Kingdom's Quest (15 page)

Kifus stared at Gavinaugh. “Why, Gavin?”

It was a simple question, but it revealed much to Gavinaugh. “Please don't think me insolent if I first ask a question of you before I answer.”

Kifus nodded.

“Why do you want to know?” Gavinaugh asked.

Kifus was silent for a moment. “Because I loved you as a son, and I knew you to be a man of honor, integrity, and loyalty. Of all the Noble Knights I have served and who have served under me, I would not have
expected you to betray our cause. That is why. I need to know how such a thing could happen to one of our best.”

Gavinaugh looked on Kifus with compassion. “Lord Kifus, I am humbled by your words, and with them I present my answer to you. The same heart beats within my chest, and the same mind orders my thoughts. The man of honor, integrity, and loyalty that stood before you then stands before you now in all completeness of mind and soul. I know that you believe this to be true of me still or you would not have ordered my chains removed just now, knowing that I have the power to kill you. You know that all of my character is intact, or I would not be standing before you. Therefore consider this, Kifus. If one of your best has not diminished in any way that makes a man a Noble Knight, then the cause to which he now has dedicated his life cannot be the fabric of foolishness or deception, but simply the truth.”

Gavinaugh let his reply marinate in the logical mind of Kifus for a few moments. Kifus appeared to consider his words carefully.

“Lord Kifus, I do not lie, and yet I tell you that I have seen a dead man appear to me and tell me that He is the King's Son. You have called me one of the best, and yet I stand before you to tell you that I am the least worthy of all, for I know and have seen the perfection of the Prince. The man we killed is indeed the Son of the King, and yet He is willing to forgive all if only we believe in Him and follow Him. Consider this with all gravity—if what I have said is deceit, then nothing for you changes, and I will have wasted my life in the pursuit of folly. But if what I have said is true, then you are hanging by the thread of a web above the fires of Sedah.”

Kifus's eyes slowly widened and his face became as a dying man, full of fear. He went to a chair and sat heavily upon it, and it seemed as if his legs had lost their strength. He was silent for a moment and then appeared to recover himself slightly.

Kifus looked up at Gavinaugh. “Almost … almost you convince me, Gavin.” He then stood up. “Guard!”

The guard entered the room, and Kifus turned his back to Gavinaugh.

“Take him back to his cell.”

Two days later, Kifus called Gavinaugh into the Great Hall before the assembly of the Noble Knights, and there was much discussion as to what should be done with him.

“He is a traitor, and traitors deserve death!” Jayden said, and many agreed.

“He was a Noble Knight,” another knight said. “We would disgrace ourselves by killing one of our own, no matter what his crime.”

There was great division among them, and Kifus was clearly at odds about what to do. Sir Camden rose to speak.

“Lord Kifus … Gavin is truly an enemy of our great city, but let us not forget the lesson we so painfully learned in our handling of the stranger. By our execution of Him, we created a martyr, and His treachery now has born a life of its own that we cannot seem to kill. Let us not foolishly do the same with this man.”

Camden allowed the knights time to reflect on his words. “I suggest we make Sir Gavin disappear quietly,” he said finally and then sat down.

Kifus rose and approached Gavinaugh.

“Sir Camden, you have spoken wisely. The last thing we want is for this traitor to become famous in his death.”

He walked a circle around Gavinaugh and stopped before him.

“I have an association with the Namorians that should serve us well in regard to this criminal.” Kifus looked into Gavinaugh's eyes briefly and then turned away. “Put him back in prison until Captain Dante arrives from Namor,” he commanded, then exited the Great Hall.

Gavinaugh was five days in the prison cell with only water to drink and dry bread to eat. One evening, the chamber door opened and the
guard escorted Leisel and another whose head was covered by a hooded cloak that hid the person's body and face.

“You may leave us,” Leisel said to the guard.

“But my lady, I have been given orders by Kifus not to allow him any visitors. I am already jeopardizing …” The guard became silent as Leisel glared at him.

“As you wish, my lady.” He bowed and exited.

Leisel and her companion were still at the far end of the aisle that led to the cells, where Gavinaugh was held. She turned and spoke quietly. Her companion stayed behind, and Leisel came to Gavinaugh. He was surprised, for he had not thought that he would ever see her again. They looked at each other through the iron bars and were silent for a moment.

“It is a pleasure to see you again, Leisel.”

She allowed herself to smile briefly.

“I have found her,” she said. “Or rather, she has found me.”

Gavinaugh tilted his head slightly at her comment.

Leisel lowered her voice to almost a whisper. “She is simple … but very pretty. I can see why you are taken with her.” She lowered her eyes.

Gavinaugh could not imagine what Leisel's intentions were, but he became apprehensive as he considered the possibilities.

“What is this about, Leisel? What have you done?”

Leisel looked up into his eyes, and he saw the pain of unrequited love in her countenance.

“I am not a spiteful woman, Gavin. And although her heart could never long for you as mine does, I cannot change the cruel ways of love. I do this not for her, but for you.” She stepped back and looked away. A single tear trickled down her cheek, which she quickly wiped away.

“Come,” she said loud enough for her companion to hear.

The hooded form came to Gavinaugh's cell and waited for Leisel to step down the aisle before removing the hood.

“Keanna!” Gavinaugh whispered.

She smiled but her eyes conveyed the ache within her soul. “Are you all right?”

Gavinaugh sensed a compassion from her that warmed his heart.

She stepped closer to the cell door, and he cursed the bars of iron between them, for he wanted to hold her. “I am, but what are you doing here? This is very dangerous. Has she threatened you?” Gavinaugh looked toward Leisel.

“No. She's been very kind. I went to her.”

“But why?” he asked.

She put her hands on the bars, and he covered them with his own. She looked into his eyes. “Because I … a warrior came to me last night.”

