Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart (3 page)

NEWCOMERS

“Lady Brynn!” Dalton called out, and the beautiful young lass turned her head. “Dalton!” she exclaimed and waited for him to catch up.

“Are you off to the haven?” he asked.

“Yes, the new trainer has arrived,” Brynn said. She swiped a tousle of white blond hair from across her brow to reveal warm, deep blue eyes that seemed to capture Dalton every time he looked into them.

“I’ve heard.” He fell in step beside her as they continued onward. “May I walk with you then?”

Brynn smiled and nodded.

It was early fall, and the kingdom seemed a glorious place of promise and adventure for Dalton. He was a young man who had everything going for him. Granted, he did not come from a wealthy family, but the kingdom seemed to be changing. When he joined the Knights of the Prince and began training with them, many of the social restrictions of his status seemed to fade. He had even been able to develop a friendship with Brynn, whose father was both wealthy and respected in the nearby city of Salisburg and the surrounding countryside. Dalton was grateful that her family had joined the Knights of the Prince
too, for one day he hoped to pursue a more purposeful relationship with her.

“I hear he’s a knight who just returned from a mission,” Dalton said. “I wonder how long he’ll be our trainer.”

“I hope for a long while… if he’s as good as the older knights say.” Brynn smirked. “We’ve had four trainers in the last year and most of them weren’t—”

Dalton held up his hand and nodded. “I know what you mean.”

“We need someone who sees the kingdom as we do.” Brynn gazed wistfully up into the patches of blue sky as they walked beneath the large sprawling oak trees that lined the roadway. “This is a time to live full, dream big, and enjoy life! We have the rest of our lives to live the dreary life most adults do.”

Dalton watched her as she jumped onto a stump and raised her hands to her forehead as if straining to see the future. She was a slender, beautiful girl, and Dalton thought how fortunate he would be if her father would ever consider him as a possible suitor. He knew that he would have to prove himself worthy, and becoming an accomplished knight would certainly be a huge step toward that end.

Dalton had been born a commoner, the son of a blacksmith. Although he had begun learning the trade of his father, his heart had not been in it. His heart was exactly where Brynn’s was, for he too yearned to live full and dream big. When he joined the Knights of the Prince, he had quickly won favor with the other trainees. The years of training as a blacksmith had developed a tight muscular frame. His friendly blue eyes, warm smile, and slightly dimpled chin were handsome features envied by most. He was a popular lad, and the others often looked to him for guidance. Older knights in the haven saw his leadership potential and often trusted him to give the other trainees direction while they attended to more important issues.

Brynn jumped down from the stump, grabbed his hand, and ran ahead, towing him behind.

“Come on,” she said gleefully. “I’ll race you to the haven!” She let loose and bolted ahead, turning to see if he would follow. Dalton laughed and then joined in the sprint.

“This is Sir Dornan of Drearick,” Sir Treffen announced as he stood before the thirty-two young trainees of Salisburg, some new recruits and others almost ready to be commissioned. “He will be conducting your training from now on. He’s just returned from a mission, and I’m sure he’ll be glad to tell you of it if you implore him to do so.”

Sir Treffen lifted his hand toward the tall man with a tightly cropped goatee who came to stand beside him. Dornan seemed young for a trainer, and Dalton thought he must be either extremely skilled with the sword, or very wise, or both to be given charge over the training at the haven. Dornan nodded toward Treffen and then addressed the young knights.

“It is my extreme privilege and honor to assume responsibility for training you in service to the Prince. I consider this duty to you and to the other knights at the haven to be of the utmost importance.”

The well-spoken introduction seemed to be exactly what Sir Treffen wanted to hear. He smiled and nodded as he stepped forward to address the trainees again.

“As each of you finish your training and embark on your own missions for the Prince, we will talk again. But for now Sir Dornan will be your source of instruction and guidance.” He turned to Sir Dornan. “I’ll be leaving now. Keep us informed.”

“I will, sir,” Dornan nodded.

The following day, two new recruits joined them at the training camp. Dalton thought them a bit strange. They seemed pleasant enough, but a little awkward—and much too serious for their young age. He guessed
Sir Koen was perhaps eighteen, his own age. Lady Carliss, Koen’s sister, appeared about two years younger.

“Welcome to Salisburg.” Dalton held out a hand. Koen looked at Dalton with skeptical eyes before taking his hand. His light brown hair was a little unkempt.

“This is Carliss.” Koen gestured toward his sister. Her brown eyes stared straight into Dalton’s. Something about them told Dalton that she viewed the kingdom differently than most youth. Her hair, nearly the same color as her brother’s, hung to her shoulders in casual waves of inattention. The resemblance between her and Koen was unmistakable.

“Hello.” She offered him her hand and gave him a small smile. A few of the other trainees broke from their groups and joined Dalton in the greeting.

“Where do you come from?” asked Makon.

“We used to farm east of Bremsfeld,” Koen replied. “Things got tough there, and some of our kin have land near Salisburg, so…” He looked a little uneasy.

