surge of fresh Shadow Warriors renewed their attack, and the Silent Warriors stood on the edge of defeat.

Gabrik finished his immediate fight with a quick slice that ended the life of his opponent.

“Leinad, fall back. Lucius is leading this wave of warriors. It is time to retreat!”

Behind the line of Shadow Warriors, a man rode confidently and calmly up to the battlefront. He dismounted and advanced toward Gabrik and Leinad. He came with the confidence of a dragon. His manner left no question as to his identity. Leinad recognized him from that day many years ago in the forest. Anger began to burn within his blood as he remembered Lucius's cold-blooded murder of his father.

Gabrik grabbed Leinad's shoulder. “He comes for you and for me, Leinad, but neither of us can defeat him. To die seeking revenge is not noble. I must face him so you can take the promise to the people of Chessington.”

Leinad quelled his anger and looked at Gabrik with questioning eyes.

“Gabrik!” The sharp voice of the Dark Knight cut through the sounds of battle like a sword itself. “You are finished, and the future of Arrethtrae is mine. You should have
joined me across the sea when you had the opportunity. Instead you will die by my sword this very day!” Lucius spoke with an arrogance that matched his skill.

Gabrik prepared to face Lucius, and Leinad readied himself as well. For the first time since he'd known Gabrik, Leinad sensed deep apprehension in his lifelong secret companion.
The sword of Lucius must be deadly indeed
, Leinad thought.

“Step aside, men,” came a voice from behind them.

Gabrik and Leinad turned to see a line of reinforcements join forces with the Silent Warriors. A powerful warrior Leinad had never seen before led them. His chest and arms were massive, and there was no hesitation in his approach.

“Micalem!” Gabrik said. “You have arrived.”

Gabrik and Leinad stepped aside to allow Micalem access to the Dark Knight. He took a stance that evoked power and speed. He turned his head slightly toward Gabrik.

“I believe you have a mission to accomplish,” he said and then refocused on Lucius.

Gabrik and Leinad instinctively backed away.

“Well, Micalem … I guess this is your day to die as well!” Lucius said.

“Your days are numbered, Lucius. Despite your arrogance, by the power of the King and the Prince, your future will be your ever-present fear!”

Micalem spoke the words with such assuredness that Lucius's only reply was a wrathful sword.

The two swords flew so powerfully and so swiftly that even Leinad was amazed. He had never witnessed the clash
of such mastery before. It was a sight to behold, but Gabrik pulled him into retreat.

The refreshed Silent Warriors assumed the battle, and it raged on. Gabrik took Leinad to the small clearing where their horses were tied. Leinad only now felt the exhaustion of the battle settle upon him. Gabrik offered him water, and they both drank heavily.

A rider broke through the tree line from the west. “Sir Gabrik!” the rider called as he halted his steed just before them.