“Who was he?”

“I don't know, but he gave me a message for you. He said to tell you to be strong. You will encounter many difficulties, but the Prince will be with you. The Duke of Namor must hear your words.” Keanna searched Gavinaugh's eyes. “I fear for you.”

“I will be all right, Keanna.”

She reached into her cloak and handed a vial to him. “He said that you must drink this.”

“What is it?”

“I don't know. He said it will … protect you.”

Gavinaugh removed the cork and smelled its contents. It was sweet. He lifted it to his lips, but Keanna grabbed his arm.

“What if it's poison?” she asked.

“Did you believe him?”

Keanna thought for a moment and slowly nodded her head.

“That is all I need,” he said and swallowed the liquid. Its taste belied its aroma, for it was very bitter.

“Are Weston and his family all right?” he asked.

“Yes. They are safe.”

Gavinaugh felt great relief. Knowing that he had nearly caused their deaths had been a great burden to him.

“I have Triumph. He is quite agitated. I think he actually misses you,” she said and tried to smile.

“We must go,” Leisel called to Keanna.

Keanna leaned closer to the bars, and Gavinaugh touched her face tenderly. “I will come back to you,” he said.

She reached up and brushed his hand with her own and then covered her head with the hood. She walked over to Leisel, and they turned to ascend the stairs.

“Leisel!” Gavinaugh called.

She stopped and turned back to look at him.

“Thank you.”

She gave a slight nod and left.

The following morning, Gavinaugh was taken to the docks, where a large three-masted ship with a foreign flag was waiting. On the deck of the ship, a prominent-looking fellow greeted Kifus and his knights with a broad grin.

“Welcome aboard the
Raven
, Lord Kifus.”

“Captain Dante, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

The men shook hands, and the captain looked closely at Gavinaugh. “I must say that your prisoner does not have the look of a criminal about him.”

“Do not be deceived, Captain,” Kifus said. “This man is as dangerous as they come. If I were you, I would leave the fetters securely upon his limbs throughout the journey.”

Dante scrutinized Gavinaugh. “His sword?”

Kifus handed Gavinaugh's sword to the captain, and he fastened it about his own waist.

“My first mate has informed me that your payment has been received, and now we have your prisoner. On my honor I swear to deliver him to Duke Vespas in Namor. And now we must be off before the seas turn against us,” he said.

Kifus and his men left the ship, and Gavinaugh was taken to a
lower deck, where he was locked inside a small, bare room. Soon the crew was occupied with getting the vessel underway.

Gavinaugh was not given any food or water the entire day. He became queasy but was not sure if it was from the rolling of the ship, lack of food, or both. In his solitude and distress, he thought of Keanna, and the image of her in his mind brought great comfort. In the bowels of a foreign vessel en route to unknown perils, Gavinaugh resolved to take deliberate action to win her heart if he should survive this trek and see her again.

The day wore on, and toward what he thought must be evening, the door opened and a seaman took Gavinaugh to the captain's quarters.

The captain dismissed the seaman and turned to Gavinaugh. Captain Dante was a fair bit older than Gavinaugh, but age had not diminished his strength or stature. He was a tall man with a stark white beard that matched his hair. Perhaps forty years old, his hair had turned color early, and it gave him a distinctive look for his age.

Gavinaugh saw a table full of food in the center of the room. The pangs of hunger tore at him, and he was feeling faint. He found it difficult to stand, but he remained still.

“So you are the man who has caused such turmoil in Chessington—and in the entire kingdom, I am told.” He smiled crookedly. “What have you done to cause Kifus to hire my ship and exile you to Namor? And why doesn't he just kill you?”

He did not wait for an answer, but turned away and walked to a cabinet nearby.

“Lord Kifus says you are a dangerous man, but my men have told me stories that say otherwise. Are you a dangerous man, Sir Gavin, or is it Gavinaugh?” This time he stared at Gavinaugh and expected an answer.

“My name is Gavinaugh, Captain. I serve the King of Arrethtrae and His Son, the Prince. Only men who are afraid of the truth are threatened by me,” Gavinaugh replied.

“And what is this truth?” Dante asked.

“That the Prince is the Son of the King, who came to deliver us from the bondage of the Dark Knight and his evil work. And that by believing in Him, we are set free.”

The captain stared silently at Gavinaugh, then suddenly burst into laughter. “And this is what Kifus is afraid of?” He laughed all the harder.

He removed a set of keys from the cabinet and began to unlock the fetters that were latched upon Gavinaugh's wrists and ankles. As they fell from his limbs, the captain reached for Gavinaugh's sword, which he had secured about himself, and became very serious.

“If you should try to escape or bring any treachery to my ship, I will slit your throat with your own sword. I wear the blade of my prisoner until he is delivered as a reminder of my blood-sworn duty. Will you comply, Gavinaugh?”

“I will, Captain. I swear it.”

“I believe you, for though you are an enemy of Kifus, I think you are also a man of honor. Come sit with me and eat. I desire to hear more of your strange and ‘frightful' words,” he said as he seated Gavinaugh at his table.

Gavinaugh thought he had never tasted anything better than the food he ate at that meal. Their conversation focused on the Prince, and the captain listened intently to all he had to say.

“You are an odd fellow, Gavinaugh,” he said at the end of the meal. “And your words are strange indeed. A bit too strange for my liking, but I do not see the danger in them as Kifus does.”

Gavinaugh thanked the captain for the delicious food, and from that day forward he had freedom to roam the ship at will. They journeyed southeast into the seas of the Namorian realm, and Gavinaugh wondered about his future. One evening, after many days of voyage, Gavinaugh could see dark clouds in the distance that met the watery horizon, but he looked beyond them to the brilliance of an enlightened kingdom—a kingdom under the wise rule of the Prince.