“Been training long?” Dalton asked.

At that, Koen’s face lit up. “Since we were young—by our father.”

“But you said your father was a farmer,” one of the trainees said.

“Yes, but he knows the art of the sword,” Carliss responded.

“Sir Orland often visited us on our farm and helped train us too,” Koen added. “Do you know Sir Orland?”

Dalton shook his head and looked at his companions. The name seemed unknown among all of them.

“He came through our area some time ago and told us about the Prince,” Koen said with enthusiasm. “Our whole family became Followers, and he helped train us with the sword.” Koen glanced toward Carliss and allowed a slight smile to crease his lips. “We’re excited to be part of the haven and continue training.”

Three more trainees came to greet Koen. Dalton noticed that Carliss
stepped aside and was soon left by herself. He looked over at Brynn, but she was deep in discussion with three other female trainees.

“Gather around, my young apprentices,” Sir Dornan called to begin the day’s lesson.

The trainees formed a semicircle around him. Dornan drew his sword and held it out. It was a magnificent weapon, a true work of art. Dalton glanced toward Koen and Carliss, and their eyes seemed to swallow up the sword with anticipation. Oddly, Dalton’s heart stumbled slightly, and he was confused by his response. It was as if he had been thirsty for water but hadn’t known it until he saw thirst in the faces of these newcomers.

“This is why you are here—to learn the art of the sword and to become trained Knights of the Prince.” Dornan drew his sword in a wide, slow arc over the heads of the trainees and then quickly sheathed it.

“But you must first understand the kingdom and its people to be effective as a knight. There are many peoples, many cultures, many viewpoints, and we must adapt if we are to reach them and bring them freedom.”

And so the daily instruction of the trainees began under the tutelage of Sir Dornan. He would lecture briefly on knighthood and then engage the trainees in dialogue on a variety of topics. Often the discourse would center upon an ethically challenging situation, with each trainee invited to voice an opinion. Dornan began to open their eyes to the many belief systems in the kingdom by sharing his own experiences. He spoke of his encounters with the nomads of Nan and also of the widely varying cultures now occupying the Kessons’ Territory. Afterward, he would lead the trainees in a few skill exercises, usually involving horses and the lance, and the sessions always ended with food, drink, and song. But of the sword there was little training. All of the trainees were happy and content—or almost all.

Three weeks later, Dalton once again joined Brynn on the roadway to the haven training camp.

“So what do you think of Sir Dornan?” Dalton asked.

Brynn shrugged. “He’s certainly wise and experienced, and what he says is interesting. I’d say we’re fortunate to have him.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Dalton replied. “Everyone seems to like him, but the training seems…”

“Seems what?” Brynn prompted.

“Easy—or at least easier than before.”

“What’s so bad about that?” Brynn asked. “Who says it has to be hard? Besides,” she said with a smile, “it’s sure a lot more fun.”

Dalton smiled back. “I guess you’re right.”

When they arrived, Sir Dornan was talking with a few of the younger trainees, and they all burst into laughter as he finished a quip. Soon they were all gathered about to begin their training.

Before Sir Dornan could address the trainees, Koen stepped forward.

“Sir Dornan, when do we begin seriously training with the sword?” he asked bluntly. “After all, we are knights, and that is perhaps the most important part of being a knight.”

Dalton had noticed that Koen and Carliss both had become increasingly agitated with the training at the camp over the past week. Some of the trainees even began to tease them for being too stiff.

Dornan looked slightly perturbed and glared at Koen.

“Now that’s an interesting thought,” Dornan said whimsically. “How can you be a knight when you haven’t completed your training, let alone had any experience? Seems a bit backward, don’t you think? I myself trained for years before becoming a knight. Only then did I join the Knights of the Prince.”

“But Sir Orland says that the ways of the Prince are different,” Koen replied. “The Prince changed the order of the kingdom, so that we become knights as soon as we choose to follow Him; then we begin our training.”

“Yes, well, the ways of the Prince have often been misrepresented in many instances. Wouldn’t you agree?” Dornan said.

“Perhaps, but we have been given the example of Sir Gavenaugh and the Prince Himself on such things,” Koen rebutted.

“Were you there?” Dornan asked with a wry smile. “Did you see this with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears?”

Koen’s face turned red. “Well, no…but—”

“Listen, I am fully committed to all that the Prince taught,” Dornan interrupted. “But life as a Knight of the Prince just isn’t as simple as you seem to want to make it. You need to understand that the kingdom is vast and its people varied in how they will receive such new teachings. We must be creative in how we present the Prince and adjust our methods to accommodate the widely varying cultures that exist out there. I know; I’ve been there.”

“But Sir Orland says that the Code—”

“I don’t even know who this Orland fellow is. And as for the Code, it is clearly a guide, not a mandate. Besides, it was given so long ago—even before the Prince—that it is an antiquated document by now. Forcing the rest of the kingdom to live under such an archaic doctrine would never work. Our King is much more universal than that